Jedi
"Jedi Knight" redirects here. For the video game, see Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II.The
Jedi are a fictional noble
monastic peacekeeping organization from the
Star Wars saga, known for their talent in
The Force. They use the living things around them to manipulate the living force. Many Jedi are central characters in the Star Wars movies and additional works, including
Obi-Wan Kenobi,
Qui-Gon Jinn,
Anakin Skywalker, and
Luke Skywalker. The entire Star Wars movie saga chronicles the downfall and salvation of one Jedi,
Anakin Skywalker, a.k.a.
Darth Vader, who was instrumental in dismantling the Jedi Order so that the Jedi's arch-rivals, the
Sith, could gain control and power over society.
The word "Jedi" is said to have been adapted by
George Lucas from "
jidaigeki" (
Japanese for "period drama" movies about
samurai), perhaps contaminated by association with the warrior's title "jed" found in the
Barsoom books by
Edgar Rice Burroughs, a series which Lucas considered adapting to film before his work on
Star Wars.
The Jedi Knights were an order of individuals who had the ability to touch and work with the
Force. Shunning the dark side (the "evil" side of the Force, known in ancient times as the "Bogan"), the Jedi followed the light side (the "good" side, or "Ashla") of the Force, using their power for unselfish, socially-beneficial acts. The order began tens of thousands of years before the rise of the
Galactic Empire. Many ancient and semi-legendary organizations have been proposed as the forerunners of the Jedi Order, such as the
Order of Dai Bendu or the
Chatos Academy, but no conclusive links have ever been shown. Likewise, the birth planet of the Order is unknown. There are many candidates, including such known worlds as
Coruscant,
Ossus,
Corellia, and
Utapau, as well as mythic, lost planets such as
Had Abbadon, and
Ondos. It has also been said that the philosophies of the Jedi originated with the Caamassi, as they were very similar in their ways prior to their near extinction by the Empire. Caamassi legends say that the Jedi came to Caamass to learn to be Jedi before they were even an order.
Initially the Jedi was a contemplative order. Over time, however, the Order changed, and took a more direct and active role in galactic affairs, eventually centralizing themselves on
Coruscant in the aftermath of the catastrophic
Battle of Ruusan. Before that, for thousands of years the Order had been centered on the planet Ossus (which is among the worlds where it is thought that the Order may have originated), until Ossus was devastated 4,000 years BBY during the Sith War. The history of the Jedi was intertwined with both the Republic they served and the
Sith they fought.
Becoming a Jedi
Becoming a Jedi required the most profound commitment and astute mind. Sensitivity to the Force belonged to those with a naturally high level of
midi-chlorians. Those who showed an aptitude for the Force were taken at birth or soon after to train in the
Jedi Temple on
Coruscant, where the Order was headquartered. The life of a Jedi was one of personal sacrifice. From the outset of their training they lived a life of simplicity, adhering to the Jedi Code which forbade material possessions and emotional attachments. A Jedi was expected to adhere to this strict Code that included concepts such as rational thought, patience, and benevolence. A venerable, experienced Jedi conducted this initial training until the individual was proficient. In the expanded universe novels, when
Luke Skywalker founded his new Jedi Academy, he altered the Jedi ways and traditions, allowing emotional attachments, possessions, and more contact with family and friends in order to prevent
emotional traumas like those that his father
Anakin Skywalker endured and eventually gave in to. Luke formulated an Order that gave value to the sense of a Jedi Family. The Jedi, having been decimated by Palpatine's and Vader's Jedi Purge, needed to repopulate its ranks. This would not have been possible if the New Jedi Order was not allowed to have families to pass on the Force sensitive gene.
Jedi robe
|
Obi-Wan Kenobi in traditional Jedi clothing |
In keeping with the tenets of modesty and humility, the Jedi traditionally wore simple and comfortable long, flowing robes, including
tunics, a
cloak, and sometimes a
tabard, of which each generally varied in tones and shades of white, cream and brown, though, grey was also quite common for the overtunic. The Jedi also wore
trousers, an
obi, a leather
utility belt, where they carried specialized field gear for their missions, and leather
boots. The colors were in stark contrast to the antithetical
Sith, who were draped primarily in black. Exceptions were sometimes made, most notably in the cases of Anakin Skywalker (an
omen of things to come perhaps) and his son, Luke, as well as
Luminara Unduli and her padawan
Barriss Offee. The latter pair are also examples of the occasional concessions made to the cultural background of certain jedi, such as the wearing of special headresses, long skirts and patterned fabrics. Other Republic-era Jedi with notably culture-specific costume elements and tattoos inculde
Shaak Ti and
Quinlan Vos respectively.
During the post-Imperial era with Luke and the New Jedi Order, the dress code became more flexibile, allowing the Jedi to wear clothes closer to what they preferred, within reason. Some Jedi, like
Corran Horn and
Ganner Rhysode, still wore the traditional robes, while other Jedi who were also accomplished
pilots, like the Solo children,
Jaina,
Jacen and
Anakin, preferred to wear jumpsuits, simple and useful outfits that allowed the Jedi to have more mobility as well as advantages for piloting. In events that demanded formality, or Jedi gatherings, however, traditional Jedi robes were required.
The Force is an incorporeal energy field that is generated by all living organisms and permeates the universe and all things within. It is clearly indebted to the concept of and the
Od of Baron
Carl Reichenbach. Its principles resemble some real-world religions like
Hinduism, the
Shinto religion of
Japan, certain
Celtic druidic concepts, and probably resembles
Buddhism and
Taoism the most. Dick Staub, author of
Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters, in an interview with
Christianity Today, said he feels "the Lucas story is more theologically attuned with Hinduism". On his own admission,
George Lucas has clearly been influenced by
Christianity,
Buddhism and
Indian religions in writing the
Star Wars saga. And as such many Christians connect the Force with the concept of the Holy Spirit, the energy force of a Higher Being that connects believers and when coming into contact with a human spirit creates something new. It also bears a close similarity to the Chinese notion of
qigong, the Hindu notion of
Brahman, and many others. The earliest description of this "energy field" would be akin to that of pran, of which
pranayama is a systematic practice originating in India and a part of
yoga. The Force is subject to control by anyone who is "Force sensitive." An individual who can control the Force can perform incredible feats such as
telekinesis and
telepathy.
This life-force is known in China as qi or chi; in India, prana and in Japan as Ki. A belief in a life-force is most commonly seen in the East, practised by Buddhists, Taoists,
Confucianists, and Hindus.
Inspirations behind the Force
Chi powers in the Chinese
wuxia genre give the wielder great skill in combat, premonitions, and the ability to strike foes without touching using an invisible force. The radio drama
The Shadow featured an Asian-trained hero with nearly all of the same abilities as Jedi.
Isaac Asimov's
Foundation series features several varieties of empaths and telepaths who can detect and influence human emotion. One such group, the Second Foundation, believes itself the guardians of
the galaxy, and the Second Foundationers strive to prevent Galactic civilization's collapse into
anarchy. In this respect, the Second Foundationers resemble the Jedi Knights, although Asimov's paternalistic guardians are not
telekinetic. Many years after he invented the Second Foundation, Asimov did introduce "mentalics" who could also manipulate physical objects; these play a large role in his novels
Foundation's Edge and
Foundation and Earth. Being an avowed
humanist, Asimov did not indulge in light/dark moralizing, and he took pride in constructing
villains who believed themselves just and heroes afflicted by their own dilemmas. (See the essays reprinted in
Gold for Asimov's exposition of these views). Though the
Solarians and the
Gaians can manipulate objects and minds much like the Jedi, Asimov's mentalics are not divided into light and dark sides, nor do they have the power of prophecy. In Asimov's fiction, predicting the future requires either intuition or
psychohistory. Asimov's influence on the
Star Wars universe has been frequently noted, one example being the debt
Coruscant owes to Asimov's
Trantor. Many of the Force powers Jedi use are very similar to the ones the
Bene Gesserit of
Frank Herbert's
Dune use, most notably Jedi Mind Tricks, which are very similar to the Voice used by the Bene Gesserit.
Science of the Force
As explained in the movie
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Jedi get their ability to understand the Force from
symbiotic organisms within their bodies called
midi-chlorians (an obvious play on
mitochondrion and
chloroplast). Also known as "the messengers of life," these organisms allow a Jedi to "hear the Force," and it is said that "without them, life could not exist" (though this statement appears to be contradicted in some places in the
Expanded Universe). The higher the midi-chlorian count in their cells, the stronger the Force is with the particular individual. Their presence can be sensed by other Jedi, although exact count cannot be determined without the aid of a computerized blood test and, possibly, midi-chlorian measuring software that Jedi carry with them in their utility belts.
Anakin Skywalker had a count of over 20,000; higher than Master Yoda. This led many, most notably
Qui-Gon Jinn, to believe Anakin to be the prophesied "
Chosen One."
The Jedi Code is portrayed as being the central philosophy and
dogma of the Jedi Knights. Several versions exist, and the code is portrayed as having been appended over the millennia. By the time of the
Clone Wars it included many fairly esoteric prohibitions far removed from the core beliefs of a Jedi, such as a doctrine that training shall only begin in infancy. However, throughout all of these changes there was a central, core part of the code that remained the fundamental belief of a Jedi.
There is no emotion; there is peace.:
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.:
There is no passion; there is serenity.:
There is no death; there is the Force.The video game
Knights of the Old Republic added the line
"There is no chaos; there is harmony.", falling between the third and fourth lines above. This is the only official source containing this line. All others before or since, going back to the Code's original form as first presented in the 1980s Star Wars Roleplaying Game have only the four lines above. The Star Wars official website still currently features the four-line version as well.
The code was the focus of
meditations on the Force by the Jedi Master
Odan-Urr, a veteran of
The Great Hyperspace War.
Another version of the Jedi Code can be found in official
Star Wars book "I am a Jedi", a children's book that purports to be written by Qui-Gon Jinn but is actually by Marc Cerasini and Iain Morris.This version goes as follows:
Jedi are the guardians of peace in the galaxy.:
Jedi use their powers to defend and protect, never to attack others.:
Jedi respect all life, in any form.:
Jedi serve others rather than ruling over them, for the good of the galaxy.:
Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training.There is a well-developed hierarchy of ranks, listed below.
Jedi ranks
Members of the order progressed through four tiers of rank, sometimes referred to as levels.
; Youngling/Initiate: An unofficial title, this refers to a child with Force potential. (Also referred to as "Jedi Hopeful.") More accurately,
Youngling is
Galactic Basic slang for children of any sort. At a very young age, the Jedi initiates leave their homes and are assigned to a group for training. If a youngling is not chosen by any Jedi Knight to be their Padawan by 13 years of age, the youngling is placed into another, lesser role in the Jedi Service Corps. Depending on where the student's talents lay, this may be the Agricultural Corps, the Medical Corps, or the Exploration Corps.
Padawan: An apprentice Jedi who undergoes intensive one-on-one training under a Jedi Knight or Master after graduating from the academy. As tradition a human Padawan grows a long strand of braided hair that is finally cut off during the ceremony of knighthood, when a Padawan becomes a Jedi Knight. A Jedi may have only one apprentice at a time, and is required to promote the current apprentice before taking another. Master Yoda was seen training several younglings in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, but they were receiving generic Jedi teachings from him rather than being trained as Padawans. Some Jedi Masters have taken more than one Padawan at a time (it should be noted however, that the term 'padawan' was not mentioned until Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace). This can be explained as another thing lost following the Great Jedi Purge. The word "Padawan" is likely a corruption of "padwar", a low-ranking officer in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom science fiction books.; Jedi Knight: Disciplined, experienced padawans may become full-fledged Jedi once they have completed "the trials", which are usually intensified tests, physical and otherwise, of candidates' skills, knowledge and dedication. The known trials are, but aren't limited to: the Trial of Flesh, the Trial of Courage, the Trial of Skill and the Trial of Self (also known as "facing the mirror"). Occasionally, performing an extraordinary (usually heroic) act can earn a Padawan learner Jedi Knight status, such as when
Obi-Wan Kenobi, toward the end of his training, defeated
Darth Maul,
Dark Lord of the Sith, during the
Battle of Naboo. Jedi Knight is the most common rank of Jedi, hence, the title is also used, mostly by non-Jedi, to refer to any member of the order that has at least met the compulsory requirements of the
Jedi Council.
Jedi Master: A Jedi Knight may become a Master after successfully training a Padawan learner to Knight status. Though this is the most common manner, it is not always the case. If the council sees that a Jedi Knight has become more powerful and has gained more knowledge and discipline in the Force, then they can be nominated by one or more council members to take the trials again. But this time, the trials will be more difficult. It should also be said that most Jedi Masters, like Qui-Gon Jinn, never become members of the Council, as it is not a requirement to be a Master. The rank can also be achieved through the performance of extraordinary deeds or self-proclamation, though the latter is extremely rare. ; Jedi Council Member: When a Jedi Council Member vacates their seat the council looks for an exceptional Jedi Master to fill the empty position. Presiding Council members elect prospective candidates when openings become available. In some texts the Council has a few Knights in its membership "to give a different perspective"; however most references were removed in preparation for
Revenge of the Sith, as Anakin's position on the council, but lack of promotion to Master, was a point of contention. While there are no explicit ranks among the Jedi Council (as it is, at least theoretically, a conclave of equals), there are clear centers of authority. Yoda, during his tenure on the Council, was generally regarded as the Council's senior-most member, or better known as the Grand Master, and Mace Windu as his second. During the time of the New Jedi Order, Luke's "first-among-equals" position as the Grand Master is also unquestioned, if not totally agreed with. According to the Dorling Kindersly guide to
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, some members were permanent, or lifetime, members while the rest served limited terms, after which they stepped down and another member would be elected to the council.
The Chosen One
In
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace reference is made to the
Chosen One, a prophecy of a person who is "to bring balance to the Force". This prophecy was interpreted by Qui-Gon and other Jedi to mean that he would destroy the
Sith.
Qui-Gon Jinn believes that a young
Anakin Skywalker is that person when he discovers him in
The Phantom Menace, because of Anakin's exceptionally high
midi-chlorian count.
It seems that Anakin is not the chosen one, since he falls to the
Dark Side, and as
Darth Vader, helps destroy the Jedi Order. However in
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, he redeems himself with his decision to stand against Emperor Palpatine, sacrificing himself to save his son, and finally destroying the Sith in the process. George Lucas clarified on the Documentary DVD that came with
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith that Anakin
is the
Chosen One, putting to rest fan speculation. Despite fan confusion over the definition of "balance", Lucas affirms that the
Dark Side represents imbalance, stating that, although Anakin turns to the Dark Side, he does eventually destroy the Sith (by killing
Emperor Palpatine) and thus fulfilling the
Prophecy that he would bring balance to the Force.
The Pillars of Jedi Strength
There are mainly three pillars of Jedi strength:
*
Knowledge (See
Jedi Archives)
*The
Force*Self-Discipline
The Lost Twenty
The
Lost Twenty is a phrase that refers to the number of Jedi who have voluntarily renounced their commission in the
Jedi Order over ideological differences.
Count Dooku was one of these, the most recent at the time of
Attack of the Clones. The Jedi Order keeps busts of the Lost Twenty in the
Jedi Archives, apparently as an acknowledgement that the Order is imperfect and cannot satisfy all needs.
Attack of the Clones:The Visual Dictionary lists other of the twenty as
Chon Actrion and
Darth Ruin.
Leaving the Jedi Order does not inherently make one a
Dark Jedi. However, without the guiding influence of the Jedi Council and their fellow Knights, some members of the Lost Twenty, like Darth Ruin and Dooku, have fallen to the dark side of the Force.
Political organization
|
The Jedi Council chamber in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant |
In the time of Episodes I-III there is a central political entity called the
Jedi Council, a gathering of great minds which acts as a governing body for the order and an advisory board for the Old Republic Senate. The Jedi Council could only have 12 members at a time.
Among other tasks, the Jedi were eventually responsible for law enforcement and peacekeeping in the
Galactic Republic. At the time of the Clone Wars, in the twilight years of the
Galactic Republic and during the time of The
Mandalorian War (and in the
Jedi Civil War that followed), they would act as generals, soldiers and advisors in the conflict.
The lightsaber
The traditional weapon of the Jedi is the
lightsaber which, in the hands of a skilled wielder, could be more than a match for most opponents, even those that are armed with ranged weapons. A typical lightsaber consists of a 30 cm-long metallic rod base that conjures a blade-shaped field of energy. To carry a lightsaber is an example of incredible skill and confidence, dexterity and attunement to the The Force. Lightsaber colors include white, green, blue, red, yellow, orange, silver, gold, viridian, and purple (a personal preference on the part of actor
Samuel L. Jackson who played Windu.) But by the rise of the
Galactic Empire, most lightsaber crystal caves that gave the colors other than blue and green were destroyed. A common task for the Jedi is to construct their own lightsaber, after collecting special crystals which would form the core of the lightsaber. The construction of a lightsaber is considered a milestone on the path to Jedi Knighthood, and takes on a heavily symbolic meaning. While many lightsabers appear similar at first glance, closer inspection reveals many differences (subtle or obvious) between two lightsabers. Because each Jedi personally constructs his or her own weapon from scratch, no two lightsabers are the same. However, some Padawan learners build their lightsabers to resemble those of their Masters as a sign of respect.
The lightsaber's beam is made of pure energy which can cut through almost anything, except the beam of another lightsaber or some rare materials, the most notable of which is
Cortosis, a force-resistant ore found deep within asteroid belts along the Outer Rim. Cortosis, once refined, could be bonded with other metals when both were melted, creating an alloy that couldn't be cut by a lightsaber. Cortosis was readily available during the era of the Old Republic, as evidenced in the multitude of weapons and armor that have been imbued by a Cortosis weave. The secret to refining Cortosis, however, was lost during the
Great Jedi Purge.
The lightsaber is not just a single-bladed weapon, and not only wielded by Jedi. Some Jedi have used two single-bladed lightsabers, and some use double-bladed lightsabers.
One important note about lightsaber wounds is that they rarely bleed profusely, even when a limb has been severed. The energy blade cauterizes the wound as it passes, and thus even a severe wound does not tend to bleed heavily.
Younglings' training lightsabers cause much less damage on contact in case they make a mistake. While the blade won't cut through things nearly as easily as a typical lightsaber would, the injuries it inflicts can still be fatal.
The Dark Side of the Force
See also: Sith codeThe power of the Force does not come without a price, for with these abilities come great temptation to misuse them, and emotions such as hate, anger, and fear can cause a Jedi to be overcome by the
Dark Side of the Force. The Dark Side is the easier path and at first can seem more powerful. In the words of Yoda, it is not actually more powerful, but only quicker and easier to learn, and thus more seductive. When one turns to the Dark Side, there is little hope of recovery. Only five Jedi have broken from the Dark Side:
Ulic Qel-Droma (after killing his brother,
Cay, in a duel);
Anakin Skywalker, when he killed
Palpatine to save his son, Luke;
Luke himself, after he joined the Dark Side to learn its secrets in the Expanded Universe comic book series Dark Empire (but later fell back to the Dark Side from trying to suppress his darker emotions until he learned to accept that they were a part of him and now walks the grey line between light and dark);
Darth Revan, when the Jedi Order captured him and erased his memory, if the player follows the light side (which is traditionally considered canon); and
Bastila Shan, who was brought back to the light when the reformed Revan professed his love for her. In the video game
Knights of the Old Republic (1 & 2), minor characters such as
Visas Marr,
Atris,
Juhani, and
Yuthura Ban can be brought back to the light side of the Force by the player's actions, and in
Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, the character
Rosh Penin turns back from the dark side. Though, depending on the player's actions, he can be killed. The storyline where he lives is regarded as canon.
The consequences of a Jedi falling to the Dark Side of the Force are quite costly, not only for the fallen individual, but for many others as well. Such Jedi are normally referred to as
Dark Jedi. Dark Jedi and the
Sith are often confused as one and the same. Dark Jedi study both the light and dark sides of the Force but for whatever reason have chosen to use the Dark Side, yet have not sworn allegiance to the Sith (and sometimes actively hate the Sith). However some Dark Jedi do become members of the
Sith Order, and are vastly superior among them.
Sith normally use red lightsabers, but
Dark Jedi can use any color for their lightsabers. This was demonstrated by the seven Dark Jedi in
Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II.
These ideas are generally accepted as canon, but various groups of Jedi and Sith have presented different opinions on the Dark Side. At times, the Dark Side of the Force is cast as an insidious force that corrupts a tangible duality to the Force. And yet, it is at times portrayed as simply a seductive path that may be chosen, a way of using or experiencing the force. Within the greater collective of the 'Expanded Universe' of Star Wars, and the gray areas of canon, the Dark Side is sometimes seen as possibly being an illusion or belief, a false concept. In this view, there is no true 'Dark Side', there is only the Force, and how those aware of it perceive it.
The Jedi-Sith Conflict Resumes
|
Qui-Gon Jinn battles Darth Maul on Tatooine |
In
32 BBY, the presence of the Sith once again became known to the Jedi. Two Sith Lords, the master
Darth Sidious, and the apprentice
Darth Maul, supported the blockade of Naboo. After Darth Maul was killed, the Jedi knew that somewhere in the galaxy there was still one member of the Sith active, but they were unaware of the identity of Sidious. During the next ten years, former Jedi
Count Dooku fell to the dark side and became the new apprentice, as
Darth Tyranus. Tyranus selected a bounty hunter,
Jango Fett, as the template for a
clone army he ordered for the
Galactic Republic under the guise of the deceased Sifo-Dyas. Later, with the assistance of the
Trade Federation, he rallied as many star systems as he could to create the
Confederacy of Independent Systems, and gathered an enormous army of
droids. Tyranus and Sidious, through political machinations and exploitation, engineered the Clone Wars.
 |
Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi's epic duel on Mustafar |
At approximately the same time toward the end of the Clone Wars, the Jedi discovered that
Chancellor Palpatine was in fact Darth Sidious, and Jedi Knight
Anakin Skywalker succumbed to the Dark Side. Anakin became known as
Darth Vader, Sidious's final apprentice. During a battle with his former master,
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin suffered serious injuries, including the loss of his legs and one arm and terrible burns from fire and lava. After the fight, the majority of Anakin's body had to be replaced with mechanical implants, including a breathing apparatus to keep him alive.
By Darth Sidious' own admission, Darth Vader had the potential to become twice as powerful as himself, going so far as to tell
Yoda that "soon Darth Vader will become more powerful than either of us." In some ways, he was correct. Vader's anger and aggression increased his raw power considerably, as evident in the operating room when Vader arose from the table, the Force crushing everything non organic in the room. It was earlier speculated that ability to use the Force required living flesh, and that Vader's cybernetic enhancements prevented him from using certain aspects of the Force. However, due to basic Film knowledge and canon, this is simply not the case. Luke used his cybernetic hand to call his lightsaber from the Emperor's Throne in Ep.VI, and Vader is seen using his arms to make the Force Choke gesture, both of which are cybernetic. It is assumed that Vader did not use Force Lightning because it would possibly damage his cybernetics, which would put him in a potentially fatal situation from simply using what is considered a traditional Sith technique.
The Dark Times and the Empire, Return of the Jedi
At the onset of the Galactic Civil War, the Jedi were almost completely wiped out through the actions of followers of the Dark Side, led by Palpatine (now Emperor) and Darth Vader. Vader led the
Great Jedi Purge, wiping out nearly all of his former fellow Jedi.
Obi Wan Kenobi (Anakin's own teacher), and
Yoda were among the survivors featured in the original trilogy. The Jedi archives, found in the ruins of the Jedi Temple, indicate that a few other Jedi also survived the purge. Other survivors include
Empatojayos Brand,
Vima Da Boda and
Vergere, none of whom are referenced in the movies. Also, in the Star Wars game "Galactic Battlegrounds" the protagonists are aided by a Jedi named Echuu Shen Jon, who claims to have survived the purge.
The novels written after the original trilogy indicate that the Empire took steps to exterminate the Jedi family members and supporters as well as the Jedi themselves.
Corran Horn's grandfather was a Corellian Jedi named Nejaa Halcyon, who had died in the Clone Wars. Halcyon's friend Rostek Horn married Halcyon's wife, adopted Corran's father Valin "Hal" Horn, and altered the records concerning the Halcyon family. He did this to protect Hal and his mother from the Empire's Jedi hunters. Hal kept the knowledge of Corran's true grandfather from him, because revealing that knowledge would have made Corran a target as well. As a result, Corran only learned of his true heritage when Luke Skywalker discovered his past, and shared that discovery with Corran.
The Emperor also trained a number of "Hands," or those who had the potential to use the Force as his personal agents. Through the Force, he was able to relay orders to these agents.
Mara Jade was one of his Hands. She had been discovered to be Force sensitive at a young age, and was taken by the Emperor for training. It has also been suggested that these "Hands" had little power on their own, being artificially "boosted" by the Emperor's own power, as an extension of his will. Upon his death, Mara found her own power greatly reduced, having to re-learn the ways of the Force through training. That the Emperor could extend his will to empower others under his control was also demonstrated in his formation of the
Dark Side Elite.The actions of
Luke Skywalker and his relationship with the Force were a principal plot device in the films. As a sign of how desperate things had become, Luke was taken into the Jedi fold as a young adult as opposed to during infancy, or even childhood (as Anakin had been). The period of his training was also amazingly short, by necessity.
After the Galactic Civil War
 |
Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker |
In the novels set after the Galactic Civil War, Luke's main task was to reestablish the Jedi Order by training a new generation of Jedi Knights. It was not an easy task. Because the Emperor had wished to completely destroy the order, almost all information concerning the Jedi had been destroyed. Only a few histories remained, and they were
propaganda pieces used to paint the Jedi in an unfavorable light. Almost all the material on instructing Jedi was also eliminated, save a few documents on how to turn potential Jedi to the Dark Side of the Force.
Four years after the death of the Emperor at
Endor, Luke discovered the wreck of the
Chu'unthor on the planet Dathomir. The
Chu'unthor was a starship that had served as a mobile
Jedi academy. Dathomir was the home of Force sensitive "Witches," who were the descendants of a fallen Jedi banished to that world. Master Yoda had left the instruction materials from the ship behind with the rest of the ship. Four hundred years later, after defeating the Witches that had fallen to the Dark Side, one of the natives gave Luke the instruction materials that she had kept safely since the time of the crash.Due to Luke's lack of knowledge with the old ways of the Jedi Order, the new generation of Jedi were very unorthodox. He established an academy in order to teach the way of the Jedi to others. The academy was established in the old temples on Yavin 4, which the Rebels had used as a base until after the
Battle of Yavin. This new academy used a system very different from the "one student, one master" system used by the old order. The new order also differed from the old in that Luke allowed his students to have personal possessions and had no rule against a Jedi having emotional attachments to friends and family, which had been forbidden by the old order. Accepted students were also taken into the order at a much older age than had been the case previously. Most members were already well into adulthood before they began training.
What Luke did not know was that Yavin 4 had once been a base for the Sith Lord
Exar Kun during the
Great Sith War. He was unaware that Kun's spirit had been trapped in the temples all that time. As a result, Kun was able to influence three of Luke's students. The first,
Gantoris, under the tutelage of
Exar Kun, secretly constructed a multi-jeweled lightsaber before being killed by the dark lord's spirit. The second student,
Kyp Durron, eventually fell to the Dark Side for a time while under Kun's influence. Kyp's actions resulted with the destruction of several star systems by the
Sun Crusher. Eventually, the students at the academy were able to destroy Kun's spirit. Freed of Kun's influence, Kyp surrendered, returned to the Light Side of the Force, and became one of the first new Jedi Masters. The final student was
Streen, an old hermit from Bespin, who was gifted with the power to control the winds. Streen created a whirlwind to kill Master Skywalker, under the impression that he was fighting the "Dark Man."
Luke eventually turned the academy into a center that would provide basic training for potential Jedi. He began pairing Jedi who had gone through that training with a more experienced Jedi, much like the master/apprentice system used in the old order.
The New Jedi Order
The New Jedi Order grew slowly but steadily. Some Jedi from the first class Luke taught - such as Kyp Durron - became Jedi Masters. The order eventually became large enough that Luke Skywalker considered reinstating the Jedi Council. However, an extragalactic alien species, the
Yuuzhan Vong, invaded the galaxy. The war had lasted 5 years, and the results were severe. An estimated 365 trillion sentients had perished in the invasion. Many Jedi fell while fighting this new threat, but the order did survive the war and continued to grow in strength. One of the Jedi casualties of this war was
Anakin Solo, the youngest son of
Han Solo and
Leia Organa Solo, Luke's nephew. Before his death, it was widely felt that Anakin would eventually become one of the greatest Jedi of his generation, and that he would eventually take Luke's place. Since Anakin's death, it has been assumed that Luke Skywalker's son,
Ben Skywalker, has the most Force potential of any living being.
In recent novels, after the war with the Yuuzhan Vong was over, Luke realized that the order would have to further adapt in order to survive. His experiences had led him to believe that the Force was not rigidly divided into a light and a dark side. Strong emotions, including anger, were not intrinsically evil - instead it was the intentions of the Force user that mattered the most. Luke came to believe that nearly everyone, regardless of their heritage, had some ability to touch and use the Force. He also felt that individual Jedi (and other Force users) would need to discover their own paths: that some could be called to contemplative life, while others would feel a need to take a more active role in galactic affairs, like the old-style Jedi. Because the Jedi had no single goal, he felt the Jedi Order as a whole should remain carefully aloof of its allegiance to the Galactic Alliance or any succeeding government.
Interestingly, many of Luke's realizations would have been considered heresy during the time of the original Jedi Order. This has caused many fans to question the continuity of the reformed Jedi order with the principles of the Jedi order in the films.
The Dark Nest
After the war with the Yuuzhan Vong, a call was heard through the Force calling the surviving members of the mission to Myrkr to meet with Raynar Thul. The members who were still alive answered the call, except for
Tenel Ka who was too busy ruling the Hapes Consortium. When the Myrkr strike team was found to be missing, Luke, Han, Leia, Mara, and
Saba Sebatyne went to investigate.
Raynar Thul had become the leader of the Killiks who were the original species on
Alderaan. All of the strike teams except
Jaina Solo and
Zekk returned to the
Galactic Alliance.
The Jedi discovered that the Killik's uncharacteristically aggressive actions were driven by another survivor of the Myrkr mission. The Jedi barely managed to stop a war from breaking out between the Alliance and the Killiks. Leia announced that she wished to finally take up the Skywalker legacy and become a Jedi like her brother and father before her. After Luke killed the being they thought was leading the Dark Nest and he saw that person had become a bug-human hybrid he realized that the Dark Side was very much real and personally recanted his
Gray Jedi views. The Jedi then realized the Dark Nest was being controlled by
Lomi Plo. She had gone to the
Dark Side and been controlling the Killiks as the Hive's subconcious.
Months later tensions once again arose between the
Chiss and the
Killiks. The Jedi went to negotiate with the Killiks and Raynar took Luke and Han hostage to be certain that the Alliance wouldn't betray him. While Luke was gone the Jedi Order fell into chaos with
Corran Horn the state appointed leader while Luke was absent. Once Luke decided to free Han and himself from prison he heard about the state of the Jedi and felt doubt. This lead to Lomi Plo being able to defeat him as she was able to use any doubt to cloak herself.
In order to counter the behavior of the Council in his absence Luke attempted to unite the Masters against him by saying he was taking direct control of the Order. This tactic later backfired when the Masters still could not come to a consensus and Skywalker was then forced to actually take control. Luke decreed that the Jedi order had to come before any other commitments. This led
Danni Quee to resign as Danni's first commitment was to helping
Zonama Sekot and Tenel Ka couldn't abdicate her throne as the Queen Mother of Hapes. Luke was forced to exile
Lowbacca,
Tesar Sebatyne, and
Tahiri Veila to
Dagobah because they had told Raynar's mother about the fact that Jedi would kill him if necessary, thus betraying him and the Jedi Order.
While there are few who would deny that Luke is capable of serving as the sole authority in the Jedi Order, it has raised concerns regarding the inevitable time when Skywalker can no longer function as the Grand Master, and the fear that successors would be too quick to abuse the power. Unfortunately, at the time there seems to be no alternative, given the divisions that have formed among the Master's Council. This may mean another civil war among the Jedi.
There are several major Jedi, divided into four categories; Ancient Jedi, Pre-Ruusan Reformation/Old Republic Jedi, Post-Ruusan Reformation/Old Republic Jedi, The New Jedi-Order's.
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Arca Jeth*
Ashka Boda*
Bodo Baas*
Chamma*
Conor McGeoch*
Dominus*
Exar Kun*
Garnoo*
Gra'aton*
Ikrit*
Jaled Dur*
Jassa Mroon*
Memit Nadill*
Naga Sadow*
Odan Urr*
Ood Bnar*
Ooroo*
Shatoyo*
Sidonra Diath*
Master Thon*
Vodo-Siosk BaasPre-Ruusan Old Republic Jedi
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Atris*
Bastila Shan*
Cay Qel-Droma*
Dorak*
Duron Qel-Droma*
Hoth*
Jedi Exile*
Jolee Bindo*
Juhani*
Kavar*
Kreia*
Lonna Vash*
Malak*
Nomi Sunrider*
Revan*
Ulic Qel-Droma*
Vandar Tokare*
Vrook*
Zez-Kai Ell*
ZharPost-Ruusan Old Republic Jedi
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Aayla Secura*
Adi Gallia*
Agen Kolar*
Anakin Skywalker*
Barriss Offee*
Bultar Swan*
Cin Drallig*
Coleman Trebor*
Daakman Barrek*
the Dark Woman*
Depa Billaba*
Count Dooku*
Dylki Maloc*
Echuu Shen-Jon*
Eeth Koth*
Empatojayos Brand*
Even Piell*
Foul Moudama*
Ihe-Du Inora*
Jocasta Nu*
Joclad Danva*
Jorus C'Baoth*
Ki-Adi-Mundi*
Kieran Halcyon*
Kit Fisto*
K'Kruhk*
Lumas Etima*
Scella (Paru)*
Luminara Unduli*
Mace Windu*
Obi-Wan Kenobi*
Oppo Rancisis*
Pablo-Jill*
Plo Koon*
Qui-Gon Jinn*
Quinlan Vos*
Roron Corobb*
Roth-Del Masona*
Saesee Tiin*
Aaska Ren-Turro*
Sha Koon*
Sha'a Gi*
Shaak Ti*
Sifo-Dyas*
Siri Tachi*
Sora Bulq*
Stass Allie*
Tan Yuster*
Tarados Gon*
Tarr Seirr*
Tyvokka*
Vergere*
Yaddle*
Yarael Poof*
Yoda*
Alema Rar*
Anakin Solo*
Callista*
Cilghal*
Corran Horn*
Daeshara'cor*
Dorsk 81*
Dorsk 82*
Duron Voltros*
Ganner Rhysode*
Gantoris*
Jacen Solo*
Jaden Korr*
Jaina Solo*
Kam Solusar*
Kirana Ti*
Kyle Katarn*
Kyp Durron*
Leia Organa Solo*
Lowbacca*
Luke Skywalker*
Mara Jade Skywalker*
Miko Reglia*
Raynar Thul*
Rosh Penin*
Saba Sebatyne*
Streen*
Tahiri Veila*
Tekli*
Tenel Ka*
Tesar Sebatyne*
Kam Solusar*
Tionne Solusar*
Zekk*
Wurth SkidderJedi of Star Wars Legacy time period
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Kol Skywalker*
Cade Skywalker*
Wolf Sazen*
Shado Vao*
Rasi Tuum*
Hosk Tre'lyis*
Jedi census phenomenon*
List of places by Jedi*
List of minor Star Wars Jedi characters*
Sith*
Samurai: much of the Jedi including their name, was based of these knights and
Akira Kurosawa's films.
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The Jedi Order - Star Wars Databank article
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Article describing similarities between Jedi and Buddhism*
The Jedi Philosophy - A critical view - An article examining the philosophy of the Jedi Order.
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Star Wars and Hinduism - Article drawing similarities between Jedi and Hinduism
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Dick Staub on the Star Wars Myth*
Religious themes in the Star Wars saga*
The Jedi Encyclopedia*Census 2001,
"390,000 Jedis There Are; But did hoax campaign boost response in teens and 20s?",
United Kingdom.
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The BRSCC Formula Jedi Championship - UK Single-seater motor racing series not linked to Star Wars
