Jedi
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The Jedi are members of an ancient and noble monastic order in the fictional Star Wars universe. The Jedi Knights are known for two things: their observance of a religion founded on The Force[1] and their selection and admittance to the order, based upon specific talents that demonstrate that a person has a special link to such Force. The Star Wars universe contains a Galactic Republic, thousands of years old, in which a democratic ruling body, the Galactic Senate, oversees the Republic for the best interests of all the inner states, called Systems. Where or when the public order cannot be imposed through regular means of the law, the Jedi Order assists the Senate, sending their Knights to restore peace, thus acting as a guard corps for the Republic. The Jedi Knights are so effective in this role that, for much of its existence, Republic deemed the existence of a regular standing army unnecessary.
The Star Wars films chronicle the Jedi Order during a time when its existence is gravely threatened. The Jedi are a near-extinct entity in the original trilogy, while the prequel trilogy depicts the Order's downfall at the hands of its nemesis, the Sith.
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[edit] Overview
The Jedi are monks, warriors, handcrafters and philosophers, who devote their lives to the Order. They live in an impressive temple on the capital world of the Republic, Coruscant. Recruited at a very young age, the Jedi are devoted to a life of service. Their early life involves training in the use of The Force; this training's purpose is to allow the Jedi to understand the special link each of them has with The Force, and the talents which they consequently derive from it, talents such as telekinesis, precognition, jumping to extreme heights and influencing the weak minded. The dark side users have the ability to produce electricity from their finger tips. Their training also involves combat techniques, which ultimately entail mastering an exotic weapon, the lightsaber, the signature weapon of the Order. In this regard, the Jedi Knight resembles a Samurai warrior more than a Crusader and, like the Samurai, Jedi have a poor opinion of ranged weapons, such as pistols or rifles, considering them uncivilized resources of battle.
The Jedi are intelligent beings, not necessarily human, who have a link to The Force, which is described as an energy field created by life, which casts a power over all matter and energy in the Universe (an entity similar to the Chinese concept of Qi, the "Great Whole of Life"). This bond, and the subsequent training to strengthen it, allows the Jedi to exercise fantastic talents. The Jedi is not a superbeing in the regular sense of the term, as a superhero or a deity, but a being with a connection to a universal channel of energy. Through the use of this channel, the Jedi can perform great feats of speed, reflexes and strength. The Jedi can see into the immediate future, so they appear to have unimaginably quick reflexes. Thus, the Jedi is not a superbeing, but a Force-driven being.
The Force is described as a "something" that, however powerful, cannot escape from a rule of the Universe: there is balance in everything. The Force has two sides: the Light and the Dark Side. The Jedi Knights exercise the Light Side of The Force to perform good. Given that The Force is created by life, it is heavily influenced by the emotions of living beings. The Light side of The Force is fed by heroism, friendship, courage - all positive emotions and feelings. Whereas the Dark Side of The Force is fed by anger, fear, hatred and any negative emotions. Beings attuned with The Force are able to utilize either the Dark or Light side. Though the transition from Light to Dark is not always clear cut. Anakin Skywalker's fall to the Dark side is brought about through love for Padmé Amidala, and his overwhelming urge to protect her. This can translate to fear, since he feared to lose her like he lost his mother.
One of the basics of Jedi training is to learn how to attune with the Light Side of The Force, and to avoid the Dark Side; the Jedi have been so successful in this distinction that, throughout the Star Wars saga, Jedi frequently express total ignorance of the ways of the Dark Side. It is a motif in the Star Wars saga that a Jedi expressing curiosity in the ways of the Dark Side is an omen of conflict. The Jedi, being living beings, are affected by negative emotions, and a substantial part of their training involves control of these emotions, and awareness of their inner evil.
The Jedi Order has a nemesis in the Sith Order, an order much more simple in structure but just as old and just as rich in traditions as the Jedi Order. The Sith move within the cracks of society, promoting conflict and chaos. Their resources are secrecy and diversion, but when confronted in the open, they display just as much dexterity in the Jedi Arts as a Jedi Knight. They are also "Force-driven beings", like the Jedi, however the Sith are able to call on both the Light and Dark Sides of the Force, rendering them potentially more dangerous than the Jedi. This ability to use both sides of The Forces makes them convinced that they have more complete abilities, though a side effect arises from this: use of the Dark Side of The Force corrupts the spirit, the mind and the body of anyone who utilizes its power. They are characterized by their single-minded lust for power and disdain for sentient life. The Sith once ruled the Galaxy but were thrown out of power, and exiled from the Galaxy, by the Jedi Order.
The Jedi are members of an Order devoted to public service; they swear allegiance to the Senate and to democracy. The Sith are members of an Order devoted to attain personal benefits from everything; they only swear allegiance to their Masters and to the Sith traditions and only if they choose to demonstrate loyalty to anything as a means to achieve their goals. The Jedi are trained to control their emotions, in order to maintain focus, and through this focus, to increase their control and abilities with The Force. The Sith are trained to harness strong emotions to increase their abilities with The Force, and thus become passionate beings. The Jedi are trained to avoid the Dark Side of the Force by supressing emotions that could lead them toward the Dark Side.
The members of the Jedi Order fought for peace and justice in the Galactic Republic for 20 000-25 000 years prior to the Battle of Yavin.[2] Many Jedi are central characters in the Star Wars films and additional works, including Yoda, Mace Windu, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker. Their philosophical rivals and opposites are the Sith.[3]
[edit] Force
- Further information: Force power
In the films, The Force is described as an energy field that is generated by all in the universe, surrounding and permeating the gas and all things within. Critics of the films have examined concepts of the Force and the origin of the idea. 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". George Lucas states he has been influenced by Christianity as well as Buddhism and other Indian religions in writing the Star Wars saga. Many Christian fans apparently connect the Force with the concept of the Holy Spirit. It also bears a close similarity to the Chinese notion of Qi, said to be an all-pervasive energy that is inherent within the fabric of the Universe. The related Chinese concept of Tao and the Hindu principle of Prana are also comparable.
Characters speak of the Force as being subject to control by anyone who is "Force sensitive." An individual who can control the Force commonly manifests paranormal abilities, such as telekinesis, telepathy and precognition.
For more information on The Force, see the related article.
[edit] Jedi Code
Becoming a Jedi requires commitment, as Jedi instruction is structured and codified to enforce discipline and hinder transgression. The Jedi Code is portrayed as being the central philosophy and dogma. Several versions exist. 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.[4] 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.[5]
The Star Wars roleplaying game supplement "Tales of the Jedi", published by West End Games in 1996, added a fifth line "There is no chaos; there is harmony", falling between the third and fourth lines above. The video game Knights of the Old Republic published in 2003 also featured this five-line version. However, 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[1].
The code was the focus of meditations on the Force by the Jedi Master Odan-Urr, a veteran of The Great Hyperspace War.[6]
During the restructuring of the Jedi Order by the now Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker, a new code was established for easier interpretation for the newer generation of Jedi. The code retained the same core beliefs as the millennia old code, rewritten for better understanding.
- 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.
[edit] Structure of the Order
There is a well-developed hierarchy of ranks, listed below.
[edit] Jedi ranks
Members of the order progressed through four to six tiers of rank, sometimes referred to as levels.
- Jedi Youngling : 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 or higher ranking Jedi to be their padawan apprentice 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. A youngling is given a training lightsaber, less powerful than an ordinary one. It is revealed in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones that the children train in small groups under the guidance of a teacher, such as Yoda, before their master is chosen and they become a Padawan. [6]
- Jedi Padawan: An apprentice that undergoes intensive one-on-one training under a Jedi Knight or Jedi Master after graduating from the academy. As tradition a Padawan of any species with hair 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. However, this idea was scrapped in a way by Luke Skywalker due to the severe shortage in actual Jedi, as mentioned in Jedi Academy.
- Jedi Knight: Disciplined, experienced Jedi may become full-fledged Jedi Knights 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"). Master Yoda gave his apprentice Luke Skywalker the trial of confronting Darth Vader for a second time in order to become a full-fledged Jedi. 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 the Sith Apprentice Darth Maul 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. Becoming a Jedi takes the utmost strength of mind, knowledge of the Force, and skill with a lightsaber.
- 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 and his Master Dooku, 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 it 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 (such as Anakin Skywalker) "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, as it was at the request of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. 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. According to the Dorling Kindersley 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 Jedi council.
- Jedi Grand Master / Supreme Master / High Master: Formally Grand Master of the Jedi Order, only the highest-ranking Jedi Masters took the title. The title of Grand Master/Supreme Master is merely a theoretical title given by Jedi Masters to a certain Master who has been most wise among other masters in the council, as with master Yoda. Also as observed in the New Jedi Order when they appointed Luke Skywalker a Jedi Grand Master as he was the last Jedi taught by Obi-wan Kenobi and Master Yoda, the last members of the Old Council. The Jedi Grand Master/Supreme Master does not enjoy any higher privilege than any council members because the council members also have a vote in any issues presented by the council. The Grand Master was apparently the "first among equals" of the Jedi High Council, or the later Masters' Council. Nomi Sunrider, Yoda, and Luke Skywalker were Grand Masters.
[edit] Lost Twenty
The "Lost Twenty" is a phrase that refers to the number of Jedi Masters who have voluntarily renounced their commission in the Jedi Order over ideological differences.[7] Count Dooku is 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 acknowledgment that the Order is imperfect and cannot satisfy all needs. The only other known member of the Lost is Phanius, who would later be known as Darth Ruin. Another member could be the Jedi Exile as she voluntarily accepted the exile she was given, though it is unknown what rank she held in the Jedi Order at that time. It is possible that she was even a council member because during her trial, there was an empty seat in the council chambers.
Leaving the Jedi Order does not inherently make one a Dark Jedi or Sith. However, without the guiding influence of the Jedi Council and their fellow Knights, some members of the Lost Twenty, like Phanius and Dooku, have fallen to the dark side of the Force.
After falling to the dark side, Anakin Skywalker considered himself the Lost Twenty-First, but this was nothing more than hubris, as he was never granted the rank of Jedi Master and the concept of the Lost was abandoned during the Clone Wars.
[edit] 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 many Jedi to mean that he would destroy the Sith. Qui-Gon Jinn believed that young Anakin Skywalker was that person when he discovered him on Tatooine in The Phantom Menace, because of Anakin's exceptionally high midi-chlorian count even higher than Master Yoda (as stated in Episode I) and the fact that he was a virgin birth. The prophecy had suggested the Chosen One would be conceived as a result of midichlorian activity alone, and Shmi Skywalker in speaking about Anakin said "There was no father." George Lucas clarified on the Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith documentary DVD that Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader) is the Chosen One; 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 then dying himself), thus fulfilling the Prophecy that he would bring balance to the Force.
[edit] Political organization
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 twelve 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 Sith War that followed), they would act as generals, soldiers and advisers in the conflict.
[edit] Lightsaber
- Further information: Lightsaber combat
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 skilled lightsaber practitioner can deflect shots from blasters and even target the attacker. A typical lightsaber consists of a 30 cm-long metallic rod base that emits a blade-shaped field of energy. To be able to use a lightsaber is an example of incredible skill and confidence, dexterity and attunement to The Force. Lightsaber colors include green, blue, yellow, orange, red, silver, and purple (a personal preference on the part of actor Samuel L. Jackson who played Windu). In Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, it is possible to obtain other color crystals, such as cyan, viridian, and bronze. 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 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. Because each Jedi personally constructs his or her own weapon, 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 as well. Though not as well known as the other forms of lightsabers there is also a light whip that is a combination of lightsaber and a cat of ninetails as read in the The Legacy of The Force, and, though considered extremely difficult to construct, lightsabers with multi-length blades are known to have been created by a student in the Jedi Academy.
The most common colors for sabers are, for Jedi, blue and green, and for Sith, red. Blue, green and yellow are associated with Guardians, Consulars and Sentinels respectively, but a Jedi is free to use any color saber they choose. Purple, orange, silver, bronze, blue-green and cyan have been seen, and some Jedi have even used red, traditionally the color of the Sith.
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. An exception to this was in A New Hope when Obi-Wan Kenobi cut off the arm of an alien in a cantina, and the arm was shown with blood on the ground; though the nature of the alien species' biological processes is not known and could provide for the discrepancy in the incident. (More likely George Lucas hadn't refined his ideas of Star Wars during the first movie, and instead over time his ideas were more thought through).
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.
[edit] Dark Side of the Force
- See also: Force (Star Wars)#Sith code
The 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. Very few Jedi have broken from the dark side. Those who have include: Ulic Qel-Droma, after killing his brother, Cay, in a duel; Anakin Skywalker, when he killed Palpatine to save his son; Kyle Katarn, after a duel with Mara Jade in Mysteries of the Sith during which Mara Jade put her lightsaber away and refused to fight Kyle; Darth Revan, who lost his memory and was given a new identity by the Jedi Order, if the player follows the light side (which is traditionally considered canon); 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; minor characters such as Visas Marr, Juhani, and Yuthura Ban can be brought back to the light side of the Force by the player's actions in KOTOR; Kyp Durron is also brought back from the dark side after being persuaded by Luke Skywalker after falling to the Force phantom of Exar Kun in "Champions of the Force"; and in Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, the character Rosh Penin turns back from the dark side. Further in an effort to complete his training Luke Skywalker turns to the dark side and follows the clone of Palpatine.
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 but are two entirely different entities. Dark Jedi study both the light and dark sides of the Force and for whatever reason have chosen to use both, yet have not sworn allegiance to the Sith (and sometimes actively hate the Sith). However many Dark Jedi do become members of the Sith Order or at least allies. Sith normally use red lightsabers, but Dark Jedi may use any color for their lightsabers although they often favor red. 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 revealed to be an illusion or belief, a false concept. In this view, there is no true "Dark Side" only the "dark side" inside each person, there is only the Force, and how those aware of it perceive it...
[edit] Equipment
The Jedi dress in simple robes and carry specialized field gear for their missions. Their utility belts usually consist of their lightsaber, survival rations in the form of capsules, a Hush-98 comlink, a holoprojector, particularly an imagecaster, a holomap, and an A99 aquata breather. For reconnaissance missions, they employ Jedi starfighters (the Delta-7). As the Clone Wars progressed, the Jedi, in command of the Republic Clone Army, were given Eta-2 Actis Interceptors. The Eta-2s were starfighters used as field command vessels in addition to the Delta-7s.
[edit] History
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[edit] Early History
The Jedi Order formed circa 20,000 BBY, concurrently with the Galactic Republic. At some point in their early history, several Jedi were corrupted by the Dark Side of the Force and were exiled from the order. These exiles eventually formed the Sith Empire.
[edit] Sith Wars
The sith were originally a race of their own. Over time, and by hand of the jedi, the sith were destroyed. However there are some that carry on the sith way of life as a religion.
After discovering, and destroying, the original Sith Empire, the Jedi would come into conflicts with various incarnations of the Sith Order for the succeeding centuries.
Nearly four thousand years before time period depicted in the films, an unknown Sith faction would manipulate the Mandalorians, a warrior race who sought glory in battle, into attacking the Republic. The Jedi Council was reluctant to enter the conflict, sensing that a dark presence was manipulating the conflict. Eventually, several Padawans, horrified by the atrocities the Mandalorians were committing, joined the conflict against their masters' wishes. They defeated the Mandalorians, but were eventually corrupted by Sith teachings, and eventually became Sith themselves. Led by Darth Revan, and later his apprentice, Darth Malak, they challenged the Jedi and the Republic. Though the Jedi emerged victorious, barely a hundred remained. Despite being hunted to near extinction, they managed to wipe out the stragglers of Malak's empire, and spent the next several decades rebuilding.
In 2000 BBY, a new version of the Sith Order was formed by Darth Ruin, and eventually succeeded in taking over a sizable portion of the Galaxy. However, this was a far less cohesive organization than the Sith Order of Revan and Malak, plagued by internal conflicts and power struggles. The Jedi were able to exploit this weakness, and by 1000 BBY, they believed the Sith to be extinct.
[edit] Age of Peace and Decline
With the Sith thought destroyed, and the Mandalorians no longer a galaxy wide threat, the Republic demiliatarized, and the Jedi became its sole peacekeepers. During this time period, their connection to the Force began to diminish. The exact reason for this is unknown, but the Sith Wars saw the destruction of several Jedi praxeums, and consequently, the loss of valuable knowledge. Some feared that this weakness would cause the Order's enemies to multiply. It is during this time period that the prophecy of the Chosen One began to circulate, though many within the Council dismissed it as a legend. The Jedi of this era were also less tolerant of those who questioned their teachings than the Jedi of the Sith Wars, as evidenced by their branding of the Potentium philosophy (a belief that the Force was inherently good, but could be twisted by those those used it) as heresy. However, Qui-Gon Jinn was respected by the council of this era despite his status as a Gray Jedi.
[edit] Jedi-Sith Conflict Resumes
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, using the influence of his friend and fellow discontent Jedi, 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.
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 latest 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 more powerful than himself, going so far as to tell Yoda that "Darth Vader will become more powerful than either of us."
[edit] 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 Anakin's former rival Ferus Olin (but he left the Jedi Order after a mission), Empatojayos Brand, Vima Da Boda, Quinlan Vos, and Vergere; none, except Vos briefly mentioned by Obi Wan Kenobi in Episode III, 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.
[edit] After the Galactic Civil War
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 an ancient relic: 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 experimented in 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 in an attempt 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.
[edit] 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. With the formation of the New Republic, a new Jedi Council was formed, which sat in Coruscant in the old Jedi Temple. Jedi "centres" within the galaxy, were also created, such as the Yavin Temples and the Corellia Jedi Tower. Though new Jedi recruits could vary in age from very young to very old and were initially taught in large groups, as the order grew, one master-one padawan teaching was not uncommon. The principles of the order remained the same; to strive for good and follow the will of the Force. However, the restrictive nature of the old Order, which had itself aided the rise of the dark side, was stripped away and the new Jedi Code allowed for Jedi to have some links with their family. Jedi Master Skywalker quoted Yoda in saying that the loving nurturing of a family was just as good as the peaceful surroundings in the Jedi temple.
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. Romance should be allowed, and Jedi would not be forced to live lives of denial, in order to prevent the sort of trauma that his father suffered. 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. Many of Luke's realizations would have been considered heresy during the time of the original Jedi Order. Thus, some fans have speculated that Luke's innovations actually constitute the end of the Jedi Order and a "de facto" victory for the Sith and their ideology.
[edit] 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 team members 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 unconscious.
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, many know that the new order must adapt to being directed by a council of Jedi Masters as the old order once was. The fact that the Jedi's role in maintaining peace and order in the Republic is not clearly expressed in any code or doctrine or Republic law, will also remain an issue in the future.
[edit] Major Jedi
There are several major Jedi; divided into three categories listed below:
[edit] Ancient Jedi
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- Master Vrook
[edit] Jedi of the Old Republic Era
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[edit] Jedi of the New Republic Era
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The Jedi Order. The Official Star Wars Website. Retrieved on 2007-03-24.
- ^ Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, 1977 (“For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic”)
- ^ Order of the Jedi. Sideshow Collectibles Website. Retrieved on 2007-03-24.
- ^ Brooks, Terry "Episode 1: The Phantom Menace",pg 149, Lucas Books and Del Rey 1998
- ^ The Jedi Code. The Official Star Wars Website. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
- ^ a b J.D. Wiker, Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Power of the Jedi Sourcebook (hardcover; Wizards of the Coast, 2001), ISBN 0-786-92781-X.
- ^ R.A. Salvatore, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones novelization (hardcover; New York: Ballantine Books, 2002), p. 157, ISBN 0-345-42881-1.
[edit] External links
- The Jedi Order - Star Wars Databank article
- Jedi on Wookieepedia, a Wikia wiki
- 390,000 Jedis There Are; But did hoax campaign boost response in teens and 20s?, (United Kingdom - see link to map above).
