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The Force 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 chi 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. Midi-chlorians are tiny microscopic bacteria inside your body which allow you to use the force. 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 chaos. 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. 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 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. Structure of the Order There is a well-developed hierarchy of ranks, listed below. Jedi ranks
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 , 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 then dying himself, as there are always only two Sith) and thus fulfilling the Prophecy that he would bring balance to the Force. Another theory is based on the idea that in order to "balance" the Force, Anakin had to destroy both the Jedi and the Sith. In the video game Knights of the Old Republic series, Revan is considered a "Chosen One". Alternatively, Anakin Skywalker could be seen as the Chosen One because for a thousand years the Jedi had held sway on the side of the Light in the Galaxy, thus bringing the Force into imbalance. Qui-Gon and the other Jedi were correct in assuming this because Anakin's midi-chlorian count was so high, but his position as the one who would 'bring balance to the Force' was mis-interpreted to mean that he would become the greatest Jedi. His actions and influences both by Jedi and Sith Masters meant that he did indeed bring balance to the Force, but at a terrible cost of lives. By slaughtering the younglings at the Jedi Temple during the events in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker brought balance back to the Force, allowing the power of the Force to be held in the Galaxy by Senator/Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious, who represents the Dark Side of the Force. Anakin Skywalker also represents the fulcrum whereby evil would rule the galaxy for as long as the Emperor lived, until Anakin killed the Emperor, thereby fulfilling the Sith tradition where the Apprentice kills the Master, and at the same time allows Luke Skywalker to continue the Jedi tradition of passing on the knowledge of the Jedi way. The Pillars of Jedi Strength There are mainly four pillars of Jedi strength: 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. It's unknown if you have to be a Master upon departure from the Order to be considered one of the Lost Twenty-if not, then Ferus Olin could be considered a member, until his return after Order 66 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 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 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. Only six 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, who the Jedi Order captured and performed a memory erase on, 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 and Kyle Katarn from the Jedi knight saga crosses between the dark side and the light side of the force during his batle whit jerec aprentice's (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 , 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 . 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
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
The New Jedi Order
The Dark Nest
Major 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. Pre-Ruusan Reformation|Ruusan Old Republic Jedi Post-Ruusan Reformation|Ruusan Old Republic Jedi The New Jedi Order Jedi of Star Wars Legacy time period See also Notes | |||||||||||||||||||
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