Questions about Jedi
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What inspired George Lucas to create the Jedi?
George Lucas drew on Buddhism, Taoism, samurai traditions, Sufism, Greek philosophy, Hinduism, and many other sources. The works of mythologist Joseph Campbell, especially his 1949 book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, directly influenced him and drove him to create what he called a modern myth. Lucas identified himself as "Buddhist Methodist" and stated in 2020 that the Jedi were "designed to be a Buddhist monk who happened to be very good at fighting".
What is the origin of the word Jedi?
The word Jedi has several proposed origins. It may derive from the Japanese term jidaigeki, meaning period drama about samurai, or from Jed and Jeddak, words in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom series meaning Leader and King. Arabic offers Al-Jeddi meaning "master of the mystic-warrior way", and the Hebrew term yadid meaning friend has also been suggested. Within the Star Wars universe, the Star Wars: Rogue One - The Ultimate Visual Guide traces the word to Jedha, a planet that was once home to a Jedi temple.
What is Order 66 in the Star Wars Jedi universe?
Order 66 was a verbal command issued by Darth Sidious that activated chips implanted in every clone trooper, brainwashing them into viewing their Jedi generals as traitors and immediately executing them. It resulted in the deaths of most of the estimated 10,000 Jedi Knights defending the galaxy, an event known as the Great Jedi Purge. Survivors included Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Ahsoka Tano, and Kanan Jarrus, among a small handful of others.
What are the different ranks in the Jedi Order?
The Jedi Order progresses through four main stages: Initiate, Padawan, Knight, and Master. Initiates enter training at age five and spend their first ten years in structured separation from outside influences. Padawans apprentice under a Knight or Master after completing fundamental training. Jedi Knights earn the rank by passing five trials, while the title of Jedi Master is awarded to those who successfully train at least one Padawan to knighthood. The Grand Master, elected unanimously by the twelve-member Jedi High Council, serves as the Order's highest-ranking leader.
What are the three divisions of Jedi Knights?
Jedi Knights could specialize into three divisions: Jedi Guardians carried blue lightsabers and focused on combat and martial prowess; Jedi Consulars carried green lightsabers and devoted themselves to diplomacy, scholarship, healing, and Force mastery; and Jedi Sentinels carried yellow lightsabers and blended both skill sets with technical, intelligence, and community-based work. Weapon Masters, those who mastered lightsaber combat such as Mace Windu, were among the greatest warriors within the Guardian class.
What is the Jedi Code?
The Jedi Code is a set of five principles that governs the behavior of the Jedi Order: "There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force." It teaches followers to resist anger and fear, which the Jedi believe lead progressively to hate and then to suffering, and ultimately to the dark side of the Force.