What is a Jedi?
The Jedi are a fictional 'religious' order in the Star Wars universe who keep the peace within the galaxy, using the means of 'the Force', a mystical energy that apparently connects the universe together. Thus a band of Nerds decided 'Hey, let's be special by making a religion out of this Sci-Fi movie', and so Jediism was born.
Very few people who state that they are Jedi in fact believe so. Many simply say so for amusement, mockery, or their religion is most easily described as being a 'Jedi', since they are so similar. I myself have often commented to my friends jokingly that they should 'join the light side of the force' by lending me money.
The Jedi Order has some rather fascinating fictional history, starting with 'The Great Schism' in 24,500 BBY, an event which describes the creation of the 'Sith Cult', a branch of the Jedi dedicated to evil rather than good. The Jedi Xendor discovered that the 'Force', when used with emotion rather than pensive meditation, was easier, and therefore to his thinking more powerful. He led many fellow Jedi to the 'Dark Side', a selfish side of the order which was devoted to self empowerment rather than the peacekeeping of the 'Light Side'. This eventually led to conflict, resulting in the first Jedi Civil War. 100 years later, the Dark Jedi lose the war and escape to the desert planet of Korriban. Here they encounter the primitive but strong-in-the-Force 'Sith' species, and they demonstrate they use of the Force to amaze them and establish themselves as deities. For almost 20,000 years the Dark Jedi and Sith live in isolation from the rest of the galaxy, eventually interbeeding so that they all became known as Sith.
The Sith Empire, in 5000 BBY make their presence known to the galaxy, and the 'Great Hyperspace War' begins between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire. The Republic wins, but Sith Lords survive and escape, teaching others of the Dark Side of the Force. In 3996 BBY two fallen Jedi, Exar Kun and Ulic-Qel Droma lead a war against the Republic but are defeated by the light-side Jedi. In 3963 BBY an army of supercommandoes called the Mandalorians start a war, but the Jedi forbid involvement. The Jedi Revan and Malak defy the council, turning to the Dark side and calling themselves Darth Revan and Darth Malak. They end the Mandalorian wars, but then start recruiting others to the Dark Side, thus starting the Second Jedi Civil War. However, Darth Revan is betrayed by his apprentice Malak who fires upon his ship in an attempt to destroy him. Revan survives, but has complete amnesia and in the course of trying to find out what happened to him turns into a Light Side Jedi, and eventually throws down Darth Malak and ends the war that he started. He then dissapears mysteriously.
About 2000 years later another fallen Jedi creates a Sith Order which engages the Jedi for the next thousand years, which ends at 'The Battle of Ruusan', where all but one Sith are destroyed. Darth Bane, the last survivor of the Sith, goes into hiding, and starts a new sith order with only one master and one apprentice, and the Sith never reveal themselves until the start of the movie, Episode 1, the Phantom Menace.
The Jedi Code
The Jedi Order has a Code by which they live, and they meditate on it to achieve a greater understanding of it, something like 'enlightenment'.
There is no emotion, there is peace.
This is to remind the Jedi that living by emotions can hurt those around you, and is not within the ideals of the Jedi. They preach to practice peace; emotion can cloud your judgement.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. Basically you should not ignore anything, knowledge is power. |
There is no passion, there is serenity. Basically the same as the first code, but being specific as passion can cloud your judgement as well. |
There is no chaos, there is harmony. No war can go on forever, peace without cannot happen unless peace and harmony within is achieved. |
There is no Death, there is the Force. Do not grieve for loss of life, all life is connected through 'the Force' and all death is to become one with the Force, and therefore to become one with life. |
The Jedi code is the parallel to the evil Sith code, which preaches passion and power are all that matters.
'Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.'
Jedi Accessories
So you want to be like a Jedi? Or at least dress like one? Well here are some pointers to get you started.
Hairdo
The Jedi have many different hairstyles. The hair is generally a certain style with certain ranks, but females are given more liberty with hairstyles. A youngling male will normally have short cropped hair, a female with shoulder length hair. Padawans are the younglings who have been chosen to apprentice a Jedi Knight. A male padawan (if he is a species with hair) will usually have short cropped hair with a braid next to his right ear, which will grow until he is accepted as a Jedi Knight. Then there is a ceremony in which the padawan has his braid cut off, a symbolic gesture to Knighthood. Female padawans, too, can wear a braid, but it is not compulsory. A Jedi Knight can have whatever hairstyle he or she wishes, as can a Jedi Master.
Here are some example of Jedi hairstyles.
Females usually wear shoulder length hair. |
Jedi Knights can have whatever hairstyle they choose. Here's a mullet. |
A Padawan will begin growing his padawan braid at the age of 13. |
This Jedi Master has decided to shave his head bald. |
Robes
A Jedi's Robes come in many different styles, depending on the users preference. They are usually light and especially designed for complete freedom of movement, unlike the armours commonly used which would hinder a Jedi. They can vary from close-fitting clothes (right), a long robe designed to conceal movement but appear simple (center) or a soft shirt with a tunic of leather outside (left).
Some other examples are shown here.
A leather vest over robes |
A close-fitting shirt and headgear |
Loose simple robes |
Weapon
A Jedi's favoured weapon is the legendary lightsaber, a beam of light that can cut through anything except another lightsaber blade. There are several exceptions to this, including the fictional alloy cortosis, several melee weapons like the vibroblade, a sword whose blade vibrates at high minute speeds to enhance cutting power, and by luck this movement cancels out the cutting of a lightsaber. Some energy shields can halt the lightsaber cutting process, but these are very rare.
When constructing a lightsaber, the perspective Jedi heads to one of the guarded crystal caves scattered across the galaxy. They take a crystal of their choice and meditate on it to focus to bond it to them.
'The crystal is the heart of the blade.
The heart is the crystal of the Jedi.
The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.
The Force is the blade of the heart.'
Boots
Always make sure you have a sturdy pair of boots when you're a Jedi.
Here are some multiuse boots. |
Some nice leather boots in the shades of brown and black. |
A Pilot's boots need to be especially sturdy. |
The Force
Spend a lot of your time meditating, trying to psychokinetically move objects around, mind-tricking others and practicing supernatural acrobatics.
Alphabet
The Jedi off-handedly use the Alphabet of 'Aurabesh', the intergalactic language. Here is a sample below.
Here's the translation of that.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 1234567890
Galaxy Map
Bibliography
All information was founded through www.Answers.com and the popular childrens series Jedi Apprentice and Jedi Quest, by Jude Watson.
Pictures were either founded on Google Images or taken by me.
Lightsaber Effects were created with the program 'Alam DV' which was given to me by my friend Jonathon.
I got Dreamweaver MX from my friend Siyath.
Last Updated on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 9:55 PM
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