Star Wars Week: The Three Faces of the Jedi

When we decided to organize a Star Trek week on the site, I was extremely excited and knew within minutes what I wanted to write about.  With Star Wars week, however, I found it to be a much more difficult process to start.  Not because I love Star Wars any less…no no no, I’m a Star Wars trivia master, but I just couldn’t find a place to start.  Luckily, one of Geekcentricity’s readers (and soon-to-be-guest-writer) helped to bestow this  nugget of an idea.  So let’s kick off our official Star Wars Week with a little Art to Life comparison.

Jedi are awesome.  Whether or not you’re a fan of Star Wars, there’s no denying that Jedi are completely badass and you deeply wish you had a lightsaber, telekinesis, and the ability to distract storm troopers and pig guards.

But WHY?

Why are Jedi so cool?  What makes your standard-issue Jedi tick?  The Jedi Order sprang forth from George Lucas’ imagination nearly 40 years ago, but where did he get the inspiration?  I think I’ve got it figured out.

Submitted for your approval, I give you the three faces of the Jedi Order.

Jedi are Samurai: The Face of Discipline

Discipline and intense training seems to be central to a Jedi’s life for many years.  Focus, commitment, and regiment from the age a new Jedi is identified are major factors in making the Jedi the most elite fighting force in the galaxy.

It’s common knowledge that Kurosawa’s “The Seven Samurai” was a major inspiration for The Phantom Menace, but how exactly are Samurai similar to Jedi?

Samurai held a high regard for discipline and training that was rarely rivaled in human history, most notably in the practice of sword-fighting.  Much like the Samurai, the Jedi have several distinct but interconnected lightsaber fighting styles that reflect the personality of the combatant.  None necessarily more advanced than another, but all of them deadly and requiring years of training to master.

Also, as seen in several Expanded Universe sources, the clarity of mind is directly related to the control of the body.  Pretty intense stuff…Lots of reading is available out there on the world wide whatsit about the Eight Traditional Fighting Styles of the Samurai.

Jedi are Monks: The Face of Sacrifice

The idea of poverty and denial of one’s self in order to be more spiritually connected to a higher power is one that sums up Buddhist Monks in an easy to swallow capsule.  The same can obviously be said for the Jedi.

The Jedi Code calls for poverty, celibacy, and intense meditation on a regular basis to strengthen a Jedi’s affinity with The Force aligns very neatly (albeit more family-friendly) with the Buddhist Patimokkha, the code of discipline for a monastic lifestyle.

Jedi cannot marry (traditionally), Jedi cannot own property outside of their robes and lightsaber, which they create themselves, a Jedi who does not meditate and commune with The Force loses clarity and direction (which can directly impact the other two faces of the Jedi.)  Case in point…Anakin went against many of these teachings, and nearly died in a volcano planet. I’m just saying.

Jedi are Knights: The Face of Honor

Of course, they aren’t called Jedi KNIGHTS for nothing.  Jedi are clearly derived from the quintessential (and heavily romanticized) European Medieval Knight.  A hierarchy of Pages, Squires, and Knights is reflected amongst Jedi equivalent of Initiates, Padawans, Knights, and Masters.

Also, the Chivalric Code is seen throughout the actions of the Jedi Order.  Protectors of the Realm, peacekeepers, defenders of the downtrodden, most Jedi are chivalry incarnate.

So there you have it folks, my personal theory on the origin of the idea of Jedi, why they’re awesome, and where to dig a little deeper.  I hope you enjoyed the article and decide to stick around for Star Wars Week.

PS

The term fanboy is attributed to no group more so than Star Wars fans. So I’ll leave you now with just one piece of guidance for the purveyors of fine geekery everywhere, a simple mantra that I hope will grow in scope and usage much like Wheaton’s Law…repeat after me:

Don’t be a fanboy…just be a fan