Bendu
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Bendu was a collection of non-confrontational beliefs practiced by the Bendu monks. The symbol of Bendu was a circle connected by eight even spokes, which represented the unification of the galaxy by the Force. Due to their study of numerology, the number eight created by this symbol had great meaning.[1]
Early in its formation, the Galactic Republic had its own symbol, but sometime after the Sith Civil War, they adapted the symbol to represent their own role in galactic unification.
A reduced form of the Bendu-inspired symbol was used by the Republic during the Unification Wars 25,000 BBY. This six spoked symbol was subsequently used during the Clone Wars by the Republic immediately before the rise of the Empire.[2]
The symbol was later the basis for the emblem of the Galactic Empire which was slightly altered; the symbol was modified from the eight-spoke form to the six-spoke form, but how, when and why it happened, is a point of historical debate. However, A reduced form of Jedi Bendu-inspired emblem with six even spokes actually existed during the Clone Wars.
Bendu symbol used by the Galactic Republic |
 Reduced form of the Bendu symbol used during the Unification Wars and Clone Wars |
 Palpatine's Bendu inspired Imperial crest |
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[edit] Behind the scenes
- Interestingly, in ROTS during the Battle of Coruscant (Clone Wars), Anakin's fighter bears the Clone Wars version of the six-spoke symbol and not the eight-spoke symbol. This can be seen when R2 fights the buzz droid.
- The name "Bendu" may come from George Lucas's original name for the Jedi Knights: the Jedi Bendu.
- The idea that Palpatine corrupted the Bendu symbol is most likely based on Adolf Hitler's alteration of the pre-existing Indian swastika to symbolize hatred and supremacy.
- Another similarity between the Old Republic and India is the close resemblance of the symbol in both appearance and meaning to the dharmachakra, a Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu symbol of unity that appears of the Indian flag. This may indicate some link between the Bendu beliefs and dharma. Links between Jedi beliefs and eastern philosophy have been theorised before.
- The dharmachakra or "wheel of dharma" is also eight-spoked, and is closely related to the dharmic swastika symbol, indicating another possible connection to Hitler's distortion of the swastika.
- In Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War Republic Navy starships are emblazoned with a blue nine-spoke symbol. Coincidentaly, the flag of the Khoonda on Dantooine (3,956 BBY to 3,951 BBY) which appeared 10 years later in Knights of the Old Republic II, had a nine-spoked blue symbol.
- The Bendu symbol, having eight spokes, is also similar to the Buddhist's symbol for the Noble Eightfold Path, a wheel formed with eight spokes.
[edit] Appearances
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (First appearance)
- The Star Wars Holiday Special
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Battlefront
- Battlefront II
- X-Wing
[edit] Sources
- Attack of the Clones: Incredible Cross-Sections
- Revenge of the Sith: Incredible Cross-Sections
- Star Wars: Complete Cross-Sections
- Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
- Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War
