Gray Jedi

Jolee Bindo, Gray Jedi of the Old Republic.

"Jinn always does things his own way, always sure he is right, always incredulous if we do not see it his way. Some think he is a gray Jedi."

―Tyvokka on Qui-Gon Jinn

Gray Jedi were Force users who skirted the line between the light and dark sides of the Force, but had not succumbed to the dark side. The term did not directly refer to those who were capable of using both light and dark side Force abilities, but all Gray Jedi could do so. The term is similar to that of "Dark Jedi", which can also refer to Jedi and non-Jedi alike, and denoted those who were committed to the dark side, such as Dark Side Adepts. Gray Jedi are never members of the Sith Order, as Sith taught full commitment of the dark side.

The term was also used pejoratively—and inaccurately—to describe those who operated independently from the Jedi High Council or did not follow strictures of the Jedi Code, such as those barring attachment or regulating training. Qui-Gon Jinn was slandered as a Gray Jedi for frequently opposing the will of the Council.

The term itself dated back as far as the Old Sith Wars. During this time period, Gray Jedi became associated with a certain variety of robe. In subsequent eras, the term increased in usage, most likely due to the increasing trend towards centralization of power in the Order, and the increased prominence of the Jedi Council itself.

By 130 ABY, the term was being used by the New Jedi Order to refer to entire Force traditions who held different views than the Jedi but did not embrace the dark side. The Imperial Knights were one such organization.

History

The Great Sith War.

In the aftermath of the Great Sith War, the Jedi leadership sought to re-evaluate the Jedi Code. Their more conservative interpretation left many within the Order feeling disenfranchised, as they felt the last twenty millennia of history were a sufficient precedent for how a Jedi should act. The centralization and restriction imposed by the new Code left these dissidents suspicious, believing that such moral absolutism would grant advantage to the dark side.

While the term originally applied to individual Jedi who experimented with the dark side, the term's use would expand. It would later be used to describe entire Force traditions and would be frequently misused to describe those who clashed with the orders of the High Council, regardless of the beliefs and traits of the dissidents.

In the days of the Old Republic, some Gray Jedi were known to have worn unique, gray robes, as if to declare themselves a distinct faction within the Jedi Order. It is possible that Jolee Bindo once wore a unique version of these robes.

Traits

"Well, I assure you, I see more grey than dark or light. I'm just a stubborn old man, tired of the foolishness of others."

―Jolee Bindo to Revan in the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk

Despite the term's frequent misappropriation to describe political and philosophical differences, Gray Jedi had a very specific set of traits and were rather rare. Gray Jedi called on the dark sides of the Force, but were not corrupted by it and did not embrace it. In fact, in the case of Jolee Bindo for example, a Gray Jedi might oppose those who do embrace the dark side, such as the Sith or Dark Jedi.

While Gray Jedi displayed a lax adherence to the light side of the Force, they had to be free of dark side corruption. Any Jedi who brushed up against the dark side and was corrupted by it, or struggled against it, did not qualify as a Gray Jedi. Examples of Jedi who struggled with the corruptive influence of the dark side would be Quinlan Vos, Mace Windu, and Cade Skywalker. Jedi who fell to the dark side and were later redeemed were not Gray Jedi. Examples of such "redeemed" Jedi would be Anakin Skywalker, Galen Marek, and Kyp Durron.

File:Jolee Bindo KotORCG.jpg

Jolee Bindo using the Force.

All Gray Jedi displayed the use of both light and dark side Force abilities. However, the use of a "mixed" Force power set was not, in itself, evidence of being a Gray Jedi. During the time of the Clone Wars, Jedi Master and member of the Jedi High Council Plo Koon displayed the use of a Force ability which he coined Electric Judgment that bore a striking similarity to Force Lightning, an ability strongly associated with the dark side. Koon struggled with the morality of using this power, but ultimately deemed it acceptable. Similarly, Kyle Katarn was a member of the New Jedi Order High Council despite freely using light and dark side abilities and encouraging his students, Rosh Penin and Jaden Korr, to think of Force powers as mere tools. Both Koon and Katarn held strong allegiance to the light side of the Force, despite their varied abilities. Penin fell to the dark side but was later redeemed and Korr stayed true to the light, though he was plagued with doubt over his abilities.

Gray Jedi were known to clash with members of the Jedi High Council and Jedi who strictly follow the light side of the Force. The willingness to experiment with the dark side was a violation of the strictures of the Jedi Order, the Jedi Code.

Political Use

"If you would just follow the code, you would be on the Council. They will not go along with you this time."
"You still have much to learn, my young apprentice."

―Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn

File:Qui-Gon Force.jpg

Qui-Gon Jinn was considered a Gray Jedi by members of the High Council.

While the term exclusively points to Force users who walk the line between light and dark, it was common to label dissident Jedi as "Gray Jedi" to highlight their opposition to the Jedi High Council. While such Jedi were, for most intents and purposes, loyal members of the Jedi Order, their maverick natures often put them into conflict with it, especially against more conservative members of the Council. Rather than experimentation with the dark side, they might have clashed with the Council over the acceptable age limit that a sentient could begin training or rejected the taboo against "attachments" such as families. Belief in an alternate Force philosophy, such as in the Living Force, might also have caused a Jedi to be identified as a "Gray Jedi", regardless of actual proximity to the dark side.

Those labeled as "Gray Jedi" for their devotion to the Living Force held such beliefs out of a desire to avoid falling to the dark via adherence to what they viewed as arcane strictures imposed by the post-Sith War Council. Qui-Gon Jinn—thought of as a Gray Jedi by members of the Council—was an adherent of the Living Force, and yet staunchly opposed the dark side. He may have been unorthodox, both in his behavior and relationship with the Council, but there was never any doubt of Qui-Gon's adherence to the core of the Jedi philosophy or his dedication to the light.

It was difficult for unorthodox Jedi—especially those labeled as "Gray Jedi", accurately or not—to join the Council or ascend to any position of real leadership in the Order. As the High Council chose its own members, its preference tended toward orthodox Jedi, such as the group described as the Old Guard. Qui-Gon Jinn's candidacy was rejected in favor of Plo Koon, and then Ki-Adi-Mundi, both of whom were more in line with the Council's way of thinking.

Possible Gray Jedi

Dabbling in the dark side

These individuals fit the official definition of Gray Jedi, skirting the line between the dark and light sides of the Force without surrendering to the dark side.

• Jolee Bindo—married a fellow Jedi against the Order's Code (see "Pulling a Bindo") and later retreated to self-exile on Kashyyyk. Bindo described himself as seeing "more grey than dark or light", yet strongly opposed the Sith of Revan and Malak.

Clashing with the Council

These individuals may have been labeled as Gray Jedi for their unorthodox methods or opposition to the High Council. Some of them, such as Qui-Gon Jinn, were slandered as Gray Jedi despite strong adherence to the light side of the Force and never having displayed the use of dark side Force abilities.

• Djinn Altis—led a faction of Jedi who did not follow the will of the High Council, though they aided the council in service to the Republic during the Clone Wars.
  • Geith Eris
  • Ash Jarvee
  • Callista Ming
• Aqinos—was a Jedi who trained a number of inorganic, Force-sensitive crystals in the ways of the Force and was excommunicated for his actions. The crystal-beings became known as the Iron Knights, and stayed separate from the Jedi Order until they were rediscovered and accepted by the New Jedi Order.
  • Firkrann
  • Ilum
  • Luxum
• Eelysa—trained barabel Force sensitives as Jedi against the wishes of Grand Master Skywalker, though they were accepted into the New Jedi Order after her death.
• Nejaa Halcyon—married against the Order's Code, which all Corellian Jedi were expected to follow despite their unique traditions.
• Qui-Gon Jinn—frequently clashed with the High Council, was a follower of the Living Force, and wanted Anakin Skywalker trained despite the will of the Council. Some Council members thought of Jinn as a Gray Jedi despite his dedication to the light.
• "Independent" Jedi—were unorthodox Jedi who wandered the galaxy, separate from the High Council. They could be considered Gray Jedi, though the reasons for their separation from the council may vary.
  • An'ya Kuro
  • Jon Antilles
  • Fay
  • Knol Ven'nari
  • Nico Diath
  • Zao
  • Plett

Imperial Knights were considered Gray Jedi by the New Jedi Order.

Alternate Force traditions

These Force traditions were considered to be Gray Jedi by the Jedi Order for not adhering strongly to the light side, but without embracing the dark side as the Sith Order had. While any such Force tradition might be considered Gray Jedi, especially by the New Jedi Order, only those expressly labeled as such are listed below.

• Imperial Knights—were considered by the New Jedi Order to be Gray Jedi.
  • Sigel Dare
  • Antares Draco
  • Marasiah Fel
  • Mohrgan Fel
  • Roan Fel
  • Ganner Krieg
  • Azlyn Rae
  • Treis Sinde
  • Elke Vetter
• Jensaarai—were accepted into the Jedi Order, but were still labeled as Gray Jedi for the practices of certain members. The Jensaarai denied these claims.
  • Kelbis Nu
  • Saarai-kaar

Behind the scenes

Some Expanded Universe Jedi created before the release of the prequel trilogy have been retconned as Gray or unorthodox Jedi to explain why they do not follow the Code and training methods of the Jedi Order. For example, this type of retcon was used by Karen Traviss to explain why Callista Ming was permitted to form a romantic relationship with fellow Jedi Knight Geith Eris.

Shifting Definition

The term "Gray Jedi" has had multiple definitions over time. It was first used in the Star Wars Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War comic book to refer to Qui-Gon Jinn, specifically to his constant opposition of the Jedi High Council. This definition was later supported in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords video game by an item called "Gray Jedi Robe" that had the following description:

"Gray Jedi are those who, though having completed the teachings of the Jedi, operate independently and outside of the Jedi Council. They are typically seen as misguided, though they have not necessarily succumbed to the dark side."

―Gray Jedi Robe item description

The definition was later altered in Star Wars: Legacy, #0. It was both expanded in meaning to include entire non-Jedi Force traditions and was shifted from specifying one's relationship to the council to one's relationship to the light and dark sides of the Force. This brought the definition more in line with that of the term Dark Jedi, which also can apply to non-Jedi and describes one's relationship to the Force.

"The Jedi view the Imperial Knights as "gray"—though the Imperials do not seek to draw on the dark side of the Force, neither do they strictly follow the light side."

―The Imperial Knights of the Fel Empire

The new definition was confirmed at-length in the Jedi Academy Training Manual book for the Saga Edition role playing game:

"The dark side of the Force is usually presented as the driving Force behind the Sith, the darkest evil in the galaxy. However, other Force traditions have been known to walk the dark path or wield the dark side from time to time and still avoid falling under its influence. ... Force-using Jedi who meddle with the dark side without totally surrendering to it are sometimes referred to as Gray Jedi. A Gray Jedi taps into the light side and the dark side equally."

―Jedi Academy Training Manual, page 45

Erroneous Use

The term Gray Jedi is often erroneously used to refer to Force users who believe there is no dark side, but, as explained in this article, this is not the case. Such Force users are said to follow specific alternative teachings, such as the Potentium theory, in canon sources.

Some Sith and Dark Jedi are also erroneously labeled as Gray Jedi despite their adherence to the dark side. This is a misunderstanding of the term, as Gray Jedi—by definition—cannot have embraced the dark side. It should be remembered that any Jedi who embraces the dark side would instead be considered a Sith or Dark Jedi. Examples of Sith who are sometimes mislabeled as Gray Jedi are Kreia, Vergere, Darth Vectivus, and Darth Caedus. These Sith may be mistaken as Gray Jedi because they consider themselves not to be evil or to be "less evil" than other Sith.

Appearances

• Edge of Victory II: Rebirth
• I, Jedi
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (First appearance)
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War (First mentioned)
• Star Wars: Legacy

Sources

• Jedi Academy Training Manual
• Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
• The New Essential Chronology
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
• Star Wars Legacy 0
• Star Wars Legacy 0½