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Jedi Trials

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This article is about the trials of a Jedi. You may be looking for the book, Jedi Trial.
Nomi Sunrider, during her Jedi Trials.
Nomi Sunrider, during her Jedi Trials.
Johun: "What about the trials?"
Valenthyne: "I have spoken with them about this, too, and they agree that you have proven yourself many times over during your service on Ruusan. Assigning you to Valorum's guard was your final test."
―Valenthyne Farfalla, as he knights his Padawan, Johun Othone[src]

The Jedi Trials, also known as the Trials of Knighthood, Jedi rituals, or Jedi ceremonies, were the challenges by which Jedi Padawans were given as pre-requisites for achieving Knighthood, and were sometimes retaken by Knights to earn the rank of Jedi Master. The trials were administered by the Jedi Council to any Padawan they deemed worthy of becoming a Jedi. The primary trials were a set of four, and were the Trial of Skill, the Trial of Flesh, the Trial of Courage, and the Trial of the Spirit. Other less formal trials included learning and gaining a thorough understanding of the Jedi Code, and the construction of a lightsaber.

Contents

[edit] History

"This is to be a test of your knighthood. You and your companions must make your own way through the difficulties you will encounter."
―Arca Jeth, speaking to Ulic Qel-Droma[src]

Jedi trials date back as far as 4,000 BBY, and very likely much earlier than that. It is known that, in the days when Jedi Masters trained multiple Padawans simultaneously, the trials were less formal, though all four trials were still implemented as preliminary exams for a Padawan's transition into Jedi Knighthood. Upon successful completion of said testing, the Jedi Master would then declare their student a Jedi, Knight of the Republic.

After the Ruusan Reformations (that marked the year 1,000 BBY) when enrollment into the Jedi Order became more institutionalized, the trials themselves became more formal as well. They were carried out in a special Jedi Trials Chamber within the Jedi Temple, overseen by the Jedi Council and also the Padawan's own Master. If the Padawan was successful in completing the series of challenges, the Master would then prepare their apprentice for the Knighting ceremony. Should the apprentice be unsuccessful in completing the trials, they were permitted to take them again, until they passed.

[edit] Knighting Ceremony

       Main article: Knighting ceremony

The Jedi Master presiding over the ceremony would first place his lightsaber above the Padawan's right shoulder, then the left shoulder, and then back to the right shoulder, severing the Padawan's braid in the process. This ceremony would be held in the Hall of Knighthood, however for Anakin Skywalker, it was in the Jedi Council Chamber. The following phrase was said to the newly ordained Jedi Knight:

"Step forward, Padawan. [Name of Padawan], by the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, I dub thee, Jedi (cuts braid) Knight of the Republic."

In times of turmoil, the Trials could be bypassed at the discretion of the Jedi Council if the Padawan had shown great skill, courage, or dedication to the Jedi Order. In such cases the Padawan was considered to have passed the Trials through their actions, negating the need for formal testing. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are two examples of Jedi who earned the rank of Jedi Knight without facing the Trials, but rather passed their Trials through their actions: Obi-Wan's through his duel with the Sith Lord Darth Maul, and Anakin before and during the Clone Wars.

[edit] The New Jedi Order

In Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order, apprentices could still become Jedi Knights once their Master felt that they were ready.

The trials were a tour in the ruins of the Massassi temple and usage of Force powers in order to overcome obstacles, not to mention fighting with training remotes and Jedi training droids. They were also given missions to complete both with their master and on their own.

For instance, Padawan Jaden Korr was dubbed Jedi Knight in an informal conversation with Luke Skywalker and Korr's master Kyle Katarn, who told Korr that, in the light of his achievements during the crisis of the Disciples of Ragnos, they felt that the Padawan was ready to become a Jedi Knight.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Jedi were known to have been confirmed as Jedi Knights due to their great achievements during the conflict, and were able to forego any formal trials. The survivors of the Mission to Myrkr, who were dubbed Jedi Knights in a formal ceremony, are an example of this.

[edit] Jedi Trials of the Old Republic

[edit] Trial of Skill

"Now—A warrior's test! If you won't use the lightsaber...then use your Jedi power as you did to protect your daughter!"
―Master Thon, speaking of Nomi Sunrider's inherent skill with Jedi Battle meditation[src]
Obi-Wan faces his Trial of Skill against Darth Maul.
Obi-Wan faces his Trial of Skill against Darth Maul.

The Trial of Skill usually consisted of a lightsaber duel with an adversary, or displaying particular skill in Force applications. The Padawan had to prove to be sufficiently trained as a warrior, proving a working knowledge with the Force and basic mastery of lightsaber combat. Training for this trial is based on Lightsaber Combat training.

[edit] Notable examples

[edit] Trial of the Flesh

"And he endured a ferocious Trial of the Flesh at the hands of Count Dooku."
―Obi-Wan justifying Anakin's promotion to Jedi Knight[src]
Anakin's Trial of the Flesh
Anakin's Trial of the Flesh

The Trial of the Flesh involved the Jedi overcoming great physical pain, hardship, or loss. It could also test the Jedi's mastery of detachment from physical pleasure and people.

[edit] Notable examples

  • Sunrider not returning home and accepting Thon's offer to train her as a Jedi, in spite of the pain of her husband's death, her fear of using lightsabers, and the dangers of the galaxy as a whole.
  • Obi-Wan losing his Master Qui-Gon Jinn, during their duel against Darth Maul on Naboo, and not giving into vengeance when he finally defeated Maul himself.[3]
  • Aayla Secura suffering through an ordeal where her memories were wiped with glitteryll and she was sold into slavery on Ryloth.
  • Kyle overcoming his anger after learning Jerec was the one who killed his father.
  • Tenel Ka overcoming the loss of her right arm and refusing to have a mechaniacal replacment.

[edit] Trial of Courage

"Stubborn apprentice, this is no time for philosophy! Your future has begun! Take the lightsaber!"
―Master Thon telling Nomi Sunrider to defend herself.[src]
Luke's Trial of Courage
Luke's Trial of Courage

To pass the Trial of Courage, a Padawan would fight courageously in battle, complete a mission with a low chance of survival, or defeat a superior enemy.

[edit] Notable examples

  • Sunrider finally agreeing to take up Master Thon's lightsaber, and using it to battle and defeat Bogga the Hutt's gang of thugs.
  • Obi-Wan defeating Darth Maul during their final duel on Naboo.
  • Katarn defeating Jerec and the six Dark Jedi.
  • Luke Skywalker's entire class of Jedi trainees facing and defeating the spirit of Exar Kun.

[edit] Trial of the Spirit

Luke Skywalker's Trial of the Spirit.
Luke Skywalker's Trial of the Spirit.
"Facing the mirror."
―Even Piell[src]

To pass the Trial of the Spirit, the Padawan would have to look deep within themselves, and see what they were truly made of. Often times, the Padawan did not like what they saw, and it could be a highly traumatic experience.

[edit] Notable examples

  • Sunrider accompanying Master Thon to Ambria's Meditative Canyon, and facing the darkness in the great chasm below.
  • Revan resisting the temptation of the dark side that Bastila gave him on the Rakatan Temple.
  • Juhani coming to terms with the death of her Master Quatra by her own hand, before following Revan back to the light side and learning that Quatra was alive and just testing her ability to deal with failure and the lure of the dark side.
  • Obi-Wan overcoming the temptation to use the dark side during his duel with Darth Maul.
  • Aayla Secura's ultimately successful struggle with her desire for revenge against Quinlan Vos, which triggered her descent into the Dark Side as the thrall of Volfe Karkko on Kiffex.
  • Katarn resisting Jerec's tempation to give into the dark side by striking down his partner, Jan Ors.

[edit] Other Trials

There were two other notable trials that were usually undertaken in concert with the others.

The first was a test of the Padawan's knowledge of the Jedi Code. This was usually done periodically throughout the Padawan's training with the master asking the Padawan occasional questions until he/she had proven to the master a thorough understanding of the Jedi Code.

The second was the trial of lightsaber construction in which the Padawan meditated with the Force and constructed his/her own lightsaber. During the time of the Galactic Republic, Jedi Padawans were required to construct their own lightsabers before becoming Knights.

Occasionally, a Padawan would be called upon to perform an additional task or quest. This could take the form of solving a judicial case, providing aid to a citizen in need, or similar situations.

[edit] Notable variations on Trial practices and special cases

In certain extraordinary circumstances the precise aspects of the trials were not strictly adhered to.

Examples of this:

  • The Padawan Darsha Assant was assigned a mission to protect a Black Sun operative from assassination and it was implied that this mission would count as her Trials. Padawan Assant was killed by Darth Maul during this mission.
  • The promotion of Obi-Wan Kenobi to the rank of Jedi Knight immediately following his victory over the Sith Lord Darth Maul. This accomplishment as well as other circumstances surrounding this event such as the death of Qui-Gon Jinn and his wish for Obi-Wan to train Anakin Skywalker, was deemed enough to warrant the promotion of Kenobi to Jedi Knight.
  • The promotion of Barriss Offee following her actions on Drongar and the subsequent Republic withdrawal of the planet. She didn't suffer any loss, faced no Sith or Dark Jedi, but looked internally when discovering the bota-induced state of mind, realizing that the misuse would be of the dark side.
  • Revan was already a Knight before he led some of the Jedi in the Mandalorian Wars, and became the Dark Lord of the Sith. When he became an amnesiac after the war, he was made into a Padawan when he was taken in for Jedi training again. His actions throughout the war with Malak served as his new trials to allow him to re-achieve the rank.

[edit] Appearances

[edit] Sources

[edit] Notes & references

  1. ↑ Tales of the Jedi: The Saga of Nomi Sunrider
  2. ↑ Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace
  4. ↑ Star Wars: Clone Wars
  5. ↑ Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jedi_Trials"
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