Qui-Gon Jinn

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Qui-Gon Jinn
Biographical information
Born

92 BBY (57BrS)[1][2]

Died

32 BBY (3),[1] Naboo[3]

Physical description
Species

Human[4]

Gender

Male[4]

Height

1.93 meters[4]

Hair color

Brown (graying)[4]

Eye color

Blue[4]

Chronological and political information
Era(s)

Rise of the Empire era

Affiliation
Known masters

Dooku

Known apprentices
"A true Knight, Qui-Gon is. Forever on his own quest."
Yoda[src]

Qui-Gon Jinn was a revered, yet maverick and unconventional Jedi Master. He was Padawan to Count Dooku, and mentor to Obi-Wan Kenobi and briefly Anakin Skywalker. Jinn often placed himself in conflict with the Jedi Council. He was deeply attuned to the Living Force, which contributed to his frequent taking side trips to help seemingly "pathetic life-forms." Despite his opposition to the council, he was regarded by many Jedi as sharp-witted and for possessing great wisdom.

Jinn served the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order his entire life, participating in actions against the Nebula Front and most famously during the Invasion of Naboo. It was Jinn who discovered the Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker, on Tatooine during this crisis and was largely responsible for championing his training. Even after his death at the hands of Darth Maul he played a vital role in the legacy of the Jedi Order.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Jinn as a Padawan.
"Do not defy the Council, Master, not again."
"I shall do what I must, Obi-Wan."
―Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn — (audio)Listen (file info)[src]

Born almost a century before the Battle of Yavin, Qui-Gon Jinn was taken as an infant to Coruscant to train and become a Jedi. He maintained some ties with his planet of birth, and even once obtained a special worn stone from his homeworld's River of Light.[5] At the age of eight, Jinn befriended a fellow trainee, Tahl. Over the years the two became the best of friends, along with other students including Clee Rhara.[6] At ten years old, Jinn participated in the Exhibition Day Tournament, where young students are encouraged to perform their skills so that they may be taken as an apprentice to one of the Knights or Masters. It was at this exhibition that Dooku first saw Jinn's lightsaber skills. It can be presumed that Dooku was impressed with what he saw, for he took Jinn as his Padawan a short time afterward.

Jinn as a Padawan, with his master Dooku, and Masters Yoda and Tyvokka.

Together, Dooku and Jinn went on numerous missions across the galaxy. On one notable mission, the two were sent to accompany Senator Blix Annon on a diplomatic assignment. However, space pirates infiltrated their ship. Their leader turned out to be Lorian Nod, a failed Jedi with whom Dooku was once close friends. The two battled and Dooku let his anger get the best of him. When it seemed that he would give the deathblow to a helpless Nod, it was Jinn's words that stopped him from doing so.[7] Some time following this assignment, Dooku and Jinn were given their final mission as master and apprentice, which would last two years. Upon returning from this mission, Jinn was reunited with Tahl, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. As his final words for Jinn as a student, Dooku told him that he had one weakness and that it was his compassion for all life. Dooku warned him that it is an inevitability that betrayal would come from a friend.

Knighthood and Xanatos

"A broken circle."
Obi-Wan Kenobi[src]

In no time, both Jinn and Tahl became Jedi Knights. When the Jedi Council suggested that he take a Padawan learner, Jinn chose not to. He felt that he was not ready and over the next few years took on solo missions for the Order. During this time Jinn discovered a young boy from Telos IV named Xanatos who exhibited a strong connection to the Force. Jinn took Xanatos to the Jedi Temple for training, despite the fact that the child was quite older than the accepted age for training. Over the next two years[source?] as Xanatos was trained at the Temple, Jinn took an unidentified Padawan, whose training was almost complete. After successfully guiding the Padawan to Knighthood, Jinn Jinn became a Jedi Master (59 BBY),[source?] and soon Xanatos became his newest apprentice.[8]

Over the years many members of the Council, including Yoda, expressed their concerns about Xanatos, and decided to give one final test before granting him the title of Jedi Knight. Jinn and Xanatos were sent to Telos, Xanatos's homeworld, where the boy's father, Crion, had become a tyrant, controlling the planet with an iron grip. Xanatos was tempted by his father's wealth and power, and joined Crion, hoping to rule together. Leading the planet into a civil war, Crion was confronted by Jinn, who was forced to kill the governor. Upon doing so, Xanatos became enraged and took a ring from his father's finger, searing hot from Jinn's blade. He branded it into his cheek, creating a broken-circle scar. Swearing his revenge, Xanatos fled.

Upon returning to the Temple, Jinn blamed himself for Xanatos's failure, and even went so far as to renounce his success in training his first Padawan.[8] He vowed not to take another Padawan for the rest of his life. Tahl tried to comfort Jinn by accompanying him to the training world of Ragoon VI to hopefully relax and take his mind off Xanatos. However, this dark chapter in Jinn's life would be very hard to erase.

For the next few years, Jinn returned to solo missions, yet would occasionally work with others on various assignments. Jinn and Tahl were credited for accomplishing many missions, including successfully overseeing the first democratic elections of New Apsolon.

Taking another apprentice

Jinn and his new apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"Qui-Gon Jinn, I will be thirteen in four weeks. You are my last chance to be a Jedi Knight."
―Kenobi begging Jinn to accept him as his apprentice.[src]

Initially, Jinn was worried about taking another apprentice, as his last apprentice fell to the dark side. In 44 BBY, 9 years since Xanatos' betrayal, Yoda encouraged Jinn to take another apprentice. Though Jinn had already made up his mind to remain alone, he agreed to at least observe a small tournament among a group of the Temple's older students, which included Bruck Chun and Obi-Wan Kenobi. He took notice of Kenobi's skills, but shortly following the tournament, he left heading for Bandomeer, by orders of the Supreme Chancellor.

On the transport ship to Bandomeer, Jinn was reunited with Kenobi, who was also being sent to Bandomeer to begin his life in the Agricultural Corps. On the transport, Jinn and Kenobi helped defend a group of Arcona from the criminal organization, Offworld Corporation. After putting an end to the tense situation, the two arrived on Bandomeer, where Jinn received a letter signed by Xanatos. It turned out that Bandomeer was not in need of Jedi assistance, it had all been organized by Xanatos, who was revealed to be the leader of Offworld, whose mining operations terrorized all on the planet.

Jinn sent Kenobi off to his Agri-Corps duties, while he planned to meet with Xanatos, not as old adversaries, but as ambassadors, working to find an agreement between Offworld and Bandomeer. However, Xanatos planned to sabotage their meeting and kill Jinn. Once again with the help of Kenobi, Jinn attempted to end Xanatos's acts of terror. Jinn dueled with his former apprentice, and though they ended Offworld's business on Bandomeer, Xanatos was able to escape. During their situation with Xanatos, Jinn discovered Kenobi's true potential, and took him as his new Padawan learner.

Jinn duels his former apprentice, Xanatos.

As master and apprentice, Jinn and Kenobi were sent on various missions across the galaxy, to worlds such as Gala and Phindar. One mission, in which the two rescued a blinded Tahl from the war-torn world of Melida/Daan, led to Kenobi's temporary resignation from the Jedi Order. Also over this time, the two Jedi had more encounters with Xanatos, who, with the help of the bitter Padawan, Bruck Chun, nearly assassinated Yoda within the Jedi Temple itself. After dueling with the Dark Jedi and chasing him to Telos, Jinn and Kenobi's final confrontation with Xanatos resulted in his suicide, jumping into a pool of acid instead of surrendering. Though a major threat to the Jedi Order was now eliminated, it was a disturbing ending to a dark chapter in Jinn's life.

Along with other Jedi such as Tyvokka, Plo Koon, Tholme and his Padawan Quinlan Vos, Jinn and Kenobi fought in one of the largest galactic conflicts prior to the Clone Wars—the Stark Hyperspace War. It was the first of many times that the two would encounter the Trade Federation, though it would be one of the few times that they were defending them.[9]

As Jinn and Kenobi's apprenticeship matured, they formed a close father-and-son like bond with each other. Three decades after first meeting Lorian Nod with his former master, Dooku, Jinn once again faced off with the failed Jedi on Junction 5, and once again he was incarcerated for his crimes.[7] Jinn continually passed on as much knowledge as he could to Kenobi. Lessons ranged from the importance of the Living Force to the reasons why the Jedi Order discouraged romantic relationships.[6]

As time went on, Jinn and Kenobi accomplished various other missions across the galaxy. On Kegan, they discovered the Force-sensitivity of the future Jedi Knight, Olana Chion. In the Rutan system, the two Jedi acted as ambassadors to settle a conflict between the world of Rutan and its moon of Senali.

Jenna Zan Arbor

"You are a subject of a scientific experimentation. You will not be hurt, only studied."
―Jenna Zan Arbor to Qui-Gon Jinn[src]
Jinn is held as a prisoner of Jenna Zan Arbor.

In 43 BBY, Jinn and Kenobi investigated strange murders in which the bodies of the victims were drained entirely of their blood. This investigation led them to meet the famed scientist Jenna Zan Arbor. Eventually, they discovered that the bounty hunter Ona Nobis was behind the murders, but they still did not know who her client was. Upon confronting Nobis, Jinn managed to get aboard her ship and was immediately hit with her blasterfire. Jinn was captured and taken to Jenna Zan Arbor. Zan Arbor, who was studying the genetic traits of Force-sensitives (possibly to discover a way to genetically engineer Force-sensitivity into normal beings), began further experiments on Jinn, draining his blood and torturing him to test his limits. Kenobi, with the help of Tahl, Adi Gallia, and Siri Tachi, managed to infiltrate Zan Arbor's labs and free Jinn. It wasn't long before Zan Arbor was caught. The deranged scientist was imprisoned and the bounty hunter, Ona Nobis, was presumed to be dead after a fight with Kenobi.

In 42 BBY, Jinn and Kenobi were faced with troubles of the past yet again. Vox Chun, the father of the Dark Padawan, Bruck Chun, hired a lawyer Sano Sauro to prosecute Kenobi for Bruck's accidental death. The trial that followed led Jinn's apprentice into an emotionally difficult time, even after he was cleared of the charges.

Forbidden love

"There is no help for me now. There is only revenge."
―Jinn directly after Tahl's death[src]

In 41 BBY, tensions began to rise in Jinn's friendship with Tahl. Tahl had recently taken Bant Eerin, one of Kenobi's close friends, as her Padawan learner, and Jinn tried to press his advice onto her. The tension started to make the two realize that they had more than just friendly feelings toward each other. However, they put the teachings of the Jedi Code first, and did their best to ignore them.[6]

While training with Kenobi on Ragoon VI, Jinn began to suffer from visions of Tahl in grave danger. Upon returning to Coruscant, Jinn requested to the Council that he be sent with her on her next mission, to New Apsolon. Tahl, however, declined his offer and went on alone, even leaving Eerin behind at the Temple. Three weeks passed and Tahl had not been heard from. Jinn and Kenobi went to New Apsolon (against the orders of the Council) to discover what may have happened to Tahl. After a lengthy search, they found her, safe and in perfect health. Upon seeing each other again, Jinn and Tahl openly admitted their forbidden love for each other. They promised to each other that they would deal with their emotions more after the mission was over.[6]

Jinn is brought dangerously close to the dark side following Tahl's death.

However, it wasn't long before Tahl was missing yet again, only this time she was truly in danger, kidnapped by a New Apsolon rebel named Balog. When Jinn and Kenobi finally found Balog, he had already drugged Tahl. The Jedi managed to rescue her, but despite Jinn's attempts to heal her through the Force, Tahl passed away.

The death of Tahl drove Jinn into a terrible state of depression and a rise in strong dark side emotions. He blamed himself for Tahl's death and even recalled his past failure with Xanatos. He swore revenge on Balog and made it his top priority to track him down. Kenobi, who was worried about his master, tried to assure him that there was nothing that he could have done to save her, but Jinn wouldn't hear it. Finally tracking down Balog, Jinn cornered him and was about to slaughter the man when he heard a voice utter two words:

"No, Qui-Gon."

The warning made Jinn realize the dark path he was following and he abruptly deactivated his lightsaber, snapping out of his own anger, horrified at the dark path he was about to go down. After taking Balog into custody, Jinn thanked Kenobi for stopping him, only to hear from his apprentice that it was not him who said those words. It was then that Jinn realized that it was the voice of Tahl. The Jedi returned to Coruscant and gave Tahl a proper funeral.

Jinn and his apprentice would also help Attichitcuk and Chewbacca establish a colony on the Kashyyyk moon of Alaris Prime, and would later help drive the Trade Federation off it.[10]

Changing times

Jinn before the Invasion of Naboo.

Despite being saved from falling over to the dark side, Jinn still was a changed man following Tahl's death, and a great deal of change also occurred around him following her loss. Jocasta Nu, another of Jinn's friends, succeeded Tahl as the head archivist of the Jedi Archives, and the Nautolan Jedi, Kit Fisto took Tahl's place as Eerin's master. A number of new missions continued to strengthen Jinn and Kenobi's bond with each other.

On a mission to protect a young boy named Talesan Fry, Jinn and Kenobi were paired with Adi Gallia and Siri Tachi. The mission, which resulted in Jinn and Gallia being separated from Kenobi and Siri, led to the discovery of romantic feelings between the two Padawans. Jinn detected these emotions and warned Kenobi of his own example with Tahl, and the consequences of losing a loved one.[6]

More missions for the two Jedi continued to follow. Jinn and Kenobi met Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, who would call upon the two Jedi in particular for future assignments. The two also encountered the bounty hunter Aurra Sing[11], and fought alongside Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and other Jedi against the Yinchorri.[12]

During this time period, Jinn and Kenobi were dispatched on a mission to locate a valuable cargo ship that had disappeared. Their search took them to Ord Mantell, and brought them to confront the land baron Taxer Sundown. On the mission, Jinn befriended the native Mantellian savrip, which aided him in completing his mission on the lawless world.[13]

Both Jedi would later fight against the Nebula Front terrorist organization. At the Trade Federation conference on Eriadu, Jinn and Kenobi were successful in defending Supreme Chancellor Valorum, but did not prevent the deaths of the rest of the Trade Federation Directorate, allowing the Neimoidians to take control of the Federation.[14]

Blockade of Naboo

Ambassadors

"The situation here is not what it seems. There is something else behind all this, Your Highness. There is no logic in the Federation's move here. My feelings tell me they will destroy you."
―Qui-Gon Jinn to Queen Amidala(audio)Listen (file info)[src]
Jinn and Kenobi prepare to hold their breath as the Trade Federation floods the chamber where they were waiting with dioxis gas.

In 32 BBY, Jinn and Kenobi were sent to the planet Naboo onboard the Radiant VII to resolve a crisis. The Trade Federation, in protest to recent taxation laws, had assembled a blockade of the planet with a fleet of battleships. The two Jedi were sent as ambassadors of Supreme Chancellor Valorum to reach a peaceful settlement.[3]

Shortly after their arrival on the Federation battleship Saak'ak, the Radiant VII was destroyed and the conference chamber they were waiting in was flooded with dioxis gas. They survived the gas, and easily defeated the battle droids assigned to reinforce the chamber entrance. Jinn tried to cut through the bridge's blast doors, but the arrival of Federation droidekas forced them to flee. The two Jedi then stowed away on a troop transport as the Federation moved to invade Naboo with a force of battle droids.[3]

On Naboo, Jinn met Jar Jar Binks, saving him from possible death and earning his life debt. Binks reluctantly took him to the underwater city of Otoh Gunga, where Boss Rugor Nass agreed to give them a transport and allowed Binks to go with the offworlders as a guide. After he gained transport to the capital city of Theed, Jinn, Kenobi and Binks journeyed through the planet's core, evading several sea monsters, to Theed. Once in the capital city, he and Kenobi rescued the Queen and escaped Naboo on the royal starship. As they dashed through the blockade, however, the ship was hit by laser fire and the hyperdrive was badly damaged. The party was forced to land on Tatooine.[3]

Discovery of the Chosen One

"Finding him was the will of the Force, I have no doubt of that."
―Qui-Gon Jinn to the Jedi Council(audio)Listen (file info)[src]

On Tatooine, Jinn looked for parts in the settlement of Mos Espa, where he encountered the junk dealer Watto and his slave, a Force-strong young boy named Anakin Skywalker. Jinn came to believe that Skywalker may be the Chosen One of Jedi legend.[3]

Jinn, agreeing to help Skywalker who was secretly building a podracer, acquired necessary machine parts for the racing vehicle. Never forgetting his Jedi duties while in Mos Espa, Jinn was able to free a young Ithorian named Tomo from bondage of one Captain Neg and even dissuade the assassin Jym Lang from committing a murder.[15] Later, Jinn was able to release Skywalker from slavery, as well, when he bet Watto on the boy's victory during the Boonta Eve Classic podrace. The wager also resulted in obtaining parts to fix the damaged Naboo ship. With their means to return to Coruscant secured, Jinn and his new charge sojourned to the outskirts of Mos Espa to meet up with their companions.[3] However, their progress was watched by a DRK-1 Dark Eye probe droid. Jinn sensed the intrusive presence and struck the probe down, yet the damage was already done.[16]

The Sith Lord Darth Maul had been trailing the Jedi and recovered his destroyed droid, thinking that his quarry had stowed aboard the smuggling ship Dusty Duck. Maul boarded the light freighter and struck down the pilot, Aneesa Dym, believing her to be harboring his enemy.[17] Once he learned the truth, the Sith assassin doubled his efforts to reach Jinn before he escaped. As Jinn and Skywalker approached the Queen's ship, they were intercepted by Darth Maul who nearly knocked down Skywalker with his speeder. Jinn fought the Sith warrior in a vicious lightsaber duel as the ship took off behind him. Jumping high with the Force, the Jedi Master managed to land on the boarding ramp as the ship soared away, leaving the Sith Lord behind on the desert planet.[3]

Jinn battles Darth Maul on Tatooine.

On Coruscant, Jinn and Kenobi appeared before the Jedi High Council to give a report. The Council reluctantly agreed to test young Skywalker for Jedi potential. They found that the boy was indeed very strong with the Force, having the greatest potential ever recorded, but declined to train him on the grounds that he was too old. Yoda sensed that the boy's future was "clouded". Jinn tried to release Kenobi from apprenticeship, saying that Kenobi was ready for the Jedi Trials, in order to take Skywalker as his Padawan. But the Council would not be swayed. Disappointed, Jinn and Kenobi prepared to return to Naboo with Queen Amidala, who hoped to liberate the planet in one swift stroke.[3]

Deadly duel

Jinn: "Obi-Wan. Promise…Promise me you will train the boy."
Kenobi: "Yes, Master."
Jinn: "He…is the Chosen One. He…will bring balance. Train him…"
—Jinn's dying request to Kenobi — (audio)Listen (file info) [src]

During the Second Battle of Theed, Jinn and Kenobi started out aiding Amidala and her sortie, fighting in the streets. However, when the battle moved into the palace hangar, they encountered Darth Maul, wielding a double-bladed lightsaber.[3]

Jinn faces Darth Maul on Naboo.

While the Queen and her guards went to reclaim the throne room, the two Jedi engaged the Sith Lord. The lightsaber duel was frenzied and brutal, moving through the hangar and into the Theed Generator Complex, where they fought on the precarious catwalks. When Maul kicked Kenobi over the edge of the catwalk they were fighting on, Jinn was forced to continue the duel alone. While his Padawan rushed to catch up, Jinn and Maul moved on, passing through an impenetrable laser shield security system to one of the cooling pits. The shields closed between them, separating the combatants momentarily, but also separated Kenobi from Jinn, over ten shields apart. Jinn took advantage of the break in the duel to crouch down and meditate, bringing himself in full tune with the Force. When the shields deactivated, Jinn immediately attacked Maul while Kenobi rushed to help his Master.[3]

However, the shields closed again, preventing the Jedi Padawan from aiding his mentor. Although Jinn was one of the best lightsaber duelists in the Order, his preferred practice of Form IV proved disadvantageous in the confined space of the cooling pit, as Ataru required a wide, open space for its energetic acrobatics and multi-angular bladework. Also, Maul had the advantage of youth and pure strength.[3]

Jinn's death at the hands of Darth Maul.

The end result was Jinn being hit in the chin with Maul's saberstaff hilt, leaving him momentarily stunned, and the Sith mercilessly impaled him through the stomach. As the Jedi Master crumpled to the floor, Kenobi freed himself from his laser prison and engaged Maul. Upon being struck, Jinn saw visions of the future, including Skywalker's turn to the dark side as well as the fall of the Jedi Order and the Republic. During Kenobi's duel with Maul however, Jinn saw Skywalker return to the light side, thanks to the efforts of his son, and destroy the Sith (Darth Sidious and himself), bringing balance to the Force.

As Kenobi continued to duel Maul, he succeeded in slicing the Sith Lord's double-bladed lightsaber hilt in half, but was then knocked into the pit. Though Kenobi managed to hold onto the edge of the pit, he lost his lightsaber, leaving him defenseless. Ultimately, Kenobi defeated Maul when he leaped out of the pit, called his Master's lightsaber to his hand, and struck the Sith down. With his last breaths, Jinn told Kenobi to train Skywalker as his dying wish, knowing that the boy ultimately would fulfill the prophecy and bring balance to the Force. Jinn was later cremated in the Theed Funeral Temple.[3]

Legacy

"When you travel the universe with Qui-Gon Jinn, you tend to learn a few things."
Obi-Wan Kenobi to Anakin Skywalker on Nelvaan[src]

After falling at the hands of Darth Maul on Naboo, Jinn continued to have a large impact on the future of the Jedi. Jinn's death also is known to have troubled his former master so much that Dooku, who had touched the dark side even as a young boy, became even more disillusioned with the Jedi Order. This led him to further rationalize the philosophy of the dark side, contributing to his eventual fall. He left the Jedi Order and became Darth Tyranus, replacing Maul as Darth Sidious's Sith apprentice.

Jinn is given a Jedi funeral.

Having long ago discovered a way to maintain his identity after death from a Shaman of the Whills, Jinn attempted unsuccessfully to prevent Skywalker's slaughter of the Sandpeople that had killed his mother.[18] He was also known to have often communicated with Yoda through the Force in a subtle way until finally revealing himself in 19 BBY.[19]

Jinn later contacted Anakin Skywalker during the Battle of Praesitlyn to prevent him from murdering surrendered Separatist Admiral Pors Tonith.[20] At roughly the same time, he also appeared in a Force Vision to Yoda, as him, sending Skywalker into a tree, implying that it was time for Skywalker to face his Trials and be Knighted. When Skywalker was summoned back to the Temple to what he thought was another "scolding", he said that Kenobi was not Jinn, which put a sad face on his master. He tried to apologize, but Kenobi assured him that he also missed his former master.[21]

A few months later, shortly after the reorganization of the Republic into the Galactic Empire, Yoda finally heard Jinn's voice clearly and proclaimed himself Jinn's pupil in order to master the skill the deceased Jedi had learned. It was achieved through extreme compassion, a rejection of selfishness and personal attachment to the point that the physical self fades away, but the consciousness remains as one with the Force.[22]

Yoda learned the technique, and passed this secret on to Obi-Wan Kenobi,[23] who would also train under Qui-Gon Jinn, giving him the ability to aid Luke Skywalker where it would otherwise have been impossible. Thus even in death, Jinn's rebellious nature served the greater good.

A short time following the end of the Clone Wars, Jinn spoke to his former apprentice Kenobi, in the streets of Anchorhead, for the first time since his death on Naboo.[24] When Kenobi was debating whether to go to Bellessa to rescue Ferus Olin, Jinn promised to watch over Anakin Skywalker's son, Luke.

The Jedi Archives had a Bronzium sculpture of Qui-Gon Jinn on the first floor.[1]

Personality and traits

«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[src]
Jinn watches approvingly as Kenobi takes Skywalker as his apprentice.

Regarded as a maverick by his peers, Qui-Gon Jinn was a wise and faithful—but unorthodox—member of the Jedi Order. He was a proponent of the Living Force concept, and his many attempts to help 'lesser creatures' annoyed his master, Dooku, to no end. Dooku, Jinn, Kenobi, and Skywalker formed a chain of Jedi Masters and Padawans through which passed a rebellious streak, making them a difficulty in the eyes of the Jedi Council. Indeed, his Padawan Kenobi suggested that the Council would have invited Jinn to join them, if he would follow the Jedi Code. A distinguished and adept Jedi warrior, Qui-Gon Jinn reflected strength and wisdom.

Jinn came into knighthood during an era in which the Jedi Order was more conservative and committed to a democratic Republic. His commitment to studying the galaxy and interacting with it would prove far-reaching, having a great impact on Kenobi and his Padawan Anakin Skywalker, both of whom would greatly influence the founder of the New Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker.

Jinn was also known for his often-overwhelming compassion for all life forms. This commiseration led to his saving Jar Jar Binks from his punishment at the hands of his fellow Gungans, and contributed greatly to his freeing of Skywalker.

He was also a great teacher and mentor, and taught Kenobi the Nelvaanian tongue on their journeys across the galaxy, as well as others.

The Jedi Master appeared much younger than his age and had a penetrating gaze. He also had a subtle attention to detail, seen as he could sense mood changes in the people around him and was quite adept at hiding his emotions from other individuals, even other Jedi. His master was often perplexed by his ability to do this even when Jinn was a Padawan.

Powers and abilities

"Qui-Gon Jinn was perhaps the greatest Jedi alive, a commanding presence at Council, a strong and brave warrior who refused to be intimidated by even the most daunting challenge, and a good and kind man."
―Obi-Wan Kenobi[src]
Jinn's lightsaber.

A philosophical warrior, Jinn believed heavily in what he referred to as the "Living Force," a method of focusing on the moment rather than contemplating the Force in all its degrees. It has been suggested that an ability such as this would have been conducive to stopping Palpatine's rise to power; as the Jedi focused on the Separatist threat to the future of the Galactic Republic, they failed to examine the moment more closely. Jinn was also skilled in mind tricks, as was evident when he managed to convince the Gungan leader to let him escape.

In addition to his mastery of the Force, Jinn was also a master in Form IV: Ataru, often having sparred with Master Mace Windu; it is said that neither actually managed to outduel the other.[25] His deep-rooted strength and compassion was fueled by the Force, and this was reflected in his lightsaber style, a style that needs precision and smoothness of movement. It is interesting to note his choice of Ataru despite sparring with Windu, the creator of Vaapad, and being apprenticed to Count Dooku, a master of Makashi.

Jinn had a vast knowledge of the architecture of many capital ships and large transports, and understood their abilities and vulnerable points, including the engineering and structure of the Trade Federation's landing craft. Because of this knowledge, both Jinn and Kenobi were able to sneak onto separate ships and stow away until they reached the swamps of Naboo.

His linguistic capabilities were also notable. He was fluent in many languages, including Basic, Nelvaanese, Cerean, Gran and Shyriiwook.[26]

Behind the scenes

Concept art of Liam Neeson as Jinn in The Phantom Menace.

As revealed in The Art of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Lucas conceived Jinn's character during pre-production of The Phantom Menace. This is shown by concept art where Kenobi is shown alone in the Federation ship and while meeting Binks. Even when Jinn was conceived, Lucas toyed with making him the younger Jedi, as shown in concept art depicting Kenobi as an old man.

Qui-Gon Jinn was portrayed by Liam Neeson in The Phantom Menace. His voice was used briefly in Attack of the Clones, and was provided by Fred Tatasciore for Star Wars: Clone Wars. Jinn was voiced by James Warwick in the game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds.

Jinn's voice was set to appear in Revenge of the Sith, and Neeson had hinted at involvement in early 2005.[27] The scene was cut, however, and Neeson was never recorded.[28] The scene between Yoda and Jinn can be still be read in the film's screenplay and the novelization. Jinn was also mentioned in the video game platform and Gameboy Advance/Nintendo DS versions of the Revenge of the Sith game.

There was some confusion as to how many apprentices Jinn had during the course of his career. All sources agree that he trained Xanatos and then Kenobi, but there is also the occasional reference to a Padawan before Xanatos. This discrepancy was solved in the Jinn's Databank entry, where it is stated that "Qui-Gon obsessed over his failure for years, dismissing his earlier successes as a teacher and often referring to Xanatos as his "first" apprentice".[8]

There is a rumor circulated among Star Wars fans claiming that a piece of fabric seen draped across some furniture in Obi-Wan Kenobi's hut in A New Hope is actually the gray poncho worn by Qui-Gon Jinn during his visit to Tatooine in The Phantom Menace. Whether the costume designers of Episode I intentionally fashioned Jinn's poncho to resemble this obscure piece of cloth is highly dubious and remains unconfirmed.

In the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game, if you enter MAVERICK as a cheat code, you can play as Qui-Gon Jinn.[29]

Appearances

Non-canon appearances

Sources

Wookieepedia has a collection of quotes related to Qui-Gon Jinn.
Wookieepedia has a collection of images related to Qui-Gon Jinn.

Notes and references

External links