The Jedi Tenets were guiding principles of the Jedi Order.
The Jedi Tenets, also known as the Nine Tenets and formerly the Eight Tenets prior to the Alsakan Crisis, were one of the two central doctrines of the Jedi Order during the Alsakan Crisis and the Great Hutt Wars. After the Alsakan Crisis in 13,000 BBY, the Jedi held a conclave on Coruscant that revised the Eight Tenets into Nine.
History[]
Along with the Jedi Code, the original Eight Tenets of the Jedi Order were the guiding Jedi principles for many years. In the aftermath of the Alsakan Crisis of 13,000 BBY, however, when a number of Jedi broke away from the Order following the Conclave on Ossus. Recognizing the need to revise some of the tenets, the Jedi called the Conclave on Coruscant in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, where they established the Nine Tenets.[1]
Description[]
The Nine Tenets were as follows;
- "Jedi are the guardians of peace, justice, and order in the galaxy. We fight for all life, no matter how intelligent or how unintelligent, no matter how big or how small, no matter how significant or insignificant on a galactic scale. We defend civilization, as well as the freedoms and liberties of all people. The Republic shares these goals and they have become a close ally of the Order, as we are of theirs. We support them to maintain peace and stability enjoyed by this main galactic body and the people throughout the galaxy. When the galaxy is split, a Jedi will side with the Republic, even if there are disagreements with the Republic’s leadership, as we defend the people of the Republic. To rebel against this tenet is to create disorder and chaos."[1]
The first tenet required the Jedi to be the keepers of the peace in the galaxy and to fight for all life, as well as the civilizations, freedoms, and liberties of all creatures throughout the galaxy. It also established the Jedi as defenders of the Galactic Republic.
- "Emotions are unavoidable, but lessons may be learned from the feeling of these emotions. However, emotions of such strength as to cause a Jedi to act or behave in a manner different from rational thought are dangerous, and must be avoided at all costs for a Jedi to truly master the Force."[1]
The second tenet warned the Jedi to be wary of their strong emotions. While not requiring them to "feel nothing," it did warn of emotions that would cause them to "act or behave in a manner different from rational thought."
- "Feelings of attraction and love are to be explored carefully and with rationality in mind. Romantic pathways must be treated with care so as to avoid pain and anger. A Jedi must not, however, explore the realm of marriage. To love another is dangerous yet acceptable if treated with care, but attaching oneself to another life in the bonds of matrimony cannot be allowed. Attachment leads to the dark side, and to commit to the way of the Jedi means giving up personal desires and living for the benefit of all life."[1]
The third tenet outright forbid the Jedi from pursuing marriage and warned of feelings of attraction or love. It stressed that attachment was a path to the dark side of the Force and that a Jedi's life of self-sacrifice required them to give up wants such as love and marriage.
- "The Jedi are to respect life, in any form, and only take life when necessary. A Jedi must put the need of the community over the needs of individuals. A Jedi is not to act for solely personal gain or greed - the good of all must be his goal."[1]
The fourth tenet stressed the Jedi's responsibility to respect life in whatever form it takes; including Dark Jedi. A Jedi was forbidden to kill unless it was unavoidable. They were also required to see to the needs of the community they served.
- "A Jedi is to protect the weak and defenseless. A Jedi may not kill a defenseless individual. Should a Jedi be in a position where aid may be given to the weak or the poor, then the Jedi should do what they can to aid the situation within the guidelines of the Code, the Tenets, and of course the law."[1]
The fifth tenet requires a Jedi to protect those who are weak or cannot defend themselves. A Jedi could not kill an defenseless or unarmed individual in any case. This sometimes proved difficult for younger Jedi who faced particularly dangerous foes or even mature Jedi facing a dark sider, such as a Dark Jedi or a Sith, whom they had disarmed. The Jedi were also required to give aid to the poor as long as it followed the Jedi Code, the tenets, and the law of the particular area they were in.
- "All Jedi are to respect the decisions of the Jedi High Council. While conclaves are held for all members of the Order to air concerns, the Jedi High Council is the governing body of the order. Centralized leadership is important, and this council of equals, led by an equal designated as Grandmaster, was chosen with trust to make these decisions for the Order. Jedi may disagree with the High Council but they must never openly oppose it, for we have seen the dangers in open opposition."[1]
The sixth tenet commanded the Jedi to obey the Jedi High Council and not openly oppose its decisions, though they were allowed to disagree with the Council. This tenet was revised heavily due to the rift that was created when the Ospion Guardians broke away from the Order following the Conclave on Ossus.
- "Ruling power and financial wealth are not permitted for a Jedi, as these lead to arrogance and self-pride. Self-pride is a complex that eats the heart and mind of all, including Jedi. If a Jedi thinks he or she is greater than other beings, equal to other beings, or less than other beings then they have succumbed to self-pride. Guard against these three complexes night and day."[1]
The seventh tenet warned the Jedi against seeing other beings in a sense of social standing, as well as forbidding them from possessing financial wealth or ruling power. This kept the Jedi out of planetary and central government politics and prevented them from feeling pride in themselves.
- "A Jedi must consider the living and cosmic manifestations of the Force - one must be mindful of the present, but also look to both the future and the past for guidance."[1]
The eighth tenet, which was also the last of the old Eight Tenets, commanded the Jedi to be mindful of the past, present, and future in order to understand the Force.
- "A Jedi does not fight for adventure or glory. A Jedi fights for the survival of civilization and the survival of the people within it. The greatest Jedi is not the one who defeats an army of thousands, but the one who triumphs over himself. Your importance lies in your devotion to life."[1]
The ninth and final tenet declared that the most powerful Jedi was not one who is victorious in military conflicts, but one who is victorious over themselves.
Appearances[]
- Alsakan Crisis (First appearance)
- Great Hutt Wars