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"If you would just follow the Code, you would be on the Council." ―Obi-Wan Kenobi, to Qui-Gon Jinn [src]

The Jedi Code was a set of rules that governed the behavior of the Jedi Order. It taught its followers to not give in to feelings of anger toward other lifeforms, which would help them resist fear and prevent them from falling to the dark side of the Force.[1]

Amongst other dictates, the Jedi Code forbade Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters from taking on more than one Padawan at a given time;[2] and forbade Jedi from forming attachments.[3] Few understood that this practice of non-attachment did not mean the Jedi were strangers to compassion when, in fact, they believed that all lives were precious.[4] The code also forbade the Jedi from killing unarmed opponents[5] as well as seeking revenge.[3][6] While the Jedi Code did not ban romantic feelings[7] nor familial love,[8][4] Jedi did not marry or start new families.[9]

During the Clone Wars, there were those in the Grand Army of the Republic, such as Wilhuff Tarkin, who believed that the Jedi Code prevented the Order from doing what was necessary to win the war against the Confederacy of Independent Systems.[10] Shortly before the end of the Clone Wars, the Jedi High Council, through Obi-Wan Kenobi, asked Anakin Skywalker to spy upon the activities of his friend, Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, something which Skywalker felt was against the Jedi Code.[5]

In 34 ABY, on Ahch-To, Rey heard the soft chanting of the Jedi Code emanating from the tree library that contained the original Jedi texts. The chanting compelled her to enter the library, where she found the texts and began learning more about the history of the Jedi Order from Master Luke Skywalker.[11][12]

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The Code Edit

A Jedi such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, trained in the ways of the light side of the Force, could take comfort in the words of the mantra of the Jedi Code:

There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force.[4]

There also existed an alternate version of the Code, recited by Jedi younglings during their Initiate Trials, and by Depa Billaba during her full fitness re-assessment after waking up from her 6-month coma:

Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force.[13]

Behind the scenes Edit

"I, Luke Skywalker, do swear on my honor, and on the faith of the brotherhood of knights, to use the Force only for good, denying, turning always from the Dark Side; to dedicate my life to the cause of freedom, and justice. If I should fail of this vow, my life shall be forfeit, here and hereafter." ―Luke Skywalker's recitation of the "Jedi Oath" [src]

The Jedi Code was first mentioned in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace.[2] However, the Code's concept harkens back to early drafts for the 1980 film Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, in which Luke Skywalker takes the "Jedi Oath" before traveling to Cloud City in order to save his friends.[14]

Both versions of the Code mantra made their first full appearance in the 1987 Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game.[15]

Appearances Edit

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