Qui-Gon Jinn
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Qui-Gon Jinn (92 – 32 BBY) was a Jedi Master character in the fictional Star Wars universe. He plays a major part in ' as the the mentor of the young Obi-Wan Kenobi, and appears as a character in other works. Liam Neeson plays Qui-Gon in ' and does a voiceover as Qui-Gon in .
Qui-Gon's name is likely to have originated from the terms Qigong, which is a Chinese theraputive breathing technique and Jinn, spirits in Arabic mythology. Alternatively, Jinn could also be derived from the Japanese word Jin, meaning compassion and benevolence, and which is considered one of the key virtues in Bushido.
Overview
A venerable if maverick Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn is a student of the living Force. Unlike other Jedi Masters, who often lose themself in the meditation of the "unifying Force", Qui-Gon Jinn lived for the moment, espousing a philosophy of "feel, don't think -- use your instincts." Were it not for Qui-Gon's unruly views, he would have undoubtedly been on the Jedi Council.At the behest of Supreme Chancellor Valorum, Qui-Gon and his young apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi journeyed to Naboo to settle the trade dispute that threatened the peaceful world. Aboard a Trade Federation battleship, the Jedi were ambushed, but they managed to escape to Naboo's surface.
In the swamplands of Naboo, Qui-Gon rescued a clumsy Gungan outcast, Jar Jar Binks, who swore a life-debt to the Jedi. Qui-Gon's compassionate nature was such that he took the strange alien under his protection. With his help, they journeyed to the city of Theed. There, they freed Queen Amidala and her retinue from the clutches of the Trade Federation, and set off to deliver her safely to Coruscant.
During the trip to the capital, damage sustained to the Royal Starship forced an unscheduled stop on the Outer Rim world of Tatooine. There, Qui-Gon discovered a young slave boy named Anakin Skywalker, who was strong in the Force. Sensing the boy's potential, Qui-Gon liberated Anakin from slavery. During their departure from Tatooine, Qui-Gon was nearly killed by a dark warrior, whom he suspected to be a Sith Lord.
The Jedi Master then traveled to Coruscant to present Anakin to the Jedi Council. The Council, however, felt Anakin's future seemed clouded and uncertain, and deemed the boy too old to begin training and dangerously full of fear and anger. They refused to allow Qui-Gon to train Anakin, but the Jedi Master nevertheless kept the boy as his ward as he returned to Naboo.
On Naboo, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan confronted the Sith Lord Darth Maul, Qui-Gon's attacker from the desert. Maul proved a deadly and fearsome opponent. Together, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon fended off the Sith Lord's attacks, but as the battle progressed, Master and apprentice became separated. Maul pressed his advantage, wearing down Qui-Gon's defenses and ultimately killing the Jedi Master. Obi-Wan then defeated Maul, but nothing could save Qui-Gon. With his last breath, the Jedi Master asked Obi-Wan to train Anakin, a request Kenobi accepted.
A short time later, the Jedi Master's body was cremated at a funeral attended by numerous mourners, including Anakin, Obi-Wan, Jar Jar, and several Jedi Council members.
The living Force
Precognition is the ability to sense the future and is associated with the "unifying Force". Qui-Gon encourages Obi-Wan to concentrate on the moment (the living Force) rather than contemplating the future (the unifying Force). The living Force focuses more on using emotions, whereas the unifying Force teaches uniformity and restricts emotion. Qui-Gon's focus on the living Force differs from his Jedi counterparts as it is what some would consider to be a more unorthodox take, as the Jedi Order focuses on the unifying Force. The living Force promotes a constant state of awareness to the present since it is the present that shapes the future. Qui-Gon's belief in this justifies his behavior when on field missions. Sensitivity to current situations motivates him to make decisions that perhaps a more conventional Jedi would not as exemplified by his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. This split in philosophy has kept Jinn off the more conservativally minded Jedi Council.Qui-Gon's independent spirit was inherited from his equally (if not more so) rebellious master Count Dooku. Dooku was a man who also appreciated the value of the moment as opposed to the abstract future. Unlike his master, Qui-Gon was able to stay true to the Jedi up until his death, despite his disagreements with it, while Dooku ultimately joined the Sith.
Glimpse of defiance
Qui-Gon's character illustrates that, within the Jedi Order, there is defiance, impatience and rebellion. This has led the audience to believe that he was a large influence on the young Anakin, and that he adopted these qualities, which eventually led him to betray the Jedi and become Darth Vader in .Influence
Although by the time of the Clone Wars he has been dead for over a decade, Qui-Gon was not forgotten, particularly by those who were close to him. In particular, Count Dooku used Obi-Wan's memories of Qui-Gon in an attempt to gain the young Jedi's assistance to "destroy the Sith". Qui-Gon is also not forgotten by Anakin Skywalker. In the animated series "Clone Wars", Anakin bursts out once before Obi-Wan, saying "You are not Qui-Gon Jinn"; Anakin never forgot Qui-Gon, and at heart was disappointed that it was Obi-Wan, not Qui-Gon, who was his mentor. Qui-Gon's spirit, now one with the Force, tried unsuccessfully to communicate with Anakin when the latter went on an anger-fueled rampage intent on killing the Tusken Raiders responsible for his mother's death. Later, in a scene at the end of Revenge of the Sith (which does not appear in the final cut of the film but does in the novelization), Yoda and Obi-Wan apprenticed themselves during their exile to Qui-Gon's spirit to learn the secret of preserving their identities after becoming one with the Force.Apprentices
Qui-Gon Jinn is known to have had four apprentices. Qui-Gon's first Padawan was Quinlan Vos. His second Padawan was Xanatos, who eventually fell to the dark side, never completing his Jedi training. With Qui-Gon's third Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, they attempted to bring Xanatos to justice but Xanatos committed suicide rather than surrendering. Finally, from beyond the grave, his last apprentices were Jedi Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, to whom he taught the art of immortality. Jinn would have likely taken Anakin Skywalker as his apprentice if he had not been killed in his duel with Darth Maul.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, The Phantom Menace novelizationQui-Gon Jinn is a philosophical warrior who possesses knowledge of the architecture and engineering of various space transports and large capital vessels. He also has a subtle attention to detail as he wears a moisture farmer's poncho to blend with the Mos Espa locals. A venerable Jedi Master and Jedi Consular, Qui-Gon brandishes his lightsaber with consummate grace (apparent in his Form IV mastery; see seven forms of lightsaber combat). Qui-Gon originally studied Form II under his master, Dooku. However, Qui-Gon eventually chose Form IV over Form II. Having studied both forms made Qui-Gon a powerful lightsaber master. Some (like Yoda) considered him the best lightsaber duelist he had ever seen in over 400 years of teaching in the Jedi Order. Qui-Gon and Mace Windu often sparred together; some sources claim that Qui-Gon never outsparred Mace but with Qui-Gon being twenty years older, he may have done so in his earlier years. However, sources do say that that Qui-Gon's saber skills rival those of Mace's.
Qui-Gon's green lightsaber was used by Obi-Wan Kenobi to defeat Darth Maul. A few years later, in Rogue Planet, Obi-Wan still had Qui-Gon's green lightsaber. After that he made himself a new lightsaber, but still had Qui-Gon's lightsaber in his personal things. Later, Luke Skywalker acquired its Adegan Crystal along with other Jedi artifacts when he went back to Obi-Wan's hut on Tatooine, for use in the construction of his own lightsaber. By the time of , Obi-Wan was using a recreation of the blue lightsaber that he lost in his duel with Darth Maul.
Qui-Gon eventually discovered the secret of immortality; he shared this with Yoda, and presumably entrusted it to Obi-Wan as well, as Yoda shares with Obi-Wan the secret of how to commune with Qui-Gon prior to the conclusion of Revenge of the Sith. This was apparently achieved through extreme compassion and 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. It is ironic that Qui-Gon, whose body remained intact upon his death, would be teaching other Jedi how to become immortal, a process that makes their bodies vanish. This lends some fuel to the debate over Anakin Skywalker's death, since his corporeal status is ambiguous and consequently prone to much audience speculation.
Although Qui-Gon's ultimate fate was unknown, his consciousness is said to have remained on Tatooine, where he presumably trained Obi-Wan following the events of Revenge of the Sith. There is no indication that his spirit is present anytime during the second half of the Star Wars saga.
Lightsaber form and loss to Darth Maul
Qui-Gon is a master of Form IV lightsaber combat, also known as Ataru, a form of combat with an emphasis on acrobatics, ducking, swooping and wide slashing attacks. Ataru was a common form at that time but Qui-Gon's dedication to Form IV is rooted in as equally rebellious reasons as his master Dooku's preference for Form II, just as Dooku abandoned Yoda's Form IV teachings in favor of Form II, Qui-Gon also would abort his master's Form II teachings for Ataru. Not seeing the modern practicality in the sword combat style of Form II, Qui-Gon applied himself to Form IV, since on field missions it is endurance and avoidance that are a Jedi's best allies. Still, Qui-Gon's exposure to the swordsmanship of Form II made him a uniquely talented combatant. Though never as unnervingly fast as Yoda or as skilled as Dooku, Qui-Gon was regarded among them as one of the most adept swordsman in the Jedi Order. Though in his earlier years he might have been able to out-spar Mace Windu, time would eventually catch up with Qui-Gon. He would pass his Ataru skills on to his young protege, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and with the Padawan would duel with the Sith Lord Darth Maul.
Inherent in the strength of Ataru is its very weakness. This form requires space in which to operate. When cornered in the Theed Reactor Core on Naboo by Darth Maul, this deficiency was made dramatically clear. Without ample space in which to move, Qui-Gon was no match for the concentrated vicious attacks of the Sith Lord. This, paired with the Sith Lord's youthful vigor, were what led to Qui-Gon's death. Fortunately for the Jedi, Maul neglected to kick Qui-Gon's lightsaber into the melting pit, and Obi-Wan was able to kill Maul with it.
Personality and Appearance
The headstrong sixty-year-old Qui-Gon has a penetrating gaze and craggy features. A noble Jedi Master, he also has a great understanding and a compassionate nature. That commiseration for all life forms leads to his saving Jar Jar Binks from his punishment at the hands of his fellow Gungans.He is considered to have liberal views about the Jedi Order, something his more-reserved pupil, Obi-Wan Kenobi, would not be very keen upon in the sequels. In response to Obi-Wan questioning his actions, Qui-Gon would respond with things like, "I will do as I must," or "that should be good enough for you." Despite his unruly views, Qui-Gon is a faithful Jedi, guided purely by the will of the Force. Qui-Gon had a tendency to be distant towards others because of Xanatos's betrayal and Obi-Wan's (temporary) falling out with him.
Despite his rebellious personality, Qui-Gon is well liked by many of the Jedi. He is lifelong friends with Plo Koon and is also close to Yoda, Ki-Adi-Mundi and Adi Gallia. Qui-Gon has great respect for Mace Windu, although they do not see eye-to-eye on many issues. Qui-Gon often spars with Masters Windu, Dooku and Bondara. Qui-Gon's closest friend (next to Obi-Wan Kenobi) is Tahl; they fall in love and he was so heartbroken when she was killed that he nearly turned to the dark side.
Qui-Gon's favorite rooms in the Jedi Temple were the starmap room and (especially) the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Yoda would often talk to Qui-Gon in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. After Qui-Gon was killed, Yoda never again went into that room in the Temple, showing how close Yoda was to Qui-Gon.
For his wisdom and his unique understanding and mastery of the Force, Qui-Gon was held in great esteem by most of his peers. His views on the politics and policies of the Republic in general, and the Jedi Order in particular, often put him at odds with the Jedi Council. He was passed over at least twice for an invitation to join the Jedi Council: first, after the death of Master Tyvokka (who himself had doubts on inviting Qui-Gon on the Council), and his seat went to Qui-Gon's close friend, Master Plo Koon; and second, with Master Giett's death, Ki-Adi-Mundi was elected over him at the insistence of Mace Windu, despite the support of the other Council members on electing Qui-Gon as a Council member.
Trivia
- During the production of The Phantom Menace, sets were only built as high as the actors' heads. Because of Liam Neeson's height (6'4"), he added an extra $150,000 to the production costs.
- Qui-Gon appears only in The Phantom Menace. His voice can be heard in while Yoda is meditating. George Lucas planned to have Qui-Gon appear as a Force ghost in Revenge of the Sith, similar to how Obi-Wan appeared in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi but the idea was shelved, because Neeson refused to reprise his role as Qui-Gon due to his broken leg- although he was briefly mentioned at the end of the film and he is seen conversing with Yoda in the novelization.
- Qui-Gon appears briefly in the Clone Wars Vol. 2 DVD, while Yoda is meditating.
- As a nod to Neeson, one of the younglings in Attack of the Clones is named Liam (realized when Yoda says "Liam, the shades").
References
- , 1st edition paperback, 1999. Terry Brooks, George Lucas, ISBN 0-345-43411-0
- - Novelization, 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1
- Star Wars Episode I Who's Who: A Pocket Guide to Characters of the Phantom Menace, hardcover, 1999. Ryder Windham, ISBN 0-762-40519-8
- The New Essential Guide to Characters, 1st edition, 2002. Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, ISBN 0-345-44900-2
- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 1999. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-789-44701-0
- Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, 1st edition, 2000. Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, ISBN 0-786-91793-8
External links
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