Qui-Gon Jinn

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Qui-Gon Jinn

Biographical information
Date of birth	92 BBY
Date of death	32 BBY
Physical description
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Height	1.93 meters
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Blue
Chronological and political information
Era(s)	Rise of the Empire era
Affiliation	Jedi, Galactic Republic

"Do not defy the Council, Master! Not again!"

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Qui-Gon Jinn was a revered yet maverick and unconventional Jedi Master, Padawan to Count Dooku, and mentor to Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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Biography

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Early life

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. At the age of eight, Qui-Gon befriended a fellow trainee, Tahl. Over the years the two became the best of friends, along with other students including Clee Rhara. At ten years old, Qui-Gon 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 is at this exhibition that Dooku first saw Qui-Gons lightsaber skills. It can be presumed that Dooku was impressed with what he saw, for he took Qui-Gon as his Padawan learner a short time afterwards.

Qui-Gon as a Padawan, with his master Dooku, and Masters Yoda and Tyvokka

Together, Dooku and Qui-Gon 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, and their leader turned out to be Lorian Nod, a failed Jedi whom Dooku was once close friends with. 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 Qui-Gons words that stopped him from doing so. Some time following this assignment, Dooku and Qui-Gon were given their final assignment as master and apprentice, a mission that would last two years. Upon returning from this mission, Qui-Gon was reunited with Tahl, whom he hadnt seen in a long time. As his final words for Qui-Gon 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.

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Knighthood and Xanatos

In no time, both Qui-Gon and Tahl became Jedi Knights. When the Jedi Council suggested that he take a Padawan learner, Qui-Gon chose not to. He felt that he was not ready and over the next decade took on solo missions for the Order. During this time Qui-Gon discovered a young boy from Telos, Xanatos who exhibited a strong connection to the Force. Qui-Gon took Xanatos to the Jedi Temple for training, even though the child was quite older than the accepted age for training. Over the next two years, as Xanatos was trained at the Temple, Qui-Gon took an unknown Padawan, whose training was almost complete. After successfully guiding the Padawan to Knighthood, Qui-Gon Jinn became a Jedi Master, and soon Xanatos became his newest apprentice.

For twelve years, Qui-Gon and Xanatos were master and apprentice. 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. Qui-Gon and Xanatos were sent to Telos, Xanatos homeworld, where the boys father, Crion, had become a tyrant, controlling the planet with an iron grip. Xanatos was tempted by his fathers wealth and power, and joined Crion, hoping to rule together. Leading the planet into a civil war, Crion is confronted by Qui-Gon, who is forced to kill the governor. Upon doing so, Xanatos became enraged and took a ring from his fathers finger, searing hot from Qui-Gons blade. He branded it into his cheek, creating a broken-circle scar. Swearing his revenge, Xanatos fled.

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

For the next few years, Qui-Gon returned to solo missions, however he would occasionally work with others on various assignments. Qui-Gon and Tahl were credited for accomplishing many missions, such as successfully overseeing the first democratic elections of New Apsolon.

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Taking Another Apprentice

Years had passed since Xanatos had left Qui-Gon and the Jedi Order. Yoda encouraged him to take another. Though Qui-Gon had already made up his mind to remain alone, he agreed to at least observe a small tournament among a group of the Temples older students, which included Bruck Chun, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. He took notice of Kenobis skills, but shortly following the tournament, he left heading for Bandomeer, by orders of the Supreme Chancellor.

On the transport ship to Bandomeer, Qui-Gon was reunited with Kenobi, who was also being sent to Bandomeer to begin his life in the Agricultural Corps. On the transport, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan helped defend a group of Arconans from the criminal organization, Offworld Corporation. After putting an end to the tense situation, the two arrived on Bandomeer, where Qui-Gon 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.

Qui-Gon sent Obi-Wan 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 Qui-Gon. Once again with the help of Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon attempted to end Xanatos acts of terror. Qui-Gon dueled with his former apprentice, and though they ended Offworlds business of Bandomeer, Xanatos was able to escape. During their situation with Xanatos, Qui-Gon discovered Obi-Wans true potential, and took him as his new Padawan learner.

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The Blockade of Naboo

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan prepare to hold their breath as the Trade Federation floods the chamber where they were waiting with gas.

In 32 BBY, Qui-Gon and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi were sent to the planet Naboo to resolve a crisis. The Trade Federation, in protest to recent taxation laws, had blockaded the planet with a fleet of battleships. Jinn and Kenobi were sent as ambassadors of the Supreme Chancellor to reach a peaceful settlement.

Upon arrival on a Federation battleship, their ship was destroyed and the conference chamber they were waiting in was flooded with gas. They survived the gas, and stowed away on a troop transport as the Federation moved to invade Naboo with a force of battle droids.

On Naboo, Qui-Gon met Jar Jar Binks, who took him to the underwater city of Otoh Gunga. There, he gained transport to the capital city of Theed, where he and Obi-Wan rescued the Queen and escaped Naboo on the royal starship. As they dashed through the blockade, however, the ship was hit and the hyperdrive badly damaged. The party was forced to land on Tatooine.

Qui-Gon Jinn on Tatooine.

On Tatooine, Qui-Gon 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. Qui-Gon came to believe that Anakin may be the Chosen One of Jedi legend.

Qui-Gon, agreeing to help Anakin who was secretly building a podracer, acquired necessary machine parts for the racing vehicle. Never forgetting his Jedi duties while in Mos Espa, Qui-Gon was able to free a young Ithorian named Tomo from bondage and even dissuade the assassin Jym Lang from committing a murder. Later, Qui-Gon was able to release Anakin from slavery 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. As Anakin and Qui-Gon approached the ship, they were attacked by the Sith Lord Darth Maul.

Qui-Gon fights the Sith apprentice Darth Maul.

Qui-Gon fought the savage warrior as the ship took off behind him. Jumping high with the Force, Qui-Gon managed to land on the boarding ramp as the ship soared away. On Coruscant, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan appeared before the Jedi High Council to give a report. The Council reluctantly agreed to test young Anakin 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. Qui-Gon tried to release Obi-Wan from apprenticeship,

Qui-Gon's death at the hands of Darth Maul.

saying that the Padawan was ready for the Jedi Trials, in order to take Anakin as his Padawan. But the Council would not be swayed. Disappointed, Qui-Gon along with Obi-Wan prepared to return to Naboo with Queen Amidala, who hoped to liberate the planet in one swift stroke.

At the Battle of Naboo, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan fought Darth Maul. The duo put up a great fight, but when Maul kicked Obi-Wan over an edge, Qui-Gon and Maul moved on, and passed through protective and impenetrable laser shields. They closed between them, separating the combatants for a moment. Unfortunately, they also separated Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. When they disappeared, Qui-Gon immediately attacked Darth Maul, and Obi-Wan rushed to help his Master. But the shields again prevented him from succoring his mentor. Although Qui-Gon was one of the best lightsaber masters in the Order, Maul had the advantage of youth, pure strength, and the exhausted Qui-Gon was impaled through the chest by the superpowered demonic warrior.

Enraged, Obi-Wan attacked the Sith, cutting his double-bladed lightsaber in two pieces.

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Post mortem

The cremation of Qui-Gon

After falling at the hands of Darth Maul on Naboo, Qui-Gon continued to have a large impact on the future of the Jedi. Discovering a way to maintain his identity after becoming one with the Force, Qui-Gon attempted unsuccessfully to prevent Anakin's slaughter of the Sandpeople that had killed his mother. He was also known to have often communicated with Yoda through the Force, sometimes in a subtle way.

Yoda, having discovered Qui-Gon's skill, learned the secret of 'immortality' from the Shaman of the Whills, proclaiming himself Qui-Gon's pupil. The skill 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.

Yoda learned the technique, and passed this secret on to Obi-Wan Kenobi, 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, Qui-Gon's rebellious nature would serve the greater good.

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Personality

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. He successfully trained several Jedi Knights in his time, until his failure with Xanatos, led him to obsess over the mistake. Due to this, he was reluctant to take Obi-Wan Kenobi to be his new apprentice. Dooku, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Anakin 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 Obi-Wan suggested that the Council would have invited Qui-Gon to join them, if only he would have conformed to their views.

Jinn came into knighthood during an era of the Jedi Order notorious for its conservatism, commitment to bureaucracy and philosophical abstraction. His view of the Force as not just an abstract cipher for wisdom but a force that intertwined with everyday events from the mundane to the spectacular was seen by many as, at best eccentric, at worst Sith-like. Despite this, his willingness to act and commitment to righting wrongs across the universe drew much admiration from young Jedi and common sentients across the galaxy who saw him as a sole dynamic figure among an order plagued by stagnation. Jinns commitment to not just studying the galaxy but interacting with it would prove far-reaching, having a great impact on his pupil Obi-Wan and his Padawan Anakin, both of whom would greatly influence the founder of the New Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker. It is unlikely that the New Jedi Order would be the dynamic instrument it is today without the far reaching influence of one Qui-Gon Jinn.

A philosophical warrior, Qui-Gon 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. For this reason, Qui-Gon could be considered one of the more 'down-to-earth' Jedi of his time, due to his concentration on the matter at hand. It has been suggested that an ability such as this would have been instrumental in 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.

Qui-Gon 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 Anakin, to which Obi-Wan would exasperatedly comment, "Why do I get the feeling that weve picked up yet another pathetic lifeform?"

The venerable Jedi Master appeared much younger than his age and had a penetrating gaze. Qui-Gon possessed knowledge of the architecture and engineering of various space transports and large capital vessels. He also possessed a subtle attention to detail, seen as he wore a moisture farmer's poncho to blend with the Mos Espa locals. He brandished his lightsaber with consummate grace (apparent in his Form IV mastery: see lightsaber combat), often having sparred with Master Mace Windu. The Jedi lightsaber master who taught Qui-Gon had considered him the best lightsaber duelist he had seen in over 400 years of teaching in the Jedi Order.

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Behind the scenes

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 Clone Wars Volume II. In addition, scenes with Qui-Gon were cut from Revenge of the Sith, although he is still referred to in the dialogue.

There is some confusion as to how many apprentices Qui-Gon had during the course of his career. All sources agree that he trained Xanatos and then Obi-Wan Kenobi, but there is also the occasional reference to a Padawan before Xanatos.

There is an urban legend circulated among Star Wars fans claiming that a piece of fabric seen draped across some furniture in Obi-Wan Kenobis 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 Qui-Gons poncho to resemble this obscure piece of cloth is highly dubious and remains unconfirmed.

There was a great amount of speculation among fans as to whether or not Qui-Gon would appear in Revenge of the Sith. Although Liam Neeson or his voice(as it was in Attack of the Clones) were not featured in the movie, he is mentioned, as well as being mentioned in the novelization, platform video game and the Gameboy Advance/ Nintendo DS versions of Revenge of the Sith (the video game).

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