The word Jedi means different elements to different Jedi Masters. To the Grand Master of Jedi Yoda, it meant wisdom and harmony in the galaxy. For Mace Windu, it was about having discipline, strength, and a strong sense of justice. For Obi-Wan Kenobi, it was about strict adherence to the Jedi Code and sacrifice. For Luke, it meant hope and redemption for the greater good of the galaxy. 

Similarly, for the unconventional Jedi Master of his time, Qui-Gon Jinn, the Jedi’s purpose was to bring about balance. For this purpose, he even thought that the Force wanted him to learn from the dark side, but he concluded that the evil nature of the dark side could never bring balance. Qui-Gon Jinn believed that the Jedi Code was too rigid to bring about a balance and if the Jedi Order followed it bit by bit, then it wouldn't be able to bring balance. He believed that the Jedi should strive to maintain a balance between the two aspects - not falling to the dark side while also not being too rigid. 

Another thing that makes Qui-Gon Jinn unconventional is his belief in prophecies made by the Jedi mystics of Old. Other Jedi of his era didn't think much of the prophecies as they believed that foresighting the future is uncertain and dangerous. Qui-Gon Jinn had a complex view of the prophecies as he believed that ancient mystics helped tie the Jedi Order to its history, so he didn't deem it as entirely meaningless. But, he also knew that learning about what is going to happen in the future is also a form of control, which could lead to the dark side. 

In this blog, we are going to discuss all about Qui-Gon Jinn's early life, his training in the Jedi Order, his relationship with his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, becoming the Jedi Master but refusing to be a member of the Jedi Council and going against the Jedi Council to believe in the old Jedi prophecy and finding The Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker. So, without further ado, let's get into it!

Qui-Gon Jinn’s Jedi Training

In 80 BBY, Qui-Gon Jinn was born in the galactic capital of Coruscant as a human male. When he was a small boy, he was taken to the Jedi Temple to be trained by the Jedi Order. He was assigned to the Heliost Clan and learned lightsaber combat from the Jedi Master Tera Sinube.

As a twelve-year-old boy, he was a Padawan to the Jedi Master Dooku. From Master Dooku, he learned the ways of the Force. His days under Count Dooku were spent laughing with other Jedi younglings about their adventures as a Padawan. In the sparring room, he used to practice with his lightsaber until the Master Yaddle ordered him to bed. 

In 68 BBY, he became Qui-Gon Jinn's apprentice in his new master Count Dooku’s quarters. Dooku noticed that Qui-Gon was scared, so he pressed on this issue. Qui-Gon Jinn revealed that he was scared, but not of Dooku, because of not becoming a Jedi. Master Dooku described that he feared not being worthy and failing to become a Jedi that he imagined himself becoming. Qui-Gon Jinn also agreed with his Master's interpretation and thought that Dooku would reject him as his apprentice. But, Dooku smiled and explained how most young Jedi would not reveal their fear and even deny it, and Qui-Gon was different as he was self-aware and honest. He also praised Qui-Gon Jinn for his intelligence and honesty. 

Dooku also gave an entire guided tour of the Jedi Temple to Qui-Gon Jinn. From the Padawan's sparring dojo where Jedi Knights train to the Great Assembly Room, Qui-Gon also saw various meditation centres which he didn't find that interesting. On the contrary, Qui-Gon Jinn spent hours in the arboretum, exploring various plants and flowers.

At their last stop of the Jedi Archives, they looked at different Jedi holocrons. An ancient and unique-looking Holocron caught Qui-Gon Jinn's eye, and he asked his master about it. Dooku answered that it was a Holocron from the Jedi Prophecies. He also told Qui-Gon Jinn about how mystics began to delve into knowledge of the future, which led them to dangerous paths. That's because the dark side also tempts those who are drawn to the foresight of the future. This was Qui-Gon Jinn's first introduction to the Jedi holocrons, but not the last.

His First Battle

As a four-month-old Padawan, the Jedi Council sent him to his first Battle on Shuruppak with his master, Dooku. They were boarded on a shuttle that descended on the planet under heavy fire. Qui-Gon reassured himself that he was ready for his first battle and gained inspiration from his fearless master, Dooku. At the Primus Base, Qui-Gon Jinn met Dooku's first apprentice and a famous lightsaber duelist, Rael Averross. Since Rael was the old Padawan of Dooku, he told Qui-Gon that he is available to answer any questions he might not be comfortable asking to his master Dooku and that he could also be his sparring partner in his first battle. Qui-Gon Jinn accepted Rael’s offer and also thought that Rael Averross could be his link from a Padawan to the Jedi Knight he wanted to become as a Jedi youngling.

After the battle, at one instance, Rael Averross gave a surprise visit to Qui-Gon Jinn in Dooku's quarters. Dooku was engaged in a conference with an official from Badtibira at this time. Qui-Gon was doing his homework, and Rael Averross asked Qui-Gon to follow him, and they went to the Jedi Archives. Here, they both studied the ancient Jedi holocron that had interested Qui-Gon Jinn. It was the one with Jedi Prophecies. It fascinated Qui-Gon, and he was unable to stop himself from reading the interesting ancient mystics. 

Later, Qui-Gon Jinn and his Jedi Master Dooku became a part of the Numidian Prime strike team. They were assigned to track Falleen bounty hunter Shenda Mo, and they were successful in doing so. Then, in 60 BBY, Qui-Gon Jinn went through trials in the Outer Rim planet of Felucia. He fell in love with someone here, but adhering to the strict Jedi Code, which forbade attachments, he ultimately stayed true and loyal to the Jedi Order. During his apprenticeship time, he also met Wookie Brennon and they became friends. Wookie and Qui-Gon were on many adventures together and Wookie even saved Qui-Gon Jinn on two instances. 

Becoming The Jedi Knight

Being a Padawan to Dooku, he was sent on a mission with his master to rescue Republic Senator Dagonet’s son. The son was held captive by the locals of Republic Senator's home planet. In their investigation, they found out that the Senator was starving the people out of his own greed and corruption. So, kidnapping the Senator's son was their way of protesting against his inhumane activities. Dagonet's son was unharmed even after being kidnapped as he was just use as a bait by the Jedi-backed kidnappers to change his evil ways. 

When Dagonet reached the village to rescue his son, a brief shootout occured between the Jedi-backed kidnappers and the Senator's forces. At  one point in this fight, Dagonet threatened to bring the entire village down and even many others to make an example out of them. This led Dooku to Force-choke Dagonet with an intent to kill him. This wasn't the first time Master Dooku used his Force abilities to kill someone. But Qui-Gon Jinn released Dagonet's son and the tense situation was defused. Dooku appreciated Qui-Gon Jinn for his actions and being wiser than him in this situation.

Sometime after this incident, Dooku and Qui-Gon were invited by the Jedi Council member Jor Aerith to join her in representing the Jedi Council at the annually held Dragonfire Air Rally. This was to make a good impression on the Candovant ambassador who had invited her over. Dooku and Qui-Gon attended a Candovant race in which Dooku presented Qui-Gon to the local Condovant ways. There, they encountered an unexpected brother of Dooku named Ramil, who was participating in the race. At the event, Ramil's sabotaged airspeeder crashed. Dooku and Qui-Gon were able to expose a cover-up by an Investigator who worked for a crime boss by the name Cenevax. In response to an incoming recall message from Aerith, they detained Cenevax and discovered that she had a spy in the Jedi Council.

Dooku returned to the Council, where he exposed Jedi Master Braylon as the spy. He explained that Cenevax had been blackmailing Braylon because of the secret that her son, Arath Tarrex, a classmate of Dooku's in his old academy, was associating with thugs. When Tarrex was captured, Dooku instructed Qui-Gon to make sure that the guards treated him well. Braylon was expelled from the Council and Dooku took her position. This unexpected event also led to Qui-Gon Jinn being Knighted and becoming the Jedi Knight around 58 BBY. 

Becoming the Jedi Master

Qui-Gon Jinn became a quite non-conformist Jedi Master who had an independent attitude towards the Jedi Order. Other Jedi saw him as a rebellious Jedi who could disobey the Jedi Order if he felt like it was the right thing to do. Qui-Gon took Obi-Wan Kenobi as his Padawan in 44 BBY. Obi-Wan Kenobi believed that his Master Qui-Gon Jinn could have become a member of the Jedi Council if he followed the strict Jedi Code but he also knew that Qui-Gon had rejected the offer. Obi-Wan Kenobi even watched his master disagree with the Jedi Council. They even sparred with their sabers at one moment and Qui-Gon Jinn appreciated Obi-Wan Kenobi for his skills. At one instance, when Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi visited a plain and saw native creatures, Qui-Gon Jinn taught Obi-Wan Kenobi how Force exists in different forms and in all life that surrounds them. 

Jinn had the sense of when Kenobi was discontent, and that sometimes proved to be useful on a mission, though it was quite frustrating to his Padawan. One mission brought them to the planet Lah'mu where they visited a fortress. He kept in touch with his former Master, Dooku, too. He spoke highly of Dooku when talking with Obi-Wan Kenobi, his apprentice.

When Dooku left the Jedi Order after the invasion of Serenno in 42 BBY and secretly became a Sith apprentice to Darth Sidious, this shocked Qui-Gon Jinn. He battled with his own doubts and fear, but he trusted the teachings of the Jedi and himself and was able to regain resolve. At one point, Jinn also encountered the Togorian Jedi Jak'zin, who admired Dooku.

Qui-Gon Jinn did his best to train Obi-Wan Kenobi, but theirs wasn't a comfortable relationship much of the time. Though Obi-Wan Kenobi was very talented with his lightsaber techniques, Qui-Gon Jinn taught him basic methods as a way to enable him to make his own style. However, such an approach negatively affected Kenobi, and Qui-Gon Jinn himself lacked clarity regarding his methods, which created a divide between them.

Mission to Pijal And Rejecting the Jedi Council Offer

In 40 BBY, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi were dispatched to Teth to prevent Wanbo the Hutt. They were successful, but it was complicated by a miscommunication that strained their relationship. Upon their return to Coruscant, the Jedi Council welcomed Qui-Gon Jinn into their fold as Master Poli Dapatian resigned. Though he was honored, Qui-Gon Jinn declined as this meant he would lose Obi-Wan Kenobi as his Padawan. Even though they were not getting along very well on some matters, Qui-Gon still felt guilty and went on to meditate to make a decision.

Meanwhile, a political crisis broke out in Pijal, where protests against a treaty were intensifying. Rael Averross, Qui-Gon Jinn's old friend and advisor to Pijal's teenage Crown Princess Fanry, asked for their assistance. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi were dispatched to resolve the conflict and get the treaty signed. However, Obi-Wan Kenobi found out about the Qui-Gon Jinn's Council offer from Supreme Chancellor Kirames Kaj, not Qui-Gon Jinn himself. This made matters worse between them. When Qui-Gon Jinn attempted to apologize, Obi-Wan Kenobi snapped at him sarcastically, further straining their relationship.

On Pijal, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi learned the treaty would end the monarchy, integrate Pijal into the Republic, and give great power to the Czerka Corporation. In their investigation, they encountered jewel thieves Pax Maripher and Rahara Wick, who were forced to assist them in tracking the so-called terrorists. Qui-Gon Jinn had a vision of a violent battle during the signing of the treaty and warned Rael Averross, but Rael dismissed his concerns.

Qui-Gon Jinn eventually met Halin Azucca, the Opposition’s leader, who revealed her group was being framed. While they protested the treaty peacefully, violent acts were orchestrated to implicate them. Realising the treaty favoured Czerka and lacked Pijali representation, Qui-Gon Jinn then decided to oppose it. Qui-Gon soon discovered that the real threat was Princess Fanry. 

She had secretly built a military force, blackguards, with the aim of restoring the monarchy and removing the influence of Czerka. At her coronation, Fanry rejected the treaty and declared war, and she was set to attack the ships of Czerka carrying enslaved workers. Jinn implored her to change her mind, but she refused. With the aid of Kenobi, Maripher, and Wick, Jinn saved the slaves and stopped the attack of Fanry. After the mission, Jinn refused the offer of the Jedi Council and chose to continue training Kenobi and work on their partnership.

Strong Connection With the Force

At some point in his life, Qui-Gon Jinn started discovering the mysteries of consciousness survival after death. For this reason, he went to a planet highly associated with the Force. This planet was believed to be the origin of life and the source of midi-chlorians by the legend. There, he learned from five Force Priestesses who had managed to preserve their consciousness beyond death.

Qui-Gon even Jinn discovered that when a living being dies, its life passes through the Living Force into the Cosmic Force, therefore becoming one with the Force. As these aspects of the Force were interwoven, it is possible to retain consciousness and manifest in the physical world even after death.

Having been deemed worthy of gaining knowledge of eternal life, Qui-Gon Jinn began training in the mysteries of eternal life. He learned from a Shaman of the Whills that attaining eternal consciousness means complete selflessness.

Rescuing Padmé Amidala and Finding ‘The Chosen One’

It was during this time that the Trade Federation began a blockade of the planet Naboo in the Mid Rim in 32 BBY. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi were then deployed at the request of Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum to negotiate an end to the crisis. Under the influence of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, the Trade Federation escalated the situation by launching a full-scale invasion of Naboo. With the capital city of Theed now in the hands of the invaders, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi freed Queen Padmé Amidala and her entourage. This allowed them to escape the planet to seek help from the Galactic Senate.

On their way to Coruscant, their ship was damaged, and they had to land on the desert planet Tatooine to repair it. It was there that Qui-Gon Jinn met a young slave named Anakin Skywalker. Qui-Gon was intrigued by the boy's natural talent and curiosity. So, Qui-Gon Jinn conducted a midi-chlorian test and found out that Anakin Skywalker had an unprecedented M-count, much higher than even Grand Master Yoda. He was also a result of a miraculous birth, without any biological father, just as mentioned in the old Jedi prophecy of ‘The Chosen One’. This made Qui-Gon Jinn believe that he was the Chosen One who would bring balance to the Force.

His Death and Legacy

Qui-Gon Jinn was convinced that Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One and should be trained as a Jedi at the Jedi Temple. However, after inspecting Anakin Skywalker, the High Council disagreed. They felt he was too old, too emotional, and filled with fear and anger. Qui-Gon Jinn saw this as a temporary setback but had to focus on helping Queen Amidala on Naboo before addressing Anakin Skywalker's future.

In the battle of Naboo, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi fought Darth Maul, the Sith apprentice serving Darth Sidious. The two Jedi were then separated, providing Darth Maul with the opportunity to mortally stab Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan, although saddened by his master's death, was able to defeat Darth Maul in a fierce last battle.

Qui-Gon Jinn dies in his last moments, knowing that Obi-Wan has promised to train Anakin Skywalker to bring balance to the Force. With this promise, Qui-Gon Jinn dies peacefully knowing that his discovery of the Chosen One will shape the future of the Jedi and the galaxy.

FAQs

What were Qui-Gon Jinn's opinions on the Jedi Order?

Qui-Gon Jinn was a constant critic of the Jedi Council because he preferred to listen to the will of the Force instead of sticking strictly to the laws and traditions of the Jedi Code. He was always an independent thinker and followed unorthodox methods, which made him a maverick in the Jedi Order.

Why did Qui-Gon Jinn think Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One?

Qui-Gon Jinn believed that Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One due to his exceptional midi-chlorian count and his miraculous birth without a biological father. Qui-Gon Jinn believed that Anakin was the Chosen One destined to restore balance in the Force despite the council's fears that he was too young and emotional.

How did Qui-Gon Jinn learn about life after death?

He was taught by the Force Priestesses and the Shaman of the Whills to discover the secret ways of surviving death as such. The result was his rare ability of consciousness after death that enabled him to guide others, even beyond death.

Did Qui-Gon Jinn die after his duel with Darth Maul?

Yes, Qui-Gon Jinn died immediately after Darth Maul fatally struck him during their duel. But, soom Obi-Wan Kenobi defeated Darth Maul and rushed towards his master's side. With his last breath, Qui-Gon made Obi-Wan promise to train Anakin Skywalker. At death, Qui-Gon became one with the Force. Later, Qui-Gon Jinn even communicated with Obi-Wan which just goes on to show that he still retained consciousness after his death. This was rarely achieved by a Jedi.