Jedi Trials/Legends

The Jedi Trials were the challenges by which Jedi Padawans were tested to see if they were ready for Knighthood. The Trials were formal tests that were administered by the Jedi Council on a Padawan they deemed to be worthy. The Padawan was tested by the Jedi Masters themselves in a controlled setting. The Jedi Grand Master leading the Knighting would first place his lightsaber above the right shoulder, then the left shoulder, and then back to the right shoulder, removing the Padawan's braid. This ceremony would be held in the Hall of Knighthood, however for Anakin Skywalker, it was in the Jedi Council Room. The following phrase was said to the now Jedi Knight. "Step forward, Padawan. [Name of Padawan], by the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, I dub thee, Jedi (cuts braid) Knight of the Republic."

In times of turmoil, the Trials could be bypassed at the discretion of the Jedi Council if the Padawan had shown great skill, courage, or dedication to the Jedi Order. In such cases the Padawan was considered to have passed the Trials through their actions, negating the need for formal testing. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are two examples of Jedi who earned the rank of Jedi Knight without facing the Trials, but rather passed their Trials through their actions before and during the Clone Wars.

Trial of Skill
The Trial of Skill usually consisted of a lightsaber duel with either another person or a manifestation of the dark side.


 * Example: Revan's lightsaber duel with Juhani in the grove near the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine.


 * Example: Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber duel with Asajj Ventress on Yavin IV.


 * Example: Luke Skywalker's lightsaber duel with Darth Vader on the planet Bespin.

Trial of the Flesh
The Trial of the Flesh involved the Jedi overcoming great physical pain, hardship, or loss. It could also test the Jedi's mastery of detachment from physical pleasure and people.


 * Example: Anakin Skywalker's loss of his right arm during a duel with Count Dooku on Geonosis.


 * Example: Luke Skywalker's loss of his right hand on Bespin during his duel with Darth Vader.


 * Example: Obi-Wan lost his master, Qui-Gon Jinn during their duel against Darth Maul on Naboo.

Trial of Courage
To pass the Trial of Courage, a Padawan would fight couragously in battle, complete a mission with a low chance of survival, or defeat a superior enemy.


 * Example: Obi-Wan Kenobi defeating Darth Maul during their final duel on Naboo.


 * Example: Anakin Skywalker killing Count Dooku on The Invisible Hand.


 * Example: Luke Skywalker confronting Darth Vader and the Emperor on the second Death Star.

Trial of the Spirit
To pass the Trial of the Spirit, the Padawan would have to look deep within themselves, and see what they were truly made of. Often times, the Padawan did not like what they saw, and it could be a highly traumatic experience.


 * Example: Anakin Skywalker's vision during his mission on Nelvaan.


 * Example: Luke Skywalker's vision in the Dark Side Cave on Dagobah.

Notable Variations on Trial practices and Special cases
In certain extraordinary circumstances the precise aspects of the trials were not strictly adhered to.

Examples of this:
 * The promotion of Obi-Wan Kenobi to the rank of Jedi Knight immediately following his victory over the Sith Lord Darth Maul. This accomplishment as well as other circumstances surrounding this event such as the death of Qui-Gon Jinn and his wish for Obi-Wan to train Anakin Skywalker, was deemed enough to warrant the promotion of Kenobi to Jedi Knight.


 * The promotion of Aayla Secura following the rescue of Tholme and Nat Secura and her defeat of the Morgukai warrior Bok.


 * The Padawan Darsha Assant was assigned a mission to protect a Black Sun operative from assasination and it was implied that this mission would count as her trials. Padawan Assant was killed by Darth Maul during this mission.


 * The promotion of Barriss Offee following her actions on Drongar and the subsequent Republic withdrawal of the planet. She didn't suffer any loss, faced no Sith or Dark Jedi. Looked internaly when discovering the Bota Induce state of mind, realising that the miss use would be that of the dark side

Other Trials
There were two other notable trials that were usually undertaken in concert with the others.

The first was a test of the Padawan's knowledge of the Jedi Code. This was usually done periodically throughout the Padawan's training with the master asking the Padawan occasional questions until he/she had proven to the master a thorough understanding of the Jedi Code.

The second was the trial of lightsaber construction in which the Padawan meditated with the Force and constructed his/her own lightsaber. During the time of the Galactic Republic, Jedi Padawans were required to construct their own lightsabers before becoming Knights.

Occasionally, a Padawan would be called upon to perform an additional task or quest. This could take the form of solving a judicial case, providing aid to a citizen in need, or similar situations.

Anakin Skywalker's Jedi Trials were considered his heroic actions at Praesitlyn.

The New Jedi Order
In Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order, apprentices would become Jedi Knights once their Master felt that they were ready. For instance, Jaden Korr was dubbed Jedi Knight in an informal conversation with Luke Skywalker and Korr's master Kyle Katarn, who told Korr that, in the light of Korr's achievements during the crisis of the Disciples of Ragnos, they felt that Korr was ready to become a Jedi Knight.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Republic Commando: Hard Contact
 * ''Jedi Trial
 * ''Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Chapter 21
 * Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * ''Star Wars Republic 45: Rite of Passage, Part 4
 * Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter
 * Medstar Duology
 * Power of the Jedi Sourcebook