Gray Jedi

"Jinn always does things his own way, always sure he is right, always incredulous if we do not see it his way. Some think he is a gray Jedi."

- Tyvokka on Qui-Gon Jinn

Gray Jedi were Force users who skirted the line between the light and dark sides of the Force, but had not succumbed to the dark side. It did not directly refer to those who were capable of using both light and dark side Force abilities, but all Gray Jedi could do so. The term is similar to that of "Dark Jedi", which can also refer to Jedi and non-Jedi alike, and denoted those who were committed to the dark side, such as Dark Side Adepts. Gray Jedi are never members of the Sith Order, as Sith taught full commitment of the dark side. The term was also used as a pejorative&mdash;inaccurately&mdash;to describe those who operated independently from the Jedi High Council or did not follow strictures of the Jedi Code, such as those barring attachment or regulating training. Qui-Gon Jinn was slandered as a Gray Jedi for frequently opposing the will of the Council.

The term dated back as far as the Old Sith Wars. During this time period, Gray Jedi became associated with a certain variety of robe. By 130 ABY, the term was being used by the New Jedi Order to refer to entire Force traditions who held different views than the Jedi but did not embrace the dark side. The Imperial Knights were one such organization.

History
In the aftermath of the Great Sith War, Jedi leadership sought to re-evaluate the Jedi Code. Their more conservative interpretation left many dark side force techniques to be barred. Not all Jedi adhered to the revised Code, leading to the first Gray Jedi. While the term originally applied to individual Jedi who experimented with the dark side, its use would expand. It would later be used to describe entire Force traditions and would commonly be misused to describe those who clashed with the High Council, regardless of the beliefs and traits of the dissidents.

Philosophy and traits
"If you would just follow the code, you would be on the Council. They will not go along with you this time.''" "''You still have much to learn, my young apprentice."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn

Despite the term's frequent misappropriation to describe political and philosophical differences, Gray Jedi had a very specific set of traits. Gray Jedi called on the dark side of the Force, but were not corrupted by it and did not embrace it. In fact, a Gray Jedi might oppose those who do embrace the dark side, such as how Jolee Bindo opposed the Sith.

While Gray Jedi displayed a lax adherence to the light side of the Force, they were free of dark side corruption. Jedi who were corrupted by the dark side did not qualify as a Gray Jedi. Jedi who fell to the dark side and were later redeemed were not Gray Jedi.

All Gray Jedi displayed the use of both light and dark side Force abilities. However, the use of a "mixed" Force power set was not, in itself, evidence of being a Gray Jedi. During the time of the Clone Wars, Jedi Master and member of the Jedi High Council Plo Koon displayed the use of a Force ability which he coined Electric Judgment that bore a striking similarity to Force Lightning, an ability strongly associated with the dark side. Koon struggled with the morality of using this power, but ultimately deemed it acceptable. Similarly, Kyle Katarn was a member of the New Jedi Order High Council despite freely using light and dark side abilities, and encouraging his students&mdash;Rosh Penin and Jaden Korr&mdash;to think of Force powers as mere tools. Both Koon and Katarn held strong allegiance to the light side of the Force, despite their abilities. Penin fell to the dark side but was later redeemed, and Korr stayed true to the light, though he was plagued with doubt over his abilities.

In the days of the Old Republic, some Gray Jedi were known to have worn unique, gray robes, as if to declare themselves a distinct faction within the Jedi Order. Jolee Bindo once wore a unique version of these robes.

While the term points to Force users who walk the line between light and dark, it was common to label dissident Jedi as "Gray Jedi" to highlight their opposition to the Jedi High Council. Qui-Gon Jinn was thought of as a Gray Jedi by members of the Council for his frequent opposition to the council, yet staunchly opposed the dark side.

It was difficult for unorthodox Jedi&mdash;especially those labeled as "Gray Jedi", accurately or not&mdash;to join the Council or ascend to any position of real leadership in the Order. As the High Council chose its own members, its preference tended toward orthodox Jedi, such as the group described as the Old Guard. Qui-Gon Jinn's candidacy was rejected in favor of Plo Koon, and then Ki-Adi-Mundi, both of whom were more in line with the Council's way of thinking.

Jolee Bindo
"Well, I assure you, I see more grey than dark or light. I'm just a stubborn old man, tired of the foolishness of others."

- Jolee Bindo to Revan in the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk

Jolee Bindo was a Human Jedi who participated in Rimward missions, fought in the Great Sith War against Exar Kun, and went into self-imposed exile on Kashyyyk soon afterwards. Near the close of the Jedi Civil War, he joined Revan against Darth Malak and was awarded the Cross of Glory for his part in the triumph of the Galactic Republic over the Sith Empire. Previous to his exile on Kashyyyk, Jolee married a fellow Jedi against the Order's Code (see "Pulling a Bindo"). He was a self-described Gray Jedi.

Imperial Knights
"As Imperial Knights, we obey the Emperor but only as long as he serves the light side of the Force."

- Ganner Krieg, an Imperial Knight.



The Imperial Knights were an order of Force-practitioners loyal to the Emperor of the Fel Empire. They were fully trained in the ways of the Force and rejected the dark side of the Force, unlike previous Imperial Force-based organizations. Though they did not draw on the dark side, they did not strictly follow the light side either, and were viewed as "Gray" by the Jedi Order.

Jensaarai


The Jensaarai were an order of Force-users from the Suarbi system, who arose during the Clone Wars. Their name was Sith for "hidden followers of truth." Their philosophy and methodology was a blend of Sith and Jedi teachings. During its creation and early years, the Jensaarai opposed the Jedi. However, after the fall of the Galactic Empire, they made peace with the Jedi, and even sent students to learn at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4. They were still considered to be Gray Jedi for the practices of certain members, but the Jensaarai denied these claims.

Behind the scenes
The definition of "Gray Jedi" has changed over time. It was first used in the Star Wars Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War comic book to refer to Qui-Gon Jinn, specifically to his frequent opposition of the Jedi High Council. This version was supported in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords video game by an item called "Gray Jedi Robe" that had the following description: "Gray Jedi are those who, though having completed the teachings of the Jedi, operate independently and outside of the Jedi Council. They are typically seen as misguided, though they have not necessarily succumbed to the dark side."

- Gray Jedi Robe item description

The definition was later altered in Star Wars: Legacy, #0. It was both expanded in meaning to include entire non-Jedi Force traditions and was shifted from specifying one's relationship to the council to one's relationship to the light and dark sides of the Force. This brought the definition more in line with that of the term Dark Jedi, which also can apply to non-Jedi and describes one's relationship to the Force. The new definition was confirmed at-length in the Jedi Academy Training Manual book for the Saga Edition role playing game. The term Gray Jedi does not refer to Force users who believe there is no dark side, as such individuals would instead follow the theory of Potentium.

Some Sith are erroneously considered as Gray Jedi despite their adherence to the dark side. This is a misunderstanding of the term, as Gray Jedi&mdash;by definition&mdash;cannot have embraced the dark side. Examples of Sith who are sometimes confused as Gray Jedi are Kreia, Vergere, Darth Vectivus, and Darth Caedus.

Appearances

 * Edge of Victory II: Rebirth
 * I, Jedi
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Star Wars Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War
 * Star Wars: Legacy

Notes and references
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