The Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia

Padawan

Category: Military
Type: Rank
Affiliation: Jedi Knights

This was a term used by the Jedi to describe a young student of the Force. During the height of the Old Republic, beings who were strong with the Force were identified at a young age for training, often before their first birthday. Young beings were transported to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, where they were brought up to respect the Force and the life it suffused. The exact definition of the term Padawan was somewhat blurred, as some Jedi Masters used the term to describe any student of the Force, while others reserved the term to describe those students who had been chosen for further training by a specific Jedi Knight or Master. Under this latter definition, students were allowed to train until they were chosen as Padawan learners by a Jedi Master, or until they were thirteen years old. If a learner was not chosen as a Padawan by his thirteenth birthday, it was decided that the young student would never have the drive and skills to become a full Jedi Knight, and they were given lesser assignments by the Jedi Council. Each Padawan was distinguished by a short, close-cropped hairstyle which was accented by a thin braid. The braid's length, together with small beads braided into the hair, denoted the Padawan's level of training. On the occasion of a Padawan's thirteenth birthday, solemn reflection and meditation were required by the student, and the Master often gave them a meaningful gift.

Source Abbreviations Listing - PTR, E1N, RF, HP, SWI88

For more information, please read or view the following material(s):

Jedi Apprentice: The Hidden Past, by Jude Watson, copyright 1999, from Scholastic Incorporated

Jedi Apprentice: The Rising Force, by Dave Wolverton, copyright 1999, from Scholastic Incorporated

Star Wars Insider Magazine (issue number n follows SWI), by Various, copyright 1997, 2008, from Various

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, by Terry Brooks, copyright 1999, from Del Rey Books

Star Wars: Prelude to Rebellion (issues 1 through 6), by Jan Strnad, copyright 1998, 1999, from Dark Horse Comics

Legend:

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