Summary
- Ahsoka introduces the concept of the Bokken Jedi.
- Many fan favorite characters are now considered to be part of this Jedi group.
- Bokken Jedi followed their heart rather than the dogmatic view of the Jedi Order.
The following contains spoilers for Ahsoka Episode 6, "Part Six: Far, Far Away," streaming now on Disney+.
The Jedi Order is one of the most recognizable parts of Star Wars. First introduced in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, the Order stood for over a thousand generations to protect the galaxy from many different threats that emerged. But the Jedi were not without flaws, as the Jedi Council became rigid and inflexible. This resulted in their destruction at the hands of Palpatine when he ushered in his new Empire.
Of course that didn't mean the end of the Jedi. Not only did several of them manage to survive Order 66, like Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda, but new Jedi sprang up throughout the galaxy, a result of the Force manifesting itself in living beings. Fans have observed several differences between the Jedi before Order 66 and the Jedi that came after, they were still grouped under the name of Jedi. But Episode 6 of Ahsoka gives a name to the new generation of Jedi, with Baylan Skoll calling them Bokken Jedi.
Bokken Jedi Are Trained Differently Than Previous Jedi
Bokken Jedi is the name given to the people who became Jedi after Order 66 was enacted and largely had to train themselves in the wilderness. The new category helps to put a dividing line between those that existed as Jedi before Order 66, and those that came after. This classification helps audiences to think about the Jedi even more like history, with different names being given to the different periods. It's another way that Star Wars is taking inspiration from the real world to help flesh out its world. The word Bokken also comes from the real world, as it's Japanese for a wooden stick used in kenjutsu training, and looks like a katana. Unsurprisingly, Bokken was chosen to characterize the Jedi, as Star Wars often draws on Japanese culture to develop the Order.
Just like history though, this label isn't clear-cut. Baylan explains that Ezra is part of a breed of Bokken Jedi, which implies that Kanan Jarrus was also a Bokken Jedi. While he received some teaching at the Jedi Temple, Order 66 meant that he couldn't complete his training and that a large part of it had to be done by himself. By this same reasoning, Cal Kestis is also a Bokken Jedi, as he had to reconnect to the Force by himself and grapple with what being a Jedi means under the Empire.
Several Fan-Favorite Jedi Are Bokken Jedi
While the term Bokken Jedi is new, several fan-favorite Jedi characters meet this description. Episode 6 of Ahsoka, "Part Six: Far, Far Away" explains that Ezra Bridger is part of a breed of Bokken Jedi. Ezra Bridger is the young boy fans met in Star Wars: Rebels, where he learned several key lessons about the Force and how to be a different kind of Jedi from his master Kanan. Luke Skywalker is a member of this group of Jedi, as he trained in the Force to defeat the Empire. Another well-known Bokken Jedi is Rey Skywalker. She trained under Luke and otherwise has to figure out how to wield the Force for herself.
Not all Jedi that survived Order 66 are Bokken Jedi like Kanan and Cal. Obi-Wan Kenobi survived Order 66, but his outlook and training were shaped by the rigid nature of the Jedi Order. Yoda isn't a Bokken Jedi either, as it was partly his beliefs before and during the Clone Wars that prevented the Jedi from adopting more flexible and forward-thinking ideas. Both later realized the folly of the Order and helped to shape Bokken Jedi, but they aren't part of this group.
The Difference Between Bokken Jedi and the Jedi Order
What makes the Bokken Jedi different from other Jedi isn't just their place on the galactic timeline. These Jedi would go on to reshape the Order to try and fix some of the flaws exposed by the Jedi Temple's fall and the massacre of the Jedi. The Bokken Jedi were more compassionate and willing to form attachments. The Jedi of old, particularly Yoda and Obi-Wan, stress that attachment is forbidden. But the Bokken Jedi would buck this trend. It's because of Kanan's love for Hera that he's willing to sacrifice himself in the heat of battle, making sure that he and the rest of the Ghost crew can live and fight on without him. Ezra sacrifices himself for a similar reason, making sure that his friends can live on and protect Lothal.
Luke highlights the differences between the old a new Jedi philosophy best. In Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda, one of the unflexible Jedi urges Luke not to save his friends from the clutches of the Empire, claiming that he isn't ready to fight the Empire and trying to teach him about not giving into attachment. Luke ignores this advice, and while he is beaten, he also learns that Vader is his father. It's at this moment that Luke decides he has to save Vader. Obi-Wan, another Jedi of old, claims that Vader can't be saved, but destroyed. Luke of course proves him wrong, and turns Vader back to the light.
Ahsoka Continues to Introduce New Concepts to Star Wars
Ahsoka has introduced several new concepts to Star Wars, the biggest one being a whole new galaxy to the universe. But Bokken Jedi give a clear name and way to understand the Jedi who found their way without the Temple. The name also pays homage to the Japanese inspirations for the Order. It helps reframe how audiences look at those like Ezra and Luke and put a label on the differences between the rigid nature of the Jedi Order.
Bokken Jedi gives Star Wars deeper connections to the real world, giving Star Wars a sense of history and an even closer connection to Japanese culture. It helps to tie several desperate and scattered Jedi together and give them a unifying group to belong to and differentiates the new Jedi from those that came before.