The Connection Between Star Wars and China BY

The Connection Between Star Wars and China BY CHRISTOPHER NAVARRETE

What is my Argument? • Star Wars took inspiration from the Chinese religion Taoism • Followers of the Jedi Order are essentially Taoist in disguise

What is Star Wars? • A 1977 space opera science fiction series and cultural phenomenon created by George Lucas • Set in the very far future where you can space travel, talk to aliens and use plasma swords • Focuses on an ancient energy called the Force and how people use it

• Star Wars Episode 4 Poster: https: //m. media- amazon. com/images/M/MV 5 BNz. Vl. Y 2 Mw. Mjkt. M 2 E 4 OS 00 Y 2 Y 3 LWE 3 Zjct. Yzhk. Z GM 3 Yz. A 1 ZWM 2 Xk. Ey. Xk. Fqc. Gde. QXVy. Nzkw. Mj. Q 5 Nz. M@. _V 1_. jpg • Star Wars the Force Awakens Poster: https: //m. media- amazon. com/images/M/MV 5 BOTAz. ODEz. NDAz. Ml 5 Ban. Bn. Xk. Ft. ZTgw. MDU 1 MTgz. Nz. E@. _V 1_. jpg

What is the Force? • An ancient energy that is used by the Jedi and Sith order, who are religious groups that have their own philosophies regarding its use (Wookiepedia) • It is “an energy field that connects everything in the universe. The Force is generated by all living entities, and resides in all lifeforms” (Wookiepedia) • Powers and abilities of using the force include: • Telekinesis • Influence the mind of others • See the future (Wookiepedia) • Force Choke: https: //vignette. wikia. nocookie. net/starwars/images/0/06/Dooku_Obiwan_choke. JPG/revision/latest? cb=20111022214353

What is Taoism? • An ancient religion and philosophy that began in China 142 C. E (BBC) • It “emphasizes doing what is natural and ‘going with the flow’ in accordance with the Tao (or Dao), a cosmic force which flows through all things and binds and releases them” (Mark) • It is a “religion of unity and opposites; Yin and Yang. The principle of Yin Yang sees the world as filled with complementary forces - action and non-action, light and dark, hot and cold, and so on” (BBC) • Yin Yang Symbol: https: //ballzbeatz. com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Yin-Yang-Taoism-Decal-Sticker. jpg

Connection 1: The Force is Qi (Chi) • “Qi is the basic material of all that exists… Qi can be discussed in terms of quantity, since having more means stronger metabolic function” (BBC) • This means that Qi and the Force is life energy • So everyone has Qi and the Force, whether small or large. • A large amount of Qi and Force leads to telekinetic powers (Dong) • Followers of the Force and Taoism Meditate to hone their life energy (BBC) • Star Wars Mediation: https: //i. pinimg. com/originals/9 f/56/89/9 f 5689 b 9 a 0 ea 34 c 4 f 0 c 6 ef 8 c 02 b 13 fed. jpg • Taoism Mediation: https: //udemy-images. udemy. com/course/750 x 422/1575904_c 5 cc. jpg

Connection 2: The Code of the Jedi Order takes from the Tao Te Ching • The code of the Jedi Order are “a set of rules that governed the behavior of the Jedi Order” (Wookiepedia) • The Tao Te Ching (way of integrity) is a important text for Taoists filled with philosophies. • “it delivers a treatise on how to live in the world with goodness and integrity” (Walter)

Comparison CODE OF THE JEDI ORDER • There is no emotion, there is peace • There is no ignorance, there is knowledge • There is no Chaos, there is harmony TAO TE CHING • When people see things as beautiful, ugliness is created • When people see thing as good, bad is created • Difficult and easy compliment each other

Connection 3: Jedi and Sith are Yin and Yang • The Jedi and Sith are religious groups that follow the Force differently. • Yin and Yang “is the principle of natural and complementary forces, patterns and things that depend on one another and do not make sense on their own” (BBC) • Jedi and Sith are polar opposite of each other, thus they are like Yin and Yang • Jedi are light (good) and Sith are dark (bad) • Yin Yang Symbol: https: //ballzbeatz. com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Yin-Yang-Taoism-Decal-Sticker. jpg

• Star Wars Yin Yang Symbol: https: //i 1. wp. com/www. popmythology. com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/star-wars-yinyang. png? resize=280%2 C 280

Conclusion • Star Wars took inspiration from Taoism in the following ways: • The Force is Qi • The Code of the Jedi Order and Tao Te Ching have similar messages • The Jedi and Sith are essentially yin and yang or polar opposites • This is important because: • it allows us to see Star Wars from a different, more religious and philosophical point of view. • Opens the doors to more people being interested in and following Taoism • Learning Taoism can be more fun when watching Star Wars, especially for kids

Bibliography • Dong, Paul (2000). China's major mysteries: paranormal phenomena and the unexplained in the People's Republic. San Francisco: China Books and Periodicals. ISBN 978 -0 -8351 -2676 -2. • “Jedi Code. ” Wookieepedia, starwars. wikia. com/wiki/Jedi_Code. • Mark, Emily. “Taoism. ” Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Dec. 2018, www. ancient. eu/Taoism/. • “Religion: Taoism. ” BBC, www. bbc. co. uk/religions/taoism/. • “The Force. ” Wookieepedia, starwars. wikia. com/wiki/The_Force. • Walter, Damien. “The Tao Te Ching by Laozi: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times. ” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 27 Dec. 2013, www. theguardian. com/books/2013/dec/27/comfortreading-tao-te-ching-laozi.

Bibliography • Taoism Mediation: https: //udemy-images. udemy. com/course/750 x 422/1575904_c 5 cc. jpg • Star Wars Mediation: https: //i. pinimg. com/originals/9 f/56/89/9 f 5689 b 9 a 0 ea 34 c 4 f 0 c 6 ef 8 c 02 b 13 fed. jpg • Star Wars Episode 4 Poster: https: //m. mediaamazon. com/images/M/MV 5 BNz. Vl. Y 2 Mw. Mjkt. M 2 E 4 OS 00 Y 2 Y 3 LWE 3 Zjct. Yzhk. ZGM 3 Yz. A 1 ZWM 2 Xk. Ey. Xk Fqc. Gde. QXVy. Nzkw. Mj. Q 5 Nz. M@. _V 1_. jpg • Star Wars the Force Awakens Poster: https: //m. mediaamazon. com/images/M/MV 5 BOTAz. ODEz. NDAz. Ml 5 Ban. Bn. Xk. Ft. ZTgw. MDU 1 MTgz. Nz. E@. _V 1_. jpg • Force Choke: https: //vignette. wikia. nocookie. net/starwars/images/0/06/Dooku_Obiwan_choke. JPG/revision/latest? cb=20111022214353 • Yin Yang Symbol: https: //ballzbeatz. com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Yin-Yang-Taoism-Decal. Sticker. jpg • Star Wars Yin Yang Symbol: https: //i 1. wp. com/www. popmythology. com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/03/star-wars-yin-yang. png? resize=280%2 C 280