Jedi Holocron

What is a Holocron?

Holocrons were data-storage artifacts housing ancient teachings or critical information in holographic form. These devices were small, glowing polyhedrons made of crystalline material and technology, and their activation and use required the power of the Force. This article will explore Jedi holocrons, though these devices were also utilized by the Sith. For more, see Sith Holocron.

What is a Jedi Holocron?

Jedi holocrons were specialized artifacts designed to preserve the knowledge and teachings of the Jedi Order. They were equipped with security measures that only allowed Force-sensitive individuals to access the information stored within.

Interactive Holographic Teachings

When opened, the holocron’s teachings were typically presented through an interactive hologram, often depicting the Jedi Master who originally recorded the data. Sharing the knowledge contained within these holocrons was generally discouraged, especially with those outside the Jedi Order, as they primarily contained sensitive information about the Force.

The Holocron Vault: Secure Storage

These holocrons were securely stored in the Holocron Vault, located in the Jedi Archives of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, with access restricted to members of the Jedi High Council.

Memory Crystals

Many holocrons required a memory crystal to be unlocked, such as the Kyber memory crystal, which was entrusted to the Rodian Jedi Master Bolla Ropal during the Clone Wars and contained a list of all known Force-sensitive younglings.

The Kyber Memory Crystal and Cad Bane

The bounty hunter Cad Bane, working for the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, captured Ropal and seized the Kyber crystal after previously stealing a holocron from the Jedi Temple. Though Ropal refused to unlock the crystal’s data for Bane, the bounty hunter eventually coerced Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker into opening the holocron by capturing his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano.

Depa Billaba’s Holocron

Later in the war, Jedi Master Depa Billaba possessed a holocron that she passed on to her apprentice, Caleb Dume, after the Conquest of Kaller and shortly before her death during the Great Jedi Purge, following the activation of Order 66 by Darth Sidious. This holocron was used by Dume, Ezra Bridger, and Ahsoka Tano until 2 BBY, when it was destroyed while being merged with a Sith holocron.

Grakkus the Hutt’s Holocrons

After the Great Jedi Purge, crime lord Grakkus the Hutt amassed a collection of Jedi artifacts, including holocrons, which he stored in his palace on Nar Shaddaa.

How Many Jedi Holocrons Exist?

Over the centuries before the rise of the Galactic Republic, hundreds of Jedi holocrons were created. Many of these artifacts were stored in the Jedi Archives on Coruscant. In some instances, the Jedi also captured Sith holocrons and secured them in the Archives to prevent their use by dark side practitioners.

Most holocrons were lost after the Empire’s Great Jedi Purge, as they were kept in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Along with the holocrons, the knowledge of how to create them was also lost, making these relics extremely rare during the age of the Rebellion and beyond.