Unveiling the Untold Story: Huyang's Age and His Vast Jedi Legacy in Star Wars

This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka.

Summary

Ahsoka unveiled the live-action incarnation of the droid Huyang, who astonishingly boasts an age of 25,000 years, thus becoming the eldest character in the Star Wars universe. Huyang, a perpetual nomad, has spent centuries honing the skills of Jedi apprentices, diligently overseeing their training and preserving the tales of ancient galactic lore. Furthermore, their duties encompass the perpetual upkeep of the Jedi shuttle, ensuring its smooth functioning for generations to come.

It is uncertain if Huyang's claim of being made up of 75% original parts is accurate due to potential limitations in storage capacity and the possibility of overwritten records in older droids. Ahsoka Tano introduced audiences to the live-action portrayal of the droid Huyang, whose voice is provided by David Tennant. Huyang is revealed to be even older and has trained numerous Jedi throughout the centuries. Acting as a sidekick to Ahsoka, Huyang holds a significant role. Ahsoka fondly recalls Huyang teaching her during her childhood at the Jedi Temple.

Huyang, despite his enjoyment of conversation, maintains an unexpected sense of secrecy about his personal history. Ahsoka noticed this in episode 8 of "Ahsoka", where she questioned Huyang about his true age. However, he purposefully evaded her inquiry, indicating that secrecy may be integrated into his programming, just like the Jedi protocols he faithfully follows. Interestingly, Star Wars viewers possess more knowledge about Huyang's story than what Ahsoka has disclosed, thanks to tie-ins.

Huyang Is 25,000 Years Old

Huyang, the oldest character in Star Wars, makes Master Yoda seem like an infant in comparison, according to Lucasfilm Publishing's recent book Star Wars Timelines. The book reveals that Huyang is an incredible 25,000 years old. This wise character was activated soon after the Jedi Order was founded by the Prime Jedi and was tasked with training future Jedi in the intricate art of constructing lightsabers. Throughout the ages, Huyang has dutifully fulfilled this role, guiding younglings in Star Wars: The Clone Wars as they forge their own lightsabers. In the recent Ahsoka narrative, he astutely analyzed Baylan Skoll's lightsaber and was not only able to identify its creator but also noted that no Jedi had made a lightsaber like it in the past 500 years. This revelation suggests that Huyang meticulously keeps records of his vast knowledge in his extensive database.

Huyang Has Been Training Jedi For Almost As Long As They've Existed

Huyang has been training Jedi for a significant period of time, almost as long as their existence. Interestingly, there is evidence to suggest that he has always been a wanderer. Ahsoka recalls that he has been maintaining their Jedi shuttle for a longer duration than her lifespan, implying that he used to spend a considerable amount of time away from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Nevertheless, he did make several visits to the Temple, as Ahsoka also remembers him sharing the legends and myths of galactic history with her when she was a Youngling.

By the era of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Huyang would often accompany groups of young Jedi initiates on a ceremonial event known as the Gathering. This solemn occasion entailed a journey to the revered Jedi planet of Ilum, a planet abundantly endowed with the Force, where the younglings would retrieve their kyber crystals. Once this task was accomplished, Huyang would provide guidance in the sacred art of constructing their inaugural lightsabers, a pivotal milestone in their Jedi path. Typically an ethereal encounter, Ahsoka disclosed that there existed certain straightforward and expeditious procedures that could be undertaken in cases of emergency. As documented in Star Wars comics, Huyang had left behind comprehensive instructions at the Jedi Temple delineating the creation of these rudimentary lightsabers, although it is likely that they were lost after the devastating events of Order 66.

Is Huyang Really 75% Original Parts?

Despite being 25,000 years old, Huyang proudly revealed in Ahsoka episode 1 that he still possessed 75 percent of his original components. This revelation sheds light on his extraordinary longevity, possibly hinting at his instrumental role in the Jedi Order's resilience throughout the successive Jedi purges. It is plausible that he quietly shapes the fate of the Order by remaining distant from conflict, devoting himself to training the next generation of Jedi. This correlation aligns with his insistence on adhering to Jedi protocol, as seen in Ahsoka episode 1, where he chose to keep his vessel at a safe distance.

Alternatively, it is plausible to consider the possibility that Huyang's belief of still retaining 75 percent original parts may be incorrect. Given that droids have a limited storage capacity, it is logical to assume that older droids, such as Huyang, possess lesser data storage compared to modern ones like C-3PO. It is feasible to envision a situation where Huyang may have overwritten some of his previous records to accommodate newer ones. This could potentially explain why he could only make comparisons between Baylan's lightsaber and those he has seen within the past 500 years. Furthermore, it is conceivable that Huyang might have undergone a memory wipe at some point to ensure his continued usefulness to the Jedi Order. However, if such a memory wipe did occur, it must have happened a considerable time ago, since it has been suggested in Star Wars lore that memory wipes prevent droids from developing their own distinct personalities.

All episodes of Ahsoka can now be streamed on Disney+.