How Did Yoda Know About the Rule of Two if the Sith Were Believed to Be Extinct?

One of the intriguing questions in the Star Wars universe revolves around the knowledge of the Rule of Two held by Yoda, a contemporary Jedi who lived for 900 years. The Rule of Two, a Sith doctrine emphasizing the existence of only two Sith at a time, poses an interesting puzzle when examined in light of the generally accepted belief that the Sith were extinct.

Contemporary Research and Discovery

Hmm. Maybe a contemporary Jedi like Yoda did a little actual research and found a scroll or a Holocron that contained that information just lying around. Maybe one Sith actually bragged about that doctrine before dying. Its not like it was classified or something. Yoda, being a highly trained and astute being, may have studied the issue, talked to people, or even discovered some documents during his extensive investigation of the Sith issue over 1000 years.

Historical Legacy and Doctrine

Clearly, one of the early Sith had shared the Banite doctrine with others who wrote it down, allowing Yoda, who was alive for 900 years, to study it later. The doctrine was not a secret; rather, it was a method they used to survive and propagate their ideology. This suggests that the knowledge of the Rule of Two was out there, accessible, and possibly even passed down through the generations.

George Lucas's Creative Decisions

Kind of dumb, right? This all comes from decisions made by George Lucas in trying to connect the dastardly prequels to the originals. In the original trilogy, there are two evil Force users: Darth Vader, the fallen Jedi Knight, and the Emperor, a complete mystery. There is no mention of any previous darksiders, and certainly no such thing as a "Sith." The implication is that the Emperor seemed to come out of nowhere, turned Anakin Skywalker to his side, and overthrew a thousand generations of peace and justice overseen by the Jedi.

But Lucas had three bad movies to fill, and he could hardly make the Emperor and Vader the only villains with powers and lightsabers. He needed a roster of darksiders, and since Star Wars thrives by eating its own tail, he decided to make an entire order of Anti-Jedi and call them the Sith. This name randomly appeared in Star Wars supplementary materials early on. In a further exuberance of excess creativity, he decided that every Sith would be modeled on the relationship of the Emperor and Vader, creating what became the dumb Rule of Two.

Implementation and Doctrine Ambiguity

It makes no sense for Yoda to know about the Rule of Two because Bane implemented it specifically to fake the extinction of the Sith when he took their order underground after helping the Jedi wipe out all his colleagues. However, perhaps the Force told him. This ambiguity adds a layer of depth to the plot, allowing for a multitude of interpretations and discussions among fans and scholars of Star Wars.

Understanding the interplay between knowledge, legacy, and the enigmatic nature of the Star Wars universe helps us appreciate the complexity and depth of the narrative. Whether through direct research, historical documents, or the guidance of the Force, Yoda's knowledge of the Rule of Two remains a fascinating aspect of the Jedi's journey and the challenges they face, mirroring the larger narrative of power, legacy, and the eternal struggle between light and dark.

Keywords: Star Wars, Rule of Two, Sith, Yoda, Force