The Star Wars franchise has had its fair share of unique and fascinating fictional weapons, but none of them are as iconic as lightsabers. These energized plasma swords stand as the most recognisable symbol of the Star Wars franchise.
Over the years, different variations and colours of these lightsabers have been introduced to fans, and like many other elements of the Star Wars universe, there is a reason behind these different blade colours.
Below, we shall be delving into the complex and mystical science behind the many different lightsaber hues and the symbolism behind them.
How Lightsaber Hues are Determined
Much of the knowledge surrounding the construction of lightsabers in canon comes from Star Wars: Rebels and the clone wars. According to Star Wars canon, the process of lightsaber construction begins with a Jedi or Force user embarking on a mission to find a kyber crystal (lightsaber crystal). These kyber crystals are rare Force-imbued gems that can be found on various Force-rich planets such as Lothal, Ilum, and Jedha. The Jedi, however, preferred to get their kyber crystals from the icy depths of Ilum.
While on these planets (Ilum, Lothal, or Jedha), a kyber crystal would typically call out to the Force-user, who then attunes it with the Force. This attunement creates a Force-bond between the kyber crystal and the Jedi or Force-user. It also gives the clear and colourless kyber crystal a new colour, and when the attuned (coloured) kyber crystal is finally placed in a lightsaber’s hilt, it focuses the energy of the diatium power cell and emits a blade that has the same colour or hue.
Most of the time, kyber crystals either turn blue or green, but there have been rare cases where they turn to other colours like yellow, purple, or orange. It is also possible for an already attuned kyber crystal to change colour if it bonds with another Force-user.
Kyber crystals, however, do not bond with dark force users, which is why the Sith have to corrupt and torture them into working through a ritual known as bleeding. During this bleeding ritual, a Sith psychically pours their negative emotions and unnatural powers into the kyber crystal, which then turns its colour red. This red crystal is what the Sith now use for their lightsabers. The red (bled) kyber crystal is also the reason why the blades of Sith lightsabers, like the Darth Vader lightsaber and the Kylo Ren lightsaber have red hues.
It is possible for a bled kyber crystal to be healed using the Force. This healing process purifies the kyber crystal and turns it white. Ahsoka Tano (a character from Star Wars: Rebels famously wields twin white-bladed lightsabers that are powered by the healed crystals of a dead Imperial Inquisitor.
It is important to bear in mind that the star wars legends continuity gives a slightly different explanation of how lightsaber hues are determined. Here, lightsabers are powered by different types of Force-imbued lightsaber crystals, but the most common among the Jedi was the blue Adegan crystals found on Ilum. In legends, each type of lightsaber crystal glows in a specific colour, which then determines the hue of the lightsaber they are used to build.
The Symbolism Behind Lightsaber Colours/Hues
Canonically, there have been 8 different lightsaber colours used in the Star Wars universe so far, and in typically Star Wars fashion, each of these colours has a different meaning.
Blue, which is the most common lightsaber colour symbolises bravery, righteousness, and a strong physical alignment with the Force. Green (another common lightsaber colour) is associated with spirituality, harmony, goodwill, and cooperation. Red is mostly associated with anger, hatred, greed, and fear.
The rarer lightsaber colours include purple, which symbolises force wisdom, uncertainty, and moral ambiguity; yellow, which indicates hope and piousness; orange, which indicates an alignment with the dark side; and white, which symbolises purity and force neutrality.
There is also the Mandalorian Darksaber, or black lightsaber, which is the one-of-a-kind lightsaber that was crafted by Tarre Vizsla. This uniquely coloured blade is held in high regard by all Mandalorians, and its ownership is through victory in combat.
Conclusion
The complex and mystical science behind the different hues of Star Wars lightsabers is something that adds another layer of intrigue to the already fascinating universe of Star Wars. In Star Wars lore, these different lightsaber hues are determined by a kyber crystal’s alignment with the Force and the bond it forms with a Force-user.
