http://www.qui-gonline.org/faq.htm#name
This is a link to a Qui Gon Website.. The best I have read.. He are some excerpts..

Is Qui-Gon Jinn the "best" Jedi ever?

Most of us think so. But there are plenty of people who disagree. You will have to make up your own mind. His Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi seems to think so. The following is from the novel; it is implied that Obi-Wan is thinking this to himself, "his mentor was perhaps the greatest Jedi alive, a commanding presence at Council, a strong and brave warrior who refused to be intimidated by even the most daunting challenge, and a good and kind man." The official website says, "Other Jedi Masters often use Jinn's focused sensitivity to the Force as an example for their pupils." The novel also calls him the greatest swordsman in the galaxy (till Maul, apparently).

Qui-Gon's achievement (revealed in Episode III) of being the first Jedi to discover and practice the secret to transcending death is further evidence that Qui-Gon is very unique, exceptional, and good.



Where does the name "Qui-Gon Jinn" come from?

The name appears to be derived from the Chinese "qi gong," (chee goong) a phrase which refers to the ancient Chinese art of Chi, or life force, manipulation. This is as much as saying that Master Qui-Gon is by definition a master of the living Force. The meaning of the name "Jinn" is less clear. In Muslim mythology, the Jinn (singular: jinni or genie) are (sometimes malevolent) supernatural beings. "Jinn" (jin) also apparently means "person" or "a man" in Japanese.
George Lucas also may have gotten the name Jinn via a passage in Joseph Campbell's classic work on mythology, The Hero With A Thousand Faces (explored in depth in an article on this site):
(in the "unsuspected Aladdin caves" of our subconscious) not only jewels but dangerous jinn abide: the inconvenient or resisted psychological powers that we have not thought or dared to integrate into our lives.... These are dangerous because they threaten the fabric of security into which we have built ourselves and our family. But they are fiendishly fascinating too, for they carry keys that open the whole realm of the desired and feared adventure of the discovery of the self. Destruction of the world we have built and in which we live, and of ourselves within it; but then a wonderful reconstruction, of the bolder, cleaner, more spacious, and fully human life...
"Jedi" derives from the Japanese "jidai geki," a genre of Samurai television dramas.



Obi-Wan is thinking this to himself, "his mentor was perhaps the greatest Jedi alive, a commanding presence at Council, a strong and brave warrior who refused to be intimidated by even the most daunting challenge, and a good and kind man."
What's the difference between the Living Force Qui-Gon talks about and the Unifying Force Yoda talks about?

In the book The Making of Episode I, George Lucas says, "The Force itself breaks into two sides: the living Force and a greater, cosmic Force. The living Force makes you sensitive to other living things, makes you intuitive, and allows you to read other people's minds, et cetera. But the greater Force has to do with destiny. In working with the Force, you can find your destiny and you can choose to either follow it or not." In other words, it can be said that the living Force is personal in nature, the cosmic, unifying Force more universal. Qui-Gon's compassion, unshakeable commitment to his intuitions (and faith in "the will of the Force"), and use of the mind trick are therefore functions of his skill in the living Force. I suggest that the living and unifying aspects of the Force may represent differing explanations of the intuitions that well from within us. Are they the voices of our own subconscious, or of the supernatural? Do you trust in yourself, or in God?

What does it mean to "be mindful of the living Force"?

Obi-Wan, having been brought up in the Temple under Yoda's tutelage (source: Jedi Apprentice novels), has acquired Yoda's knowledge and understanding of the unifying aspect of the Force. But he needs to learn to hear the living Force, the one which guides a Jedi's actions from moment to moment and tunes him/her in to what is happening in the "here and now." Qui-Gon is a Master whose greatest strength is in understanding the living Force, so he makes for possibly the best mentor Obi-Wan could get. Being "mindful of the living Force," then, is to let go of greater anxieties caused by things distant in time and/or space and concentrate on what is going on in the present, who it will affect, and what needs to be done about it.
Is Qui-Gon a bad Jedi for lying/cheating/stealing?

There are many schools of thought on this issue. Some Star Wars fans are ready to condemn Qui-Gon for what they consider hypocrisy in committing such acts as gambling, lying or concealing the truth (about his identity, refusing to allow the Queen to know about his plans to "trust our fates to a boy we hardly know," gambling her property without her knowledge, etc), cheating (by using the Force to affect Watto's chance cube), and even stealing (in a rumored cut scene from TPM, Qui-Gon was to have been shown surreptitiously swiping the power unit from Watto's shop which he later gives to Anakin to test his podracer. His use of the mind trick to make Boss Nass to give him a bongo transport has also been construed as stealing by some).

There are some compelling defenses for Qui-Gon's actions. Perhaps the best one is that Qui-Gon's moral code does not prohibit such methods, but rather embraces them as being savvy, their effectiveness in achieving larger goals far outweighing any moral weight they may carry. As Lyta Alexander points out in an essay, the Ninja have a similar philosophy toward stealth and trickery. Another defense is that it is the will of the Force that Qui-Gon completes his mission by whatever means. Qui-Gon's individual acts can in many cases be simply explained away; for instance, it can be easily argued that Qui-Gon was never really gambling because, as Watto later accuses him, "you knew the boy was going to win! Somehow you knew it!" Qui-Gon replies, "whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you'll lose." In order to avoid coming to the immediate conclusion that Qui-Gon really is a hypocrite for lecturing on the very vice he himself apparently has been indulging, we must conclude that there is some degree of truth in Watto's words. There is a lot of evidence for that in the utter confidence Qui-Gon has prior to the race in Anakin's still-unproven abilities. The novel suggests that the chance cube was loaded (weighted on one side) anyway, making Qui-Gon's "cheat" merely a response to Watto's.

Or we can explain Qui-Gon's behavior more simply as reflective of an "ends may justify the means" philosophy. There seems to be no "ten commandments" of Jedi behavior saying that deception is below a Jedi. The Jedi must sometimes overlook small instances of good and bad in order to objectively pursue the greater good. And as George Lucas said in an interview with Bill Moyers, "the Light Side and the Dark Side are designed around compassion and greed." All Qui-Gon's actions are selfless in nature, done out of compassion for others and a desire to serve. There is no motive of greed, of personal gain, in the character, and therefore no good argument can be made that he has Dark Side tendencies.

In the Revenge of the Sith novelization, we learn that the reason Qui-Gon is able to transcend death is through his rigorous dedication to compassionate love. Qui-Gon becomes a kind of "saint." So, I think we have to take George Lucas' word for it that he was a good Jedi.

Why can the Jedi not sense the presence of the Sith?

As Yoda says, "hard to see is the Dark Side." Theories abound on the reasons why. The most popular seems to center on some kind of "Force shielding" technique that truly knowledgeable Jedi or Sith would have mastered. However, there is a simpler theory. Presume that since Sidious never actively used the Force (that we could see), his presence would not be detected by Jedi who are merely passive, who would not sense a Dark presence until it made a disturbance, akin to throwing a rock in a calm pond to make ripples. Yoda and the Council members are not looking for Sith, they have no clue the Sith still exist, so quite literally, they can't find what they aren't looking for. Obi-Wan senses something wrong, but it eludes him, because he doesn't know what it is. Both Jedi sense a disturbance while on Tatooine, but that is probably because Maul is looking for them, possibly using the Force. Again, they don't think of Sith because they don't know the Sith exist. "I don't believe the Sith could have returned without us knowing," says Mace Windu, but by the end of the movie he realizes (too late, alas) that Qui-Gon did fight a real live Sith on Tatooine, and again on Naboo.

What is "the will of the Force"?

Good question. One answer is that it is the universal will, the natural tendency of the Star Wars universe toward balance of the Light and Dark. Another is that it is something like the will of God. It is not clear that the Force has a personality, however, so references to its "will" are a little puzzling. In the novelization of Star Wars: A New Hope, Obi-Wan says that the Force "is an energy field and something more.... An aura that at once controls and obeys. It is a nothingness that can accomplish miracles." The controlling aspect is presumably the will of the Force.

What is "the balance of the Force"?

Anakin is referred to as the Chosen One, "the one who will bring balance to the Force." Among Qui-Gon's dying words were, of Anakin, "he will being balance..." George Lucas has stated that by his act of destroying Emperor Palpatine in ROTJ, Anakin achieves this goal. But what does this mean? The best (and most direct) answer comes in the PBS special, The Mythology of Star Wars with Bill Moyers and George Lucas, in which Lucas says TPM "is ultimately about the dark side and the light side and those sides are designed around compassion and greed. We all have those two sides of us, and we have to make sure those two sides are in balance." It is still unclear what this balance is, however, since if it is ultimately achieved by destroying evil, it seems only good remains. Maybe balance means that compassionate love prevails?
Why didn't Qui-Gon see, as Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council did, that Anakin was dangerous?

Perhaps the Living Force to which he is devoted did not give him much insight into the future. Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council were in tune with the Unifying aspect, so they were looking at the future alone, not the present, and not the potential. By locking on something like the clouded future Anakin had, the Council did not give him the benefit of the doubt as Qui-Gon did. He saw Anakin in the present, being the Chosen One, freed from slavery and ready to be trained as a Jedi. His faith in the Living Force and in the prophecy of the Chosen One led him to look past any cloudiness to see that he must obey the Force and allow the Chosen One to fulfill the prophecy - no matter what that means.

What is the significance of Qui-Gon's statement to Obi-Wan, "you are a wiser man than I"?

That's a difficult question to answer. The first, and easiest answer is that Qui-Gon has enough wisdom and humility to recognize that his perspective is often problematic, that he has sometimes been wrong in the past, and that he has a great deal of resect for his Padawan. Qui-Gon, who in Liam Neeson's words has, "done a couple of things in the past that's made him a bit of a loner, and a bit of a slight maverick," (Movietalk) is not as diplomatic with the Jedi Council as Obi-Wan. Additionally, he seems to have a history of taking on causes others percieve as foolish, based on his instincts about a situation. He is being true to himself, but perhaps he has at least a small degree of doubt about the wisdom of such an exclusive dependence on the living Force. Whether such doubt is warranted is another story. In Jedi Apprentice The Dark Rival, it is pointed out that when "the student teaches the Master then the match is right.'
Does Qui-Gon know he's going to die in the duel?

We don't know. Probably not in any distinct sense, as he gives no indication of any particular foreboding and has an expression of surprise and grief when Maul hits him on the nose, stunning him, and then runs him through with his lightsabre. At some point, possibly when Obi-Wan is knocked off the catwalk, possibly later when Qui-Gon slows the pace of the fight by hesitating in the melting pit room, he may realize this fight is going to be to the death. The novelization seems very explicit that he didn't anticipate death, but he that distinctly realised the superiority of the other fighter over his aged reflex. There are various moments of dramatic foreshadowing in which Qui-Gon's death is alluded to, most notably at the Skywalker dinner table when Anakin says, "no one can kill a Jedi!" and Qui-Gon wistfully responds, "I wish that were so," though this does not by any means imply foreknowledge on Qui-Gon's part. Indeed, it is implied that Qui-Gon's talents do not lie in knowledge of the future, a function of the unifying Force, but in intuitive knowledge, a function of the living Force. Qui-Gon's meditation between the force fields before the final meeting with Maul also implies to many a preparation for the possibility of death.

Why doesn't Qui-Gon disappear when he dies as Old Ben Kenobi and Yoda did in the original trilogy?

In the years between Episode I and Episode III, George Lucas, when asked the question, declined to give a straightforward answer, stating, "The Qui-Gon Jinn thing you will discover as time goes on. There is a whole issue around that and the ability to disappear. The key line to understanding this is when Ben Kenobi tells Darth Vader, "If you try to strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine. So, that's a key line. And it'll be explained as we go along" (press conference). In Empire Magazine, he said, similarly, "one (question) that gets asked a lot is why doesn't Qui-Gon disappear like everybody else? That's a plot point that centres around Obi-Wan saying to Vader/Anakin in the first one, 'If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.' There is an issue about the Force and that will be revealed."

In Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays George Lucas said, "one of the things (Old Ben Kenobi) was doing on Tatooine besides watching over Luke was learning how to keep his identity after he became part of the Force." In Episode III we learn that Qui-Gon in fact was the first Jedi to learn the secret to maintaining his identity in the Force after Death. However, George Lucas has explained that Qui-Gon's understanding of this technique was not complete enough to enable him to disappear or to later appear as a ghost. He is able to communicate with the living only as a voice in their minds. But after his death, Qui-Gon's understanding becomes much greater and he is able to tell the secret to Yoda and Obi-Wan, who spend their years in hiding learning from Qui-Gon and practicing the "contemplation and study" necessary to become Jedi ghosts. This is an important survival strategy for the Jedi; since there are so few left they must be able to stick around to advise future Jedi, like Luke!

So why was Qui-Gon the one to make this extraordinary breakthrough? According to George Lucas and the Revenge of the Sith novelization, essentially because of his deep compassion. Another possible reason is that the living Force emphasizes the individual and keeping concentration focused here and now on one's own situation and presence--it may well be the key to maintaining identity within the Force, because it's the very essence of individuality.

Many believe Qui-Gon's kneeling meditation between the laser walls at the end of his fight with Maul may have been a preparation for retaining his individuality after his possible death. Perhaps Vader's meditation scenes in The Empire Strikes Back are inspired by some combination of witnessing Obi-Wan's disappearance, and Qui-Gon communicating with him through the Force? We don't see Anakin disappear when he dies (Lucas has said this is because it "wouldn't make sense" for the armor to disappear), but he does of course appear at the end of Return of the Jedi.
as a ghost.
There is the possibility that Qui-Gon's presence was weak immediately after his death, and progressively strengthened so that he became able to sometimes speak with his old friends, and eventually even to appear to them as a ghost or vision. This would be consistent with Old Ben Kenobi first connecting with Luke only as a voice. It was three years after the events of Star Wars: A New Hope that Ben first appeared visually to Luke, when he was lost in a snow storm on Hoth. Or perhaps it just took time for those whom the ghosts were communicating with to learn to perceive them.
Next, we see Jake Lloyd age Anakin with Qui-Gon. They have much the same discussion that Yoda and Luke have in Empire before going into the tree to face his fears. "Control you fear," Qui Gon says, "You are The Chosen One." The scene appears to be a Yoda's dream and he's not pleased.

Anakin, fed up with being called a boy says to Obi Wan, "As far as wisdom goes, you're no Qui-Gon Jinn." Obi Wan is surprised but agrees. "Not a day goes by I don't look to his guidance," he says."
Since my death was unlike the death of the other Jedi I can still come back to life.
The Episode III Novelization fleshes out details. In fact Qui-Gon has achieved a unique transcendence by becoming both "one with the Force" and remaining distinctly his individual self. He has achieved what the evil Sith had lusted after from ancient times--immortality. The Jedi had believed this to be impossible, but it turns out that only the living Force, the light of love, Qui-Gon's particular strength which made him a compassionate maverick in life, can achieve this transcendence. Qui-Gon has been communicating for the past 13 years with Yoda in particular, and to some smaller extent with Obi-Wan and Anakin. By the time of Episode III he can communicate clearly with his friends--and he can teach this skill to them. Near the end of Episode III, we see Yoda alone in a room on the planet of Polis Massa, peacefully intent in meditation--in fact he is communicating with Qui-Gon. Bail Organa enters and interrupts him: "Excuse me, Master Yoda...." Later Yoda says to Obi-Wan in a conference room on board the Alderaanian Starcruiser, "In your solitude on Tatooine, training I have for you." "Training?" Obi-Wan asks. "An old friend has learned the path to immortality. One who has returned from the netherworld of the Force: your old master." "Qui-Gon!" "How to commune with him, I will teach you."

222 INT. POLIS MASSA-OBSERVATION DOME-NIGHT

On the isolated asteroid of Polis Massa, YODA meditates.

YODA: Failed to stop the Sith Lord, I have. Still much to learn, there is ...

QUI -GON: (V.O.) Patience. You will have time. I did not. When I became one with the Force I made a great discovery. With my training, you will be able to merge with the Force at will. Your physical self will fade away, but you will still retain your consciousness. You will become more powerful than any Sith.

YODA: Eternal consciousness.

QUI-GON: (V.O.) The ability to defy oblivion can be achieved, but only for oneself. It was accomplished by a Shaman of the Whills. It is a state acquired through compassion, not greed.

YODA: . . . to become one with the Force, and influence still have . . . A power greater than all, it is.

QUI-GON: (V.O.) You will learn to let go of everything. No attachment, no thought of self. No physical self.

YODA: A great Jedi Master, you have become, Qui-Gon Jinn. Your apprentice I gratefully become.

YODA thinks about this for a minute, then BAIL ORGANA enters the room and breaks his meditation.

BAIL ORGANA: Excuse me, Master Yoda. Obi-Wan Kenobi has made contact.

With my help, you can learn to join with the Force, yet retain conciousness. You can join your light to it forever. Perhaps in time, even your physical self.

Yoda did not move. "Eternal life..."

The ultimate goal of the Sith, yet they can never achieve it; it comes only by the release of self, not the exaltation of self. It comes through compassion, not greed. Love is the answer to darkness.

"Become one with the Force, yet influence still to have..." Yoda mused. "A power greater than all, it is."

It cannot be granted; it can only be taught. It is yours to learn, if you wish it.

Slowly, Yoda nodded. "A very great Jedi master you have become, Qui-Gon Jinn. A very great Jedi Master you always were, but too blind I was to see it."

He rose, and folded his hands before him, and inclined his head in the Jedi bow of respect.

The bow of the student, in the presence of the Master.

"Your apprentice, I gratefully become."

He was well into his first lesson when the hatch cycled opened behind him.

Yoda tells Obi-Wan he won't be quite alone on Tatooine:

When Obi-Wan moved to follow, Yoda's gimer stick barred his way. "A moment, Master Kenobi. In your solitude on Tatooine, training I have for you. I and my new Master."

Obi-Wan blinked. "Your new Master?"

"Yes." Yoda smiled up at him. "and your old one..."

There is one concept image of ghost Qui-Gon, however! The painting by Eric Tiemens appears on page 95 of The Art of Revenge of the Sith and depicts Obi-Wan at the bottom of the Utapau sinkhole. It's titled "Sinkhole Grotto (Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon)," and shows Obi-Wan with his saber blazing in a blue-green grotto draped in moss, on the shore of a small pool of water. On the opposite side of the water, the ghost of Qui-Gon blazes bright neon green with a blue haze around it. He looks like the Virgin of Lourdes or the Lady of the Lake, it made me laugh. The caption quotes Tiemens: "Iain (Mccaig) said, 'Wouldn't it be great to see an apparition of Qui-Gon while Obi's down in the cave, giving him guidance?' The painting wasn't used in the story, though." Bless you, Iain (he's a friend and mentor of my boyfriend and knows very well how much I was looking forward to seeing Qui-Gon--though whether that has anything to do with why the painting came into being, I have no idea).

Thanks to.. for the Qui Commentary..
elizabeth@qui-gonline.org