Mandalorian Philosophies, Factions, and Lore

[Shurijo]

Mandalorian Factions

Today, these factions are non-existent. However, most Mandalorians' parents and grandparents were associated with these factions and the philosophies and disagreements still exist within what's left of Mandalorian society. Teachings and stories may have been passed down to each of you regarding their philosophies on life.

True Mandalorians
Killed by Death Watch, never reformed, some might have moved into Mandalorian Protectors

Death Watch
Radical terrorists who opposed Supercommando Codex; opposed New Mandalorians; overthrew New Mandalorian government during Clone Wars; sided with Empire; took control of Mandalore during Imperial Years; became known as Imperial Supercommandos; overthrown by Mandalorian Resistance movement before the Galactic Civil War began

New Mandalorians
Pacifistics who opposed Suppercommando Codex; moral pacifistics; believed Mandalore society would be better served by enhancing their society by means other than war; ruled Mandalore during Clone Wars; overthrown by Death Watch during Clone Wars

Mandalorian Protectors
Follows Supercommando Codex; elite and moral warriors; fought in Clone Wars with Republic; neutral during Galactic Civil War; eventually joined Republic towards end of Clone Wars; fought against Imperial rule (Death Watch) during end of Galactic Civil War; destroyed by (Mandalorian) Imperial Supercommandos (Death Watch) before the Galactic Civil War began

Mandalorian Resistance
Lead by Ursa Wen and Bo-Katan; overthrew the Imperial (Death Watch) rule of Mandalore; Bo-Katan became Mand'alor

(Second) Mandalorian Resistance
You are a member of this faction; any Mandalorian is welcomed; goals are to restore Mandalore's prominence and power; retrieve Mandalorian artifacts stolen/taken by the Empire and others; retrieve Beskar taken from the Mandalorians killed by the Imperial Great Purge


Codes and Laws

Supercommando Codex
The Supercommando Codex was a guideline for Mandalorian behavior, created by Jaster Mereel (who adopted Jango Fett) upon his ascension to the role of Mand'alor in 60 BBY. Mereel found that many Mandalorians of his era had become dissatisfied with the dishonorable and overly savage ways that had become prevalent among a number of the culture's warriors. Mereel chose to become a reformist, one who sought to restore honor to the clans and reinstitute the old warriors codes that had been largely forgotten over time. Mereel revived and modernized the ancient Canons of Honor, creating a series of several hundred commandments governing moral Mandalorian behavior, which he entitled the Supercommando Codex. The Codex, like the Canons before it, drew heavily from the Resol'nare, the six central tenets of the Mandalorian culture. From the Codex, Mereel preached that any Mandalorians who wished to fight would no longer engage in the shameful activities of raiders and brigands. Instead, Mandalorian warriors were to conduct themselves as highly-paid soldiers and honorable mercenaries.

Jaster Mereel's reforms were not unanimously approved of, however, and not all Mandalorians agreed to abide by the Supercommando Codex. The pacifistic New Mandalorians rejected violence and even Mereel's reformist warrior codes, while a number of Mandalorian radicals banded together to form the Death Watch, a splinter group in violent opposition to the Codex and the changes Mereel sought to instill. Civil war broke out between the Death Watch and an those loyal to Mereel known as the True Mandalorians. The True Mandalorians were largely defeated as a result of Death Watch's underhanded machinations The Death Watch was decimated at the hands of Mereel's surrogate son, Jango Fett. Long after, the tenets of the Supercommando Codex lived on in Mandalorian society. The Mandalorian Protectors drew their moral teachings from the Codex, and strove to adhere to its high standards.

Canons of Honor
The Canons of Honor were a Mandalorian text of law and behavior. Evolving from the ancient religious laws followed by the Taung society that founded the Mandalorian culture, the Canons of Honor aimed at helping the ancient Mandalorian warriors attain glory and personal honor. The Canons' texts were extrapolated from the Resol'nare, the six central tenets of the Mandalorian culture. By following the tenets of the Resol'nare, with special emphasis placed upon loyalty to one's clan and engaging in combat, the laws of the Canons were satisfied, and a warrior earned honor.

Resol'nare ("Six Actions")
The Resol'nare, or Six Actions when translated from Mando'a into Galactic Basic Standard, were the central tenets of Mandalorian life. They consisted of wearing armor, speaking the language, defending oneself and family, raising your children as Mandalorians, contributing to the clan's welfare, and when called upon by the Mand'alor, rallying to their cause.

Tradition dictated that anyone who wished to be considered Mandalorian were to abide by these guidelines and live these actions daily. Mandalorians whom did not follow the Resol'nare were considered to be dar'manda—someone who was ignorant of their Mandalorian heritage and bereft of their Mandalorian soul. The status of dar'manda was widely feared within Mandalorian society due to the belief it meant they were soulless and had no place in the Manda, the Mandalorian afterlife.

"I adhere to the Resol'nare. The core of what it means to be Mandalorian. A sacred law giving us direction and purpose. Education and armor, self-defense, our tribe, our language, our leader—all help us survive. We must educate our children as Mandalorians, obey the commands of Mandalore, speak Mando'a and defend our clans."

Young Mandalorian children were taught a rhyme to help them learn the tenets of the Resol'nare, and their parents would explain the cultural significance of each tenet as they grew. The rhyme outlines the importance of learning the Mandalorian language of Mando'a, wearing Mandalorian armor, being able to defend one's family and self, being loyal to the Mand'alor, and raising one's children with those values.

Education and armor,
Self-defense, our tribe,
Our language and our leader—
All help us survive.

Mandalorian Code
The Mandalorian code was a code followed by traditional Mandalorian warriors that could be invoked to settle disputes via one-on-one combat.

I came here to settle a score, and I invoke the code to seek justice through single combat.

Rules of the Battle Circle
The four rules of the Battle Circle were simple. Weapons could range from unarmed combat to vibroblades and vibroswords, depending on the preference of the more honorable combatant.

• No deathblows were permitted
• Neither combatant was allowed to leave the Battle Circle
• Only weapons allowed were those permitted by the combatant who had the most honor
• In order to challenge the champion or former champions of the Battle Circle, one needed the recommendation of one who was a champion at one point.

[Shurijo]

Art & Games

Mandalorian cubism
Mandalorian cubism was an art movement from the planet Mandalore which underwent a popularity resurgence during the Clone Wars.

Paintings

Iron Heart
The Iron Heart (in Mando'a: Kar'ta Beskar), also known as the Mandalorian Diamond, was an ancient symbol used by the Mandalorians. It was notably featured on the chest part of the Mandalorian Shock Trooper Armor. During the Clone Wars, the Iron Heart was used by both the "traditional" Mandalorian warriors, and the pacifist "New Mandalorians." That symbol was used throughout the architecture of New Mandalorian society, police equipment and even civilian attire.

Iron Heart in armor designs

Iron Heart is center piece of Jango's armor

Jaig eyes
Jaig eyes—a simplification of jai'galaar'la sur'haii'se, translating as "shriek-hawk eyes" in Mando'a, and more commonly referred to simply as jaig—were a Mandalorian sigil bestowed by clan leaders as a mark of honor, awarded for particular acts of bravery. Usually worn upon the helmet, the sigil marked Mandalorian soldiers who had distinguished themselves in battle.

Jaig eyes

On Captain Rex's helmet

Cubikahd
Cubikahd—or cu'bikad, depending on the dialect—was a Mandalorian game played using holograms. Each player was given four knives, which they would move to various positions on the face of a cube, with the intention of capturing their opponent's pieces.

Cubikahd

Museums & Artifacts

Archaic Arsenal of Ordo
Mandalorian's ancient culture is often represented by ancient weapons and armor. The Archaic Arsenal of Ordo is the most well known museum which contained hundreds of culturally significant items. Many of these items were taken by the Empire and other factions during the Imperial Era.

Scabbard Monument of Krownest
The Scabbard Monument of Krownest represents one of the most famous battles of an ancient and legendary leader of Clan Wren. The monument contained a munit'kad halberd, an ancient Mandalorian polearm, until it was taken during the Imperial Era.

[Shurijo]

Religion

The Way of the Mandalore
The Way of the Mandalore was a religion followed by some Mandalorians. The Children of the Watch were a Mandalorian cult who followed the Way and sought to reestablish the religion, which had since fallen out of mainstream Mandalorian society and become considered ancient by the time of the New Republic Era.

The Way of the Mandalore involved protecting fellow Mandalorians but also wearing a helmet at all times. Non-Child of the Watch Mandalorians also went out of their way to help fellow Mandalorians. The cult's ideology stated that if a Mandalorian removed their helmet in front of another living being, they were no longer permitted to wear it. Mandalorians who adhered to the Way would state "This is the Way" when following its ideals. Other Mandalorians not of that creed would treat Watch members with scorn. In turn, Watch members saw those individuals as not being true Mandalorians.

[Shurijo]

These are the Mandalorian specific/related items. As a "near/actual" human species, they can ingest anything that human species can ingest.

Food & Drink

Food

Bilerat stew was a thick, green-colored dish. Bilerat stew had a scent that was considered foul by most, but was easily portable and could remain preserved in thermochurns for months at a time, making it an ideal food for the nomadic Mandalorians.

Boiled mealgrain was a type of porridge made by Mandalorians. Prepared by boiling mealgrain in water, the dish was often eaten for breakfast.

Gihaal was a dried fishmeal mixture, its name drawn simply from the word for "fishmeal" in the Mandalorian language of Mando'a. Prepared from raw, freshly gutted fish, the meat was smoked and dried before being packaged into sealed containers for preservation. Richly nourishing, gihaal provided a combination of fat and protein, and could remain edible for years without the need for refrigeration. Because of these traits, gihaal became a staple in Mandalorian field rations, though its pungently unpleasant odor was off-putting to many Mandalorian soldiers.

Gi dumpling soup was a Mandalorian-made soup. The dish featured meaty dumplings made from fish—known as gi in the Mandalorian language of Mando'a—as its primary ingredient.

Haarshun bread was a Mandalorian-made bread. The name haarshun was from the Mandalorian language of Mando'a, and while haarshun bread was colloquially translated to Galactic Basic Standard as "parchment bread," a more literal translation would be "see-bread." The etymology of the word was derived from the process of the bread's creation: haarshun bread dough was rolled out extremely thin, to the extent than an individual was able to see through the dough when held up to a light source. The flattened dough was then rolled up, and baked dry. In this form, haarshun bread became commonplace in Mandalorian dry rations; when it came time to eat the hardened bread, it was soaked in water to regain its edible softness.

Mandalorian oranges were a type of fruit used in cooking.

Red gourd soup was a Mandalorian-made soup, main ingredient of which was red gourd.

Roast shatual was a meal enjoyed by numerous Mandalorians. Prepared from the meat of a shatual—a species of animal native to the veshok-tree forests of Mandalore, the creature would first be butchered, and its meat then roasted over an open flame until cooked to satisfaction. The roasted shatual meat was then sliced and served.

Roba pie was a type of savory pie made by Mandalorians from the meat of a roba, a porcine species native to the Outer Rim world of Aralia.

Spiced leathermeat was a type of food prepared and eaten by Mandalorians.

Tiingilar, also known as spicy Mandalorian stew, was an intensely spicy stew made by Mandalorians. Traditionally created through a hearty blend of meat and various vegetables, in addition to a potent mix of spices, the mere scent of tiingilar was said to be hot enough to burn an individual's nose hairs.

Uj'alayi, also known as uj cake, was a traditional Mandalorian dessert. A unique, sticky-sweet cake that was typically baked flat and dense, uj'alayi was made using a variety of nuts and dried fruit, infused with a sweet spiced syrup that kept the dish moist. A favorite treat among Mandalorians, the recipe for uj cake was handed down from generation to generation. Uj'alayi was served at a number of special occasions, including celebratory victory feasts and clan get-togethers. Mandalorian soldiers were even reputed to carry pieces of uj'alayi into battle with them, stowed in their armor.

Varos was a species of fruit native to the planet Mandalore. Varos were known for their velvety aroma when ripe.


Drinks

Cassius tea is a type of tea blended with the florets of a Cassius tree that was drunk by Mandalorians. Mandalorians believed the tea brought good health.

Shig was a Mandalorian tisane, a beverage infusion made from any available herb. Behot, a citrus-flavored herb, was a popular choice for making shig, and was often used as a natural relaxant. Shig brewed from the behot herbs possessed an amber coloring, and retained the plant's citrus flavor. Some Mandalorians enjoyed splicing their shig by adding a touch of tihaar, a powerful alcoholic spirit Mandalorians distilled from fruit.

Spiced caf was a blend of caf that made use of spices to enhance the drink's flavor. The beverage gained a degree of notability over time, even among non-Mandalorians, and it became a popular menu item.


Alcoholic Beverages

Ne'tra gal, or black ale when translated from the Mando'a language into Galactic Basic Standard, was a traditional Mandalorian alcoholic beverage. Ne'tra gal earned its name from its dark, black coloration, and was a sticky ale with a sweet taste, unlike its bitter-tasting contemporary, kri'gee.

Kri'gee was a Mandalorian ale. With a significantly potent alcohol content and a strong bitter taste, kri'gee was unlike its traditional contemporary, the sweeter Mandalorian black ale known as ne'tra gal. Kri'gee was cheap to produce, and often left drinkers with a painful hangover. The ability to suffer kri'gee's unpleasant aftereffects without complaint was often seen as a sign of Mandalorian fortitude.

Mandallian Narcole was a powerful alcoholic beverage. Produced by the Mandallian Giants of Mandallia, a planet in the Outer Rim's Mandalore system, Narcolethe became famous across the Outer Rim for the level of its potency, and was believed by many to be good for little more than ship fuel. Over time, Mandallian Narcolethe came to be seen by many of the galaxy's residents as the definitive Mandalorian beverage.

Mandalorian wine was a type of alcoholic beverage made by Mandalorians. Also known as mando papuur'gal in the Mando'a language, Mandalorian wine was created from a combination of fruit and wild rice. The drink was typically very strong, with a slightly bitter taste, and possessed a deep red coloration.

Tihaar was a colorless alcohol spirit, made by Mandalorians. Clear, and typically triple distilled, tihaar had a high alcohol content and strong taste that often burned the mouth and throat when ingested. Mandalorian folk humor claimed that the potent tihaar could be used for degreasing engine parts. Tihaar could be made from any fruit that was readily available, including the likes of jewel-fruit or Mandalore's own varos fruit. Every tihaar was different, taking on the flavor of whatever fruit had been used to distill it. Tihaar was traditionally served in a short glass, sometimes over ice, to be enjoyed slowly.