One of the most closely-guarded secrets in the Star Wars universe is the background of Grand Master Yoda. By George Lucas’s design we have never known the identity of his species, and much of his time training as a Jedi is also shrouded in mystery. We have not seen him prior to his days as the wise and seasoned Grand Master of the Order (even in the High Republic era he’s one of three Grand Masters).
But there is one legend – and I mean legend within the Star Wars universe – that has recently been made canon again about Yoda’s backstory.
A new Star Wars book centered on Mace Windu was released recently, seeing him go on a mission as a favor to his fallen friend, Qui-Gon Jinn, shortly after The Phantom Menace. The book itself was fine, and it didn’t really do a ton by way of expanding the current canon lore. But there was a really interesting note near the end of the book as Mace visits Yoda’s quarters at the Jedi Temple. Mace notices that Yoda has a sand sculpture in the form of the Hysalria system, where the four-armed serpent-like creatures, the Hysalrians, were from.
It is at this point in the story that, upon noticing the sculpture, Windu remembers a rumor that he had heard, that a Hysalrian named N’Kata Del Gormo had actually trained Yoda as a Jedi. In the book, Yoda quickly dismantled the sand sculpture using the Force to have it take another form, and that’s where the topic is left.
So even in the Star Wars universe, Yoda’s origins and training are the subject of legends and rumors, which I think is a nice touch (given Yoda’s mysterious background to fans). But the mention of Del Gormo is significant because in Legends material he was the one who had trained Yoda… at least according to legend (the character was actually designed by a fan as part of a contest).
This is probably about as much as we’re going to learn about Yoda’s backstory, and I’d be surprised if we ever get concrete confirmation about all of these things. I kinda like the idea that Yoda’s early days are every bit as much legend in the Star Wars canon as they are in our world, but getting a few hints here and there like this one is fun.
Star Wars Thoughts 