Shien is often paired with Djem So, and considered a variation on the former. The primary reason for this confusion is Shien, like Djem So, also uses the reverse grip.

Shien is a Lightsaber combat form developed later, being born in the heart of the Empire's rise and during the Clone Wars.

Shien means to parry.

The Shien is a defensive move, also used in Makashi, specifically a circular parry that moves the opponent's blade off line of the target. Also like Makashi there is a continued contact with the opponent's blade. The Maka, Saber Bind, is the preferred position.

The philosophy is that it takes longer to process an attack with the eye. The speed at which attacks execute exceed speeds the eye can process. The proverb of Shien is "your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them." Instead of attempting to follow an opponents movements technique by technique, and then respond to their attacks, it is faster to feel the attack as it begins.

The Maka blade tie is deliberate, acting as a bridge to feel the opponents pressure and intent through out the battle. Unlike Makashi the intent of Shien is not to Shiak (thrust), but rather to Sun Djem, to disarm.

Sun is always in reference to the primary weapon arm, or the right hand side. Even if the student is left handed, all Lightsaber schools teach right hand. It is the student's task to adjust if they are left handed to learn to be ambidextrous.

Djem is to destroy, or in the context of Sun Djem, to disarm. This can be done three ways, the weapon can be literally destroyed by cutting through the handle, the opponent can be disarmed by amputating the weapon arm above the wrist (as in the case of both Anakin and Luke Skywalker), but the best masters of Shien could use the circular sword tie, Maka-Shien, to strip the sword free of the opponents hands, and toss it out of reach without doing damage to the handle or the opponent.

In Makashi this circle is smaller and only used to redirect and unbalance the opponent to open them for a Shiak counter attack. In the form Shien the circle can be any size and the application is to create a point of contact with the opponents blade and keep the contact as unbroken as possible.

Shien, like Makashi, is transmitted by way of the Sequence, a short series of movements meant to be used in real time dueling to disarm or dispatch an opponent, therefor the study of Shien also demands dueling, or sparring among its students more than forms that do not use the Sequence patterns. Shien as a form separate from Djem So is a latter development and as such does not have the same long standing tradition of creating superior duelists, but this is only true statistically because of the long history Makashi has by comparison. Makashi was unchallenged for so long as the "dueling form", but Shien was also created to combat Makashi during the Galatic War years.

Shien is also known as the Compassion Form or Way of the Varactyl, a large colorful lizard that is highly obedient and intelligent. The Varactyl was a mounted companion often ridden through areas difficult for vehicles to reach.

Shien is built from Soresu and it is transmitted in a similar way. Where Soresu avoids crossing saber blades and beats the opponent with timing and perfect distance, Shien takes the Soresu form and considers the goal of perfect timing and distance unrealistic in a combat situation.

The Sequence of Shien occurs from the Shii or posture of Soresu.

Djem So Sai Sequence
Sai over attack just after Trill attack
Cha Shiak

Makashi Cha Shiak Sequence
Cha Shiak just after Trill's attack

Shii Cho Sai Mok Sequence
Sai Mok over attack as Trill attacks
Cha Shiak

Shii Cho Cha Cho Sequence
Side step and Juyo with Cha Cho back of Trill' s neck as he attacks
Sai from behind

Shii Cho Sweep Mok Sequence
Sweep Mok under attack as Trill attacks
Jung to Djem So and Sai

Ataru Mai Cho Sequence
Side step Mai Cho under attack as Trill attacks
Mai Shiak

Cha Cortay Sequence
Intercept Trill's attack with Cha Cortay
Orbit Sai Mok, Sai Mok (figure 8)

Mai Cortay Sequence
Intercept Trill's attack with Mai Cortay
Sweep Mok, Sweep Mok (figure 8)

Force Shout Sequence
Halt Trill's attack with Force Shout and Cha Shiak Shiim
Mai Cho

Sai Sun Djem Sequence
Sai to Trill's blade to bat it from his grip

Sai Cho Mai, Sun Djem Sequence
Sai to amputate Trill's wrist and disarm, or split his saber pommel

Sweep Cho Mai, Sun Djem Sequence
Sweep to amputate Trill's wrist and disarm, or split his saber pommel

Sai Mok Sai Mok Sequence
Circle step left while tipping sword to left side to bait attack
Ataru right with Moon Sai Mok Cho Mai (amputate Trill's wrist)
Orbit Moon Sai Mok Trill's neck

Flowing Water Sequence
Maka (saber bind) Trill's attack
push past Trill's forward pressure to finish with Sai Mok

Keri Shiak Sequence
Maka (saber bind) Trill's attack
push Trill's arms up and kick to push Trill back
Cha Shiak

Herf Cromo Shien Sequence
Intercept Trill's attack in Makashi
Moon Chromo Shien 3 times (counterclockwise) and fling Trill's blade high
Mai Cho

Maka Sun Chromo Shien Sequence
Intercept Trill's attack in Makashi
Sun Chromo Shien (clockwise) and fling disarm Trill's blade

Cho Mai Chromo Shien Sequence
Intercept Trill's attack in Makashi
Moon Chromo Shien (counterclockwise) and under hook Trill's wrist
Lever to Cho Mai (strip disarm by wrist amputation)

Kai Cho Mai Shun Sequence
Circle step right with Moon Shien to parry attack
Slip blade between Trill's arms (over his left, under his right)
Circle step left with Sun Shun twisting Trill's arms, Kai Cho Mai

Cresh So Cho Mai Sequence
Circle step right with Cresh So Moon Shun to block attack
Slip blade between Trill's arms (over his left, under his right)
Circle step left with Sun Shun twisting Trill's arms, Kai Cho Mai

Falling Leaf Sequence
Ataru with Sai over attack as Trill attacks

Cresh So Falling Leaf Sequence
Ataru with Cresh So Sai over attack as Trill attacks

Krenth Shiak Sequence
Drop to Krenth and Mai Shiak under attack as Trill attacks

Krenth Sweep Mok Sequence
Drop to Krenth and Sweep Mok under attack asTrill attacks

Hut Slide Sequence
Drop to Krenth and Mai Shiak under attack as Trill attacks
Trill evades with backward Ataru
Hut Slide advance with Mai Cho

Blinding Dust Sequence
Before Trill can attack, throw or kick dust into his eyes, then attack

Shiim Djem Sequence
When surrounded by multiple opponents, Shiim toward the group's leader, then quickly turn to attack a weaker opponent to break the circle and escape

Zerek Sequence
If injured, as a last resort throw sword at Trill, then escape

Phase I: Dueling One on One

Phase II: Dueling Two on One, Multiple Opponents

Phase III: Dueling Blindfolded

In the battle with general Grievous Obi Wan uses the Shien and Sun Djem to disarm the four-armed monster that had killed so many Jedi before. Anakin learns Shien as well, from Obi Wan, and uses it to beat Count Dooku in their final duel. As Darth Vader, he uses the Sun Djem to remove Luke's hand on Bespin

Obi Wan was pivotal in the design of Shien, to both honor the memory of his fallen teacher Qui Gon, and to better prepare future Jedi to face the challenges of growing war. Facing the threat of a Master of Makashi, Count Dooku, a formidable duelist, Shien was designed to use the same emphasis on dueling to better prepare the next generation of Jedi.