Pumpkin Head

Pumpkin Head is a spirit entity that guards the first Essence of Time, the Eternal Spirit, in the dreary Spirit's Grave in.

Strategy
Pumpkin Head is the first real threat Link must defeat in the quest of collecting the essences. As its name implies, Pumpkin Head has an invulnerable pumpkin as a "head" and a vulnerable torso and legs. Link must swipe at the vulnerable spots, eventually causing the "body" to disappear, leaving only the pumpkin on the ground. After this, Link can throw the "head" with his Power Bracelets to find that the pumpkin is actually a host for a small glowing spirit that will fly around the room, intent on killing him for disrupting its protective shell. Link can kill the exposed specter with a few slashes from his sword.

Trivia

 * Pumpkin Head resembles Jack from the Animal Crossing series.