Triforce
The Triforce is a sacred golden relic left within the Sacred Realm by the Golden Goddesses, Din, Farore, and Nayru, once they finished creating the realm of Hyrule. It was formed at the point where the Goddesses departed, and that area became the Sacred Realm, a realm parralell to Hyrule itself. The Triforce consists of three seperate triangles: the Triforce of Power on top, the Triforce of Courage on the right and the Triforce of Wisdom on the left.
The Triforce does not distinguish between those who are good or evil; it will grant the wishes of whoever touches it, giving them virtual omnipotence. If a good person claims the Triforce, his good wishes will be granted; if an evil person claims it, his evil wishes will also be granted. But, if the person who claims it does not possess an balance of Courage, Wisdom and Power within their heart, the Triforce will separate into its three parts, and the one who claims it will be left with only the Triforce aspect that he or she most belived in. For example, when Ganondorf claimed the Triforce, he sought only power. Therefore, when he touched it, the Triforce divided, with the only the Triforce of Power remaining in Ganondorf's hand. Reflecting the malice within his heart, the Sacred Realm became the Dark World.
The Triforce in The Legend of Zelda
In the original game, the Triforce of Wisdom and Triforce of Power are described as "Magical Golden Triangles" that grant their holders great power. The game begins with Ganon in possession of the Triforce of Power, and with the Triforce of Wisdom split into eight pieces hidden in the dungeons beneath Hyrule. Link must fight his way through the eight dungeons to recover the pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom, and then battle his way through Ganon's stronghold to defeat him and recover the Triforce of Power.
The Triforce in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
The Triforce of Courage is first introduced in the second installment of the Zelda series. A historic King of Hyrule who had mastered the complete Triforce (the only character in the series known to have done so) placed it in the Great Palace, where it could only be obtained by one who could fight his way through six other palaces to break the magical seal left by the king. Guarded by a wizened sage, the Triforce could only be recovered by a hero capable of defeating not only the soldiers and monsters set to guard the Great Palace, but also his very shadow. Link overcame these obstacles to achieve the third Triforce, and used the power of the united relic to wake the slumbering Princess Zelda.
The Triforce in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The Triforce is first revealed as a divine manifestation of the Goddesses' power in A Link to the Past. Bestowed upon Hyrule upon their departure, it lay hidden in the fabled Golden Land until the evil thief Ganondorf and his minions broke the seal into the hidden land. Within the Golden Land, the Triforce has the power to change the shape of anyone who enters from the outside. The cruel and evil Ganon was transformed into a hideous pig-like creature, while later in the game the innocent and pure Link was changed into a pink rabbit. Upon murdering his companions and claiming the Triforce for his own, Ganon used its power to turn the Golden Land into the Dark World. Raising an army of monsters to assault the land of Hyrule, Ganon was nearly successful in spreading his evil over all the land, but was stopped when the Knights of Hyrule and the Seven Wise Men sealed him in the Dark World. Still in possession of the Triforce, Ganon used Agahnim to crack the seal between worlds by teleporting the seven maidens, who were descended from the Wise Men, one by one into the Dark World, sealing them in crystals and creating a portal between the worlds. After obtaining the Master Sword and rescuing the seven maidens, Link defeated Ganon and recovered the complete Triforce. Instructed by the Triforce to take it with a wish in his heart, Link used its power to cleanse the evil that had been done by Ganon; healing those who had been wounded by his evil, restoring the Dark World to the Golden Land, and restoring peace to Hyrule.
The Triforce in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ganondorf, the sole male Gerudo from the desert in the west of Hyrule sought the Triforce, and through the manipulation of the young boy Link, he was able to enter the Sacred Realm uncontested once Link opened the portal by pulling the Master Sword from the Pedestal Of Time. In that instant Ganondorf seized his opportunity and made his wish to the Triforce. However, there was another tale told about the Triforce, one that stated that if a person whose Wisdom, Power and Courage were out of balance with each other should lay their hand upon it, the Triforce would shatter into its three seperate pieces. The person would keep the Piece of Triforce that represents the thing one most believes in, and the other two pieces would seek out a hiding place in the body of those chosen by destiny. When Ganondorf laid his hand upon the Triforce this prophecy came true, and the Triforce shattered, sending the three pieces into the bodies of Ganondorf (Power), Princess Zelda (Wisdom) and Link (Courage).
The Triforce in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Triforce does not play any direct role in the storyline of Ocarina's sequel. It is, however, depicted throughout the Stone Tower Temple. Fans who support the idea that the Temple was meant to insult Hyrule's Godesses cite the irreverent display in their arguments.
The Triforce in Oracle of Ages & Oracle of Seasons
The Triforce plays an identical role in these games. At the introduction, it calls to Link from its place in Hyrule castle, telling him "Accept our quest, Hero." It then sends him to Holodrum (in Seasons) or Labrynna (in Ages).
The Triforce in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
The Triforce of Courage, left in Hyrule after the legendary Hero that appeared in Ocarina of Time left Hyrule (Original Japanese suggests the Triforce split when the Hero "journeyed the flows of time" at OOT's end), shattered into 8 pieces, and was locked in chests in the sea. Eight special Treasure Charts were drawn and hidden, to stop anyone without a courageous heart from assembling it. Link assembled it, and when showing it before the Gods at the Tower of Gods, the Triforce fused with him, showing the acceptance of the Gods, thus making him the Hero of Winds.
Also, Ganondorf unites all three triforce pieces on top of his tower at long last and tries to make a wish, but he is stopped as Daphnes presses his hands upon the golden symbol, and then asks the gods to cover the land of Hyrule completely.
- It is also referred to as the Triumph Forks by the Fishmen.
The Triforce in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The word Triforce is not used anywhere in the game. However the Triforce is obviously well known since markings of it exist on the Hylian Shield and on various walls. Its power is also spoken of by the ancient Sages of Hyrule who guarded the Mirror of Twilight. In this episode the wielders of the three parts of the Triforce (Power, Wisdom, Courage) are obviously Link, Zelda and Ganondorf, the same as OoT. Each of them can be seen using their piece of the Triforce at various points in the game. Also, the wielders of the Triforce are called the "chosen by the goddesses".
- Note: You can see the Triforce symbol on Link's hand from the begining of the game, signifying he holds the Triforce of Courage. Also, Zelda, Link and possibly Ganondorf are not turned to spirits by the twilight, signifying that their Triforce pieces protect them.