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- For the arcade system board, see Triforce (arcade system board)
In the world of the Legend of Zelda series of video games, the Triforce (sometimes called "The Golden Power" or "The Golden Triforce") is a holy relic created by three goddesses. The Triforce consists of three separate parts, each referred to also as a Triforce: the Triforce of Power, associated with red and the goddess Din; the Triforce of Wisdom, associated with blue and the goddess Nayru; and the Triforce of Courage, associated with green and the goddess Farore.
The shape of the Triforce is based on the mon of the Hojo clan in Japan, which claims that the three triangles represent the three scales of a Shinto dragon. Its design is a level 1 Sierpiński gasket.
History
According to Ocarina of Time, Hylian myth states that the Triforce was bestowed upon the world by the three goddesses Din, Nayru, and Farore. The Triforce was created when the goddesses left the realm of Hyrule at the exact point where they left; it houses the essence of the goddesses and it is the ultimate representation of all power, wisdom and courage in Hyrule. The Triforce was guarded in the Temple of Light in a land parallel and reflective of the "normal" Hyrule, known as the Golden Land or Sacred Realm. It has been a subject of dispute whether the Triforce be an inanimate object that cannot distinguish good from evil, or if it is a living entity, as depicted in the end of the game A Link to the Past.
Ganondorf, a Gerudo thief and the sole male of the tribe at the time, heard of the legend of the Triforce and lusted after its power, primarily as a tool to subjugate the kingdom of Hyrule and expand his influence. Inadvertently aided by a young hero known as Link and the Hylian princess Zelda, Ganondorf found his way into the Sacred Realm. Ganondorf did not know that to claim the Triforce, one must have the three facets of the Triforce - power, wisdom, and courage - in perfect alignment. Ganondorf valued power far more than wisdom or courage, so he could only claim the Triforce of Power. The other two Triforces split off; the Triforce of Courage merged with Link and the Triforce of Wisdom merged with Zelda. They were chosen to house the Triforces because they represented courage and wisdom more than any other. Each of the three received the mark of the Triforce on the back of one hand.
Ganondorf, after becoming Ganon, was defeated and the power of the seven Hyrulian Sages, including Zelda, was used to seal him in the Sacred Realm along with the Triforce of Power. Link and Zelda retained their Triforces.
In The Wind Waker, it is stated that when the Hero of Time left Hyrule (supposedly in Majora's Mask), the Triforce of Courage was broken into eight pieces and scattered, to be recovered one day by another Hero deserving of its power (in this case, the Link from The Wind Waker, the Hero of Winds).
In the original The Legend of Zelda, only two triforces are mentioned (power and wisdom). The Triforce of Courage first makes its appearence in The Adventure of Link.
Power
In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, it was revealed that one who touches the Triforce has all of their wishes come true; the Triforce reflects the heart of the one who touches it, whether good or evil. In A Link to the Past, Ganon exploited this power to corrupt The Golden Land, turning it into the Dark World, a realm of dark skies and evil creatures. In The Wind Waker, the king of Hyrule, The Wind Waker characters#King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule III, touches the Triforce and wishes for Link and Zelda to have hope in defeating Ganondorf.
The Triforce is referred to as the "Golden Power" in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and could have something to do with the Light Force mentioned in The Minish Cap.
Other appearances
In Wild World, the Triforce is a furniture item. The player can buy it from Crazy Redd for 10,000 Bells (the game's form of currency).
References
World of Warcraft has the Golden Flame, which is a reference to this. The same quest line has many other references to the Legend of Zelda series as well. See one posting on Thottbot.com.
In Kirby Super Star, The Great Cave Offensive requires Kirby to collect treasures while escaping a vast cave. The final and most expensive treasure is the distinctively Zelda-like Triforce.
In the online game Adventure Quest, when you ask the NPC, Robina Hood about Rouge class, she will exclaim: By the great Tri-Farce, I am A ranger!
"Triforce"