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The Sheikah are a race found in The Legend of Zelda series. Known as the "Shadow Folk", Sheikah are the shadows of the Hylians who are devoted to serving the Goddesses. Their most distinguishing features are their blood red eyes, and white hair the former of which serves as their emblem. Just as Hylians protect the Triforce, the Sheikah were originally chosen by the Goddess Hylia to protect her mortal descendants, namely, the royal family of Hyrule and keep their holy magic from falling into demonic hands. The Sheikah's strong religious beliefs cause them to honor the royal family and do what they feel is best for them even if they must go behind the royal family's back in order to do so. The most famous Sheikah is Impa, who has appeared in most games in the series, sometimes as an old woman and other times as young warrior but usually as a motherly figure to Princess Zelda.
They were also depicted as a technologically advanced civilization who used both their technology and magic as well as their warriors skills. They did so for ages, though prior to the Hyrulean Civil War, which took place before The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, all but a few of the species died out. Their current status is unknown, though The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess suggests that the ancient tribe has died out while The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild suggests that they are still in abundant number.
Appearance[]
Crest of the Sheikah
The primary distinction between Sheikah and Hylians are the Sheikah's red eyes and their white hair, but not all Sheikah have these traits. Sheikah can also live much longer than Hylians. They also usually wear japanese styled clothes or ninja outfits. Like the Hylians, the Sheikah have pointy ears, presumably also to communicate with the Goddesses.
History[]
This chronology will only talk of the games where Impa is confirmed as a Sheikah or where other Sheikah are seen.
Unified Timeline[]
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword[]
The symbol of the Sheikah.
In Skyward Sword, Sheikah are mentioned to have served the Goddess Hylia as her chosen guardians.Only one member of the Sheikah tribe, Impa, appears as both a young and old woman in the game. She serves as a guardian to the reborn Goddess and protects her while she is in her eternal sleep, aiding Zelda and Link in their quest to defeat Demise. Their symbol, the sheikah eye is already tattooed in red on her forehead, and her left eye is tattooed with the three white marks above and a white teardrop below in the form of the same symbol. She demonstrates powerful magical abilities while protecting Zelda from Ghirahim, an intimate knowledge of the Goddess's relics, and was associated with the Goddess before she relinquished her immortal form.In this game the Sheikah are for the first time in the saga's history implied to be an advanced civilization.
Before the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time[]
Before the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the Sheikah were nearly wiped out defending the Royal Family of Hyrule during the Hyrulean Civil War.Leaving only a few of their members spread across the kingdom.The graveyard behind Kakariko Village is said to be filled with the same Sheikah who gave their life for the kingdom.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time[]
During Ocarina of Time, only one Sheikah was seen to be alive: Impa, who was Princess Zelda's loyal servant.Which will later become the Sage of Shadow and help Link in his quest to defeat Ganondorf.Link also use some Sheikah items in the game, such as the Mask of Truth or the Lens of Truth.
Adult Timeline[]
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker[]
Impa stained glass in Wind Waker.
In Wind Waker the Sheikah have died out due to The Great Flood and are only referenced through a stained glass of Impa along with the other sages inside of Hyrule Castle.
Child Timeline[]
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask[]
In Majora's Mask, they are only mentioned in the description of the Lens of Truth.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess[]
In Twilight Princess, Impaz, stated in the game that she was the last of her tribe, though it is not directly stated that she is an Impa (though heavily implied).
End of the Timelines[]
10,000 years before The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild[]
10,000 years before Breath of the Wild The Sheikah were at the peek of their civilization both technologically and spiritually, this time was the time of the construction of the Guardians, the Divine Beasts and the shrines dedicated to the hero of the goddess Hylia. The king of the time feared this technology, and exiled the Sheikah and all they had created. Some obeyed the king's orders, and went to live as simple farmers in Kakariko Village. Others grew to hate the Royal Family, and defected to become the militant Sheikah, following Ganon as they now shared a common enemy.
100 years before The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild[]
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Crest of the Sheikah in Breath of the Wild
100 years before Breath of the Wild, King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule ordered the Sheikah to excavate the technology of their forefathers in response to the prophecy of the Hylian fortune teller predicting Calamity Ganon's return. It was around this time that Master Kohga, who's family had lead the militant Sheikah for at least four generations, named the group the Yiga Clan.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild[]
During Breath of the Wild, the Sheikah are shown living inside of Kakariko village and are said to be forbidden from exiting it due to their custom, with the exception of the Sheikah researchers; the Yiga Clan naturally don't follow this. The Sheikah researchers are also responsible for Link's Slumber of Restoration and him obtaining the Sheikah Slate.
Society and culture[]
Dialect[]
By the time of Breath of the Wild, the Sheikah are known to have their own alphabet since at least 10000 years prior the events of the game. The alphabet is as follow.
Political informations[]
The Sheikah live in small group called clan and are under the "rule" of a clan leader who act as the one taking decision for the entire clan. Sheikah side usually with the Hyrulean royal family due to the task the Goddess gave them but they were also shown capable of choosing their side by themselves as the Yiga clan decide to side with Ganon.
Religous information[]
The Sheikah are a very spiritual species since they were tasked with being the protector of the Hyrulean royal family by the Goddess Hylia herself. They also worship the Three Golden Goddesses but their main deity is Hylia. It is unknown if the Yiga Clan worship Ganon or if they only see him as their master.
List of relics[]
Technological[]
- Sheikah Slate
- Timeshift Stone
- Guardians
- Divine Beasts
- Shrines
- Shrine of Resurrection
- Sheikah Towers
- Cherry
Magical[]
- Gossip Stones
- Sheikah Stones
- Lens of Truth
- Mask of Truth
Customs[]
The Sheikah are known for being proud warrior versed both in combat with melee weapons as well as bows and magic, they are also known for their very advanced technology. As shown in Breath of the Wild, the Impa's clan are a clan who thinks that going outside of their village is weird and usually spend the majority of their lives inside, with the exception of important members of the clan such as Impa who served at Hyrule Castle.
Groups of Sheikah[]
Impa's Clan[]
Impa's clan is the only clan seen in almost all Zelda games, where they are lead by the Impa family and serve as the guardians of the Hyrulean royal family.[]
Members[]
Sheikah Monks[]
The Sheikah Monks are a group of monks devoted to the Goddess Hylia they lived 10000 years before Breath of the wild and are only seen in the form of mummies still inhabited by the soul of their respective monk. They are the ones who built the Shrines in the name of the Goddess Hylia.
Members[]
see Sheikah Monks
Yiga Clan[]
The Yiga Clan is a clan of Sheikah following the order of Ganon and opposing anyone who dare stand in his way. The leaders are the Kohga family.
Members[]
| Name | Profession | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Master Kohga | Leader of the Clan | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity |
| Sooga | Second in-Command | Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity |
| Yiga Blademaster | Warrior/Officer | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity |
| Yiga Footsoldier | Assassin | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity |
| Yiga Spy | Spy | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity |
| Dorian | Ex-spy | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |