Legends passed down by the Royal Family tell that if someone with an evil mind obtains the Triforce, Hyrule will be consumed by evil. So the ancient Sages, including Rauru, the Sage of Light, built the Temple of Time to protect the entrance to the Sacred Realm from evil ones. The Temple of Light, in the very center of the Sacred Realm, housed the Triforce. In this Temple was the Chamber of Sages. Rauru sealed his spirit here, ready to call the Sages of Hyrule if ever the need arose.

Within the Temple of Time, the gate to the Sacred Realm was locked by a complex magical seal. A mighty weapon, the Master Sword, called the Blade of Evil's Bane, guarded the gates to the Sacred Realm. The Master Sword was so powerful that only one who was pure of heart and strong of body could wield it. No evil one could touch the blade, and only one worthy of the title of "Hero of Time" could pull it from the Pedestal of Time.

The Master Sword was hidden behind an impenetrable door, the Door of Time. The door could only be opened with three Spiritual Stones and the Song of Time, played on the Ocarina of Time. In front of the Door of Time, the inscription on the altar read:

Ye who owns 3 Spiritual Stones
Stand with the Ocarina of Time
And play the Song of Time

Three of the races of Hyrule, the Zoras, the Gorons, and the Kokiri, were entrusted with the Spiritual Stones, while the Royal Family of Hyrule guarded the powerful Ocarina of Time.