Summary
- Lord Jabu-Jabu is a recurring character in The Legend of Zelda franchise, serving as a deity and guardian for the Zoras.
- Jabu-Jabu appears in multiple games, including Ocarina of Time and Oracle of Ages, where players must enter the deity's belly to complete their quests.
- In Wind Waker, a descendant of Jabu-Jabu named Jabun assists Toon Link by giving him Nayru's Pearl, showcasing the continued importance of the character in the series.
In the world of The Legend of Zelda, there are often dungeons representing each of the major elements that make up life. In Ocarina of Time, the temples of fire, water, and forest are three of the five total dungeons that connect to showcase the world created by the goddesses of the Triforce. These dungeons often reoccur in one form or another across many games in The Legend of Zelda franchise. These core dungeons are often accompanied by spiritual guides or guardian deities. The Great Deku Tree oversees the forest, Death Mountain often has guardians like Volvagia, and the home of the Zora is protected by Lord Jabu-Jabu.
Lord Jabu-Jabu, or Jabu-Jabu-sama in Japan, is a whale-like deity that watches over the Zoras in several Legend of Zelda games. Jabu-Jabu appears in different forms over the years but is primarily present in Oracle of Ages and Ocarina of Time. The character is also referenced in one form or another throughout the series. The benevolent water guardian crosses paths with Link more than once, but unlike the Deku Tree, doesn't offer much wisdom or dialogue of any kind. Lord Jabu-Jabu is often depicted as being more or less silent but with some kind of great power. Regardless, Jabu-Jabu is always an important part of the Legend of Zelda universe.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time's Third Dungeon
The first appearance of Lord Jabu-Jabu and the most prominent is in Ocarina of Time. When Young Link visits Zora's Domain in search of the Spiritual Stone of Water, The Zora's Sapphire, he is told of Lord Jabu-Jabu's presence in the domain. Described as the patron deity of the Zoras, Jabu-Jabu is fed and taken care of by Princess Ruto of the Zora. The deity resides on an altar in Zora's fountain behind the domain. It is there that Link must offer the deity a fish in order to enter its belly and save Princess Ruto.
Lord Jabu-Jabu is seemingly depicted as a docile and friendly spirit that visitors to Zora's domain may see in person. However, Ganondorf cast a spell on the deity, which caused it to act uncharacteristically. Jabu-Jabu becomes the third dungeon in Ocarina of Time and the final one as Young Link. This appearance of Jabu-Jabu went on to inspire the others that followed.
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
The Zora Guardian in Hyrule's Sister Country
In the land of Labrynna, featured in Oracle of Ages, there exist many similar tribes to Hyrule. Among these are the Zoras, who once again have Lord Jabu-Jabu watching over their home. In Oracle of Ages, the Zoras live in Zora Village, where their shrine to the whale-like deity resides. As in Ocarina of Time, Link must find a way to enter the whale in order to complete his quest. Jabu-Jabu's Belly becomes the seventh dungeon in Oracle of Ages.
The game takes place in two separate ages, and Jabu-Jabu appears in both. The deity is too small to enter in the past and can only be accessed in the future age. Oracle of Ages' Jabu-Jabu is very similar to the one from Ocarina of Time in that he must be saved from an illness. After Oracle of Ages, Jabu-Jabu is seen only in statue form in the Lakebed Temple in Twilight Princess and in Zora's Domain in Breath of the Wild.
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
The Descendant of Jabu-Jabu
Appearing far into the future of the Zelda timeline, Jabun is thought to be the descendant of Jabu-Jabu. Only speaking Ancient Hylian, this water spirit reluctantly assists Toon Link by giving him Nayru's Pearl. Jabun's theme is actually a remixed version of the song that plays in Jabu-Jabu's Belly in Ocarina of Time. Though the Zora aren't in this game, Jabun still remains a guardian deity all the same. Jabun also appears in a stained-glass window in The Minish Cap, further emphasizing the importance of the character.
- Created by
- Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka
- Video Game(s)
- The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Creation Year
- 1986
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo