created 2025-05-02, & modified, =this.modified
The Red Thread of Fate, also The Red Thread of Marriage is an Eastern Asian belief originating from Chinese mythology.
An invisible red cord is held around the finger of those destined to meet, as they are their “one true love.”
Yue Lao is the god of marriage and love. He appears as an old man under the moon. Yue Lao appears at night and “unites with a silken cord all predestined couples, after which nothing can prevent their union.”
The thread used to be attached on the male thumb, and the female little finger but it is common in modern times to be depicted tied around the fingers, often the little finger.
Yue Lao Legend
During the Tang dynasty there was a young man, named Wei Gu. He saw an old man reading under the moonlight. The man said
I am reading a book of marriage listing for who is going to marry whom. In my pack are red cords for tying the feet of the husbands and wife.
He saw an older woman carrying a young girl, and said “this little girl will be your wife in the future.” This is a strange thought, and he orders the girl stabbed by his servant with a knife.
Note
Fucking hell
Fourteen years later, Wei Gu is given the governor’s daughter in marriage. She was having difficulty finding a suitable match because though she is beautiful, she has a scar on her back.
After ten years and three children later, Wei Gu sought the old man for suitable matches for his two younger sons and daughter. The old man refused to find suitors for his children. During the later years, Wei Gu sought to find a possible match for his children but by coincidence, no marriage was put to work.