The red thread of fate, and the god who ties it

An old Chinese saying goes: an invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it never breaks.

The one who ties it is Yue Lao (月老), the Old Man under the Moon. He sits by moonlight with a book that lists every marriage that will ever be. When he finds two names that belong together, he ties their ankles with a red thread.

The story of Wei Gu

In a Tang dynasty tale, a young man named Wei Gu met an old man reading a book under the moon. The old man told him his future wife was a three-year-old girl in the market. Wei Gu did not like the answer and tried to change his fate. Fourteen years later he married a young woman, and learned she was that same girl. You can run from the thread, the story says, but you cannot cut it.

Where people ask Yue Lao today

In Taipei, the most famous Yue Lao is at the small Xiahai City God Temple in Dadaocheng. Singles come from all over Asia. Lungshan Temple in Wanhua has a popular Yue Lao shrine too. See Taiwan's famous temples.

How to ask him

• Bring an offering: flowers, fruit or sweets.
• Light incense and tell Yue Lao your name, birthday and address, so he knows who to look for.
• Describe the kind of person you hope to meet. Be specific.
• Ask with the two moon blocks (擲筊). One flat and one round side up means yes.
• Take a red thread from the temple and keep it in your wallet or wear it.
• When you find love, come back and say thank you. Couples often bring wedding cakes.

Try it online

You can tie a playful red thread between two names on our free red thread page, and see how your zodiac signs match.