The Red String of Fate: All About the Popular Chinese Myth

Have you heard of the Red Thread of Fate? The popular East Asian legend claims that two individuals who are destined to fall in love are tied together with an invisible red string. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about the Red Thread of Fate, different versions of the story, its origins, and how to see the red thread of fate in your own life. Plus, find out how the myth is used in pop culture and anime, why it’s important, and other myths and beliefs about red string from around the world.

The Red String of Fate Meaning

The Red Thread (or String) of Fate is an East Asian legend that states that two people who are destined to be soulmates are tied together by an invisible red string. The thread can tangle and stretch, but it will never break and will eventually lead the couple to each other.

Section 1 of 8:

What is the Red Thread of Fate?

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The Red Thread of Fate is an invisible cord that ties two people together. Also known as the Red String of Fate or the Red Thread of Marriage, this East Asian legend states that the ends of an invisible string are tied to two people who are fated to meet and fall in love, like the concept of soulmates. The legend originated from Chinese mythology but is also a part of other East Asian cultures, like Japan and Korea.^{[1]
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- The two people connected by the Red Thread of Fate are destined to be lovers, regardless of time, place, and circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.
- The body part the string is tied to varies from myth to myth. In the original Chinese legend, it was tied to both lovers’ ankles, while in the Japanese story, it was tied to the male’s thumb and the female’s little finger.
- In modern times, most cultures tend to depict the string being tied around both parties’ little fingers.

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Red Thread of Fate Symbolism

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The Red Thread of Fate is a physical (though typically invisible) symbol of the connection between two soulmates. According to various legends, the gods would sometimes make the string visible to reveal the connection to one of the parties involved.^{[2]
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Section 3 of 8:

Red Thread of Fate Origins

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The Red Thread of Fate originated from Chinese mythology. In the original legend, the lunar matchmaker god, Yuè Lǎo, was in charge of marriages and choosing which people the Red Thread of Fate would connect. He would briefly make the string visible to show someone their connection. The color red was likely chosen because, in China, it represents happiness and is often featured prominently in weddings.^{[3]
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- The idea of the string being tied to people’s pinkies likely comes from the discovery of the ulnar artery, which directly connects the pinky to the heart.

Section 4 of 8:

Red Thread of Fate Legend

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One night, a young boy sees an old man (the Chinese god of marriage, Yuè Lǎo) standing in the moonlight. The man explains to the boy that the boy is connected to his future wife by a red thread and shows him who his wife will be. The boy, having no interest in marriage, throws a rock at the girl and runs away. Years later, he marries a beautiful woman who has a scar on her eyebrow. When he asks her about it, she reveals a boy hit her with a rock when she was a child, and he realizes she is the same girl from that night and apologizes.^{[4]
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In another version, an ambitious young man approaches Yuè Lǎo to ask who he will marry, expecting she will be a rich girl. Instead, Yuè Lǎo points to a poor-looking girl walking with an elderly blind woman. Outraged, the man orders his servant to kill both women. Years later, the man marries a beautiful woman from a rich family who has scars and a limp. She reveals that she is actually the niece of the rich family and that she used to live with her blind nanny after her parents died when she was young. She says that one day a madman killed her nanny and left the woman wounded. The man then confesses that he ordered the attack, and the woman forgives him.
In another story, a young girl has a crush on a boy and decides to confess her feelings. The boy rejects her and makes fun of her, so she runs off and meets Yuè Lǎo, who tells her the boy is her soulmate. When the girl grows up, she meets a charming young man who feels very familiar to her. He has the same name as the boy, but she doesn’t realize it’s him. They go on to get married, and he reveals that he once acted foolish when a young girl confessed that she liked him and that the girl had the same name as her. When she realizes who he is and tells him it was her, he apologizes.

Section 5 of 8:

How to See the Red Thread of Fate

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Reflect on significant relationships in your life. Think about how these relationships have shaped your life and your journey to becoming who you are. The Red Thread of Fate often reveals itself through relationships that have strongly impacted our growth and development.^{[5]
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- Consider past relationships, as well, and try to understand the patterns and lessons they taught you. Sometimes, it’s easier to see the Red Thread of Fate in hindsight.
- Try to look beyond the surface of your interactions and reflect on any deeper lessons or meanings that could represent the Red Thread of Fate.
Have you noticed any synchronicities between you and another person? Do you find yourself in similar situations over and over? Things that may seem like coincidences could also be your invisible string guiding you toward meaningful connections.^{[6]
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Meditation often helps heighten your awareness and sensitivity to energies around you, which may reveal your connections with the Red Thread of Fate. Additionally, meditating can help you become aware of your own emotions and patterns, allowing you to understand how others complement and challenge you.^{[7]
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Because the Red Thread of Fate represents connections you’re destined to have, your gut will often guide you in the right direction. Keep an open mind and an open heart and allow the thread to guide you where you need to go.^{[8]
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Section 6 of 8:

The Red Thread of Fate in Pop Culture

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The Red Thread of Fate often appears in anime and manga. The Red String of Fate is a popular trope and plot point in a lot of Japanese media; it may be mentioned literally or there can be allusions to the myth throughout the series. Some popular titles that invoke this symbolism in some way include Bleach, Inuyasha, and Naruto.^{[9]
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- The Red Thread of Fate has reached Western media, as well. It’s mentioned in the song “Tip of My Tongue” by The Civil Wars and is likely the inspiration behind Taylor Swift’s “Invisible String.” The classic novel Jane Eyre also alludes to the thread.
- The novel Red Thread of Fate by Lyn Liao Butler puts a familial spin on the legend, following protagonist Tam as she navigates adopting an estranged cousin’s daughter and discovers the threads that bind her fated family.

Section 7 of 8:

Why is the Red Thread of Fate important?

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The legend helps keep East Asian traditions alive. The Red Thread of Fate inspires many people to believe in soulmates, but it’s more than just a fairytale for many East Asian cultures. The story has ties to ancient Chinese gods and worship, and the customs surrounding it foster love and bring people closer together. There are even love shrines in Japan, like the Kawagoe Hikawa shrine, that incorporate the myth.^{[10]
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- The Kawagoe Hikawa shrine in Kawagoe, Japan, is one of the country’s most popular love shrines. The shrine sells red pencils that represent the Red Thread of Fate; the more you use it, the shorter it gets, symbolizing the shrinking gap between you and your soulmate.

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Other Myths About Red Thread

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In Hinduism, a kautuka (also known as a mauli or kalava) is a red thread tied around someone’s wrist during religious ceremonies and rituals to protect them from spiritual and physical harm. It is typically worn around the left wrist for women and the right for men.^{[11]
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In some Jewish beliefs, wearing a red string around the wrist is a popular talisman believed to protect the wearer from the effects of the evil eye. This custom is mostly associated with Kabbalah and religious forms of Judaism.^{[12]
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In the Greek myth of Theseus, Ariadne, and the Minotaur, Ariadne’s father, King Minos, puts her in charge of the labyrinth, in which people are sent to be killed by the Minotaur as a sacrifice to the gods. Ariadne falls in love with Theseus, a sacrifice who intends to kill the Minotaur, and gives him a ball of red thread so he can escape the labyrinth.^{[13]
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