According to an ancient Chinese legend, there is an old man who lives on the moon and silently observes the fate of human beings. His name is Yue Lao, the god of marriage and fated bonds.
It is said that Yue Lao possesses a sacred book in which the names of all people destined to meet are written. Along with that book, he keeps long red threads invisible to human eyes.
Every night, when the moon rises over the earth, the old man descends to search for the souls who are destined to be united. When he finds two people whose destiny is linked, he ties a red thread between them. From that moment on, they are united forever.
The red thread can lengthen, tighten or tangle with the passage of time. People bound by it can drift apart, live in different places, make mistakes or even hate each other without knowing why. However, the thread never breaks.
In some versions of the legend, the thread is tied to people’s ankles; in others, it is said to be attached to invisible parts of the body or spirit. What is important is not where it is tied, but what it represents: an unavoidable bond.
Yue Lao does not intervene in how or when encounters occur. He does not force love or impose decisions. His task is only to ensure that paths cross. The rest is left to humans.
Thus, the legend teaches that not all encounters are meant to be happy, but they are meant to be meaningful. Some unions last a lifetime; others only long enough to leave an indelible mark.
It is said that when two people finally meet, the thread is no longer taut. And though it remains invisible, its purpose has already been fulfilled.
Thus, the old man of the moon continues his work night after night, weaving destinies that humans call chance, but which in reality were already written.
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