Red thread of fate

Red thread of fate
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	紅線
Simplified Chinese	红线
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin hóng xiàn Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization hung4sin3 Southern Min Hokkien POJ âng-sòaⁿ
Japanese name
Kanji	赤い糸
Transcriptions Romanization akai ito

The red string of fate, also referred to as the red thread of destiny, red thread of fate, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese legend and is also used in Japanese legend. According to this myth, the gods tie an invisible red string around the ankles of those that are destined to meet each other in a certain situation or help each other in a certain way. Often, in Japanese culture, it is thought to be tied around the little finger. According to Chinese legend, the deity in charge of "the red thread" is believed to be Yuè Xià Lǎo (月下老, often abbreviated to "Yuèlǎo" [月老]), the old lunar matchmaker god who is also in charge of marriages.

The two people connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break. This myth is similar to the Western concept of soulmates or a twin flame.

Folklore

One story featuring the red string of fate involves a young boy. Walking home one night, a young boy sees an old man standing beneath the moonlight (Yue Xia Lao). The man explains to the boy that he is attached to his destined wife by a red thread. Yue Xia Lao shows the boy the young girl who is destined to be his wife. Being young and having no interest in having a wife, the young boy picks up a rock and throws it at the girl, running away. Many years later, when the boy has grown into a young man, his parents arrange a wedding for him. On the night of his wedding, his wife waits for him in their bedroom, with the traditional veil covering her face. Raising it, the man is delighted to find that his wife is one of the great beauties of his village. However, she wears an adornment on her eyebrow. He asks her why she wears it and she responds that when she was a young girl, a boy threw a rock at her that struck her, leaving a scar on her eyebrow. She self-consciously wears the adornment to cover it up. The woman is, in fact, the same young girl connected to the man by the red thread shown to him by Yue Xia Lao back in his childhood, showing that they were connected by the red string of fate.

In Japanese manga

Heavy references or inferences to the "red string" throughout the Kekkaishi and several other manga and anime series like Nana, The Vision of Escaflowne, InuYasha,Bleach, Toradora, Bride of The Water God, Hell Girl, Fruits Basket, Bound Beauty, an episode of xxxHolic, Aki Sora, and Naruto, which is usually overlooked, most seem to be developed with teenage characters and tagged as romances. A one-shot titled under 'Akai Michi' also revolves around the concept of the red string of fate.

In film

• In the 1957 film Sayonara, Miiko Taka's character Hana-ogi points out to Marlon Brando's character, Lloyd Gruver, her lover, two rocks in the sea close to shore, which are said to be "married", as shown by the red rope connecting them across the waves.
• In the feature film Dolls, two of the main characters go through the story attached with a red piece of rope.
• In the 2006 Japanese film Wool 100% red yarn is shown throughout as linking the characters.
• In the television series Heroes, the subjects with powers were mapped out on a pinboard with red string connecting each pin.
• In the television series Touch, the plot is based mainly on a thread that connects everyone in your life.

In music

In the song "Makka Na Ito" by the Japanese band Plastic tree there are references to the red string of fate in the chorus. The title translates to "crimson thread".

Also quoting the "Vocaloid2" song "Just be friends" aka "JBF" by Luka Megurine. In the PV, Luka and Boy ("Masuta/Master" perhaps) are connected by the red string of fate, resembling their soul-ship, even though they broke up.

The Gumi song "Diamond and Lies" The Gazette-Red Lucy Kaplansky's The Red Thread

"One Red Thread" by American band Blind Pilot refers to the "red thread" and includes lines such as "from the minute that the line got drawn," and "my only one, my only one," signifying the destiny of two people's connection.

In video games

In the 2004 game Shadow Hearts: Covenant, one of the weapons obtained by the character Gepetto is called "Crimson Thread". It is described as "A thread that connects the fates of two people" and "Legend says this thread links the fate of a star-crossed couple. Said to make the owner's deepest wish a reality".

In the Pokémon series, since Diamond and Pearl, the item Destiny Knot, a red ball of string, may be held by a Pokemon. If that Pokemon is inflicted with the Attract condition, its opponent also becomes Attracted.

In the game Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword the main villain, Demon Lord Ghirahim, claims that he and the main character, Link, are connected by a red thread of fate and destiny that caused them to meet.

See also

• Red string (Kabbalah)
• Chinese mythology
• Manga
• Red String (webcomic)