An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle but will never break.
The red string of fate, also known as the red thread of destiny, is a myth that finds it origins in East Asian mythology. According to the Chinese legend, when we are born the gods tie an invisible red thread around our ankles, and the ankles of those we are fated to meet during the course of our life. As the years pass and we grow older, the thread becomes shorter and tighter, bringing these people ever closer to us (x).
Growing up, I always assumed that the myth was referring to your “soul mate”, and that the string was red because it is a color often associated with love. Upon further research I discovered that the color of the thread has nothing to do with love like many believe. In fact, the original myth does not state that the thread connects you to one single person, but to everyone you are destined to meet whether they be friend or foe.
I believe that the color of the string may have nothing to do with the myth at all. In Chinese culture, the color red symbolizes a number of things; good luck, celebration, happiness, joy, vitality, long life, luck and fame, money, recognition, proprietary and creativity just to name a few (x). While these things can play into one’s fate/destiny, they are not strictly representative of it. None of these things really explain why the thread is red, leading me to further believe that the color is insignificant to the myth.
The red string of fate has become a popular television trope in recent years in many Asian countries. In most instances, the “fated meeting” on these shows is between two characters who will eventually fall in love. While there is nothing wrong with shows like these, I believe that they play a big role in the perpetuation that the red string of fate is of a romantic nature. In Chinese culture, pink is the color that represents love. Red and pink are two colors that are often closely associated all over the world. Their meanings can often be intertwined, with love and happiness going hand in hand. This is why I believe that red is often given a romantic connotation.
While the red string of fate can certainly be connecting two fated lovers, it doesn’t have to be. According to the original myth all meetings are fated, like all of us meeting in this class for example. While there is nothing wrong with believing that the red string is a symbol of love, I don’t think that it really matters. If you are destined to meet someone, then it will happen whether you’re tied together with a red string or blue.
Bibliography
“The Red Thread Of Fate.” Love A Girl Who Reads. N.p., 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. <https://loveagirlwhoreads.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/the-red-thread-of-fate/>
“___ Symbolism Of Colors, Asscociations of The Five Elements in Chinese Beliefs and Feng Shui.” Symbolism of colors. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. <http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/chinese_customs/colours.htm>
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