AKAI ITO: THE JAPANESE RED THREAD OF FATE
Japanese culture is not necessarily renowned for its romanticism, yet it contains many deeply emotional and poignant tales. Among these, the legend of a red thread stands out: A mystical bond that is said to unite the fates and souls of two people inseparably, transcending time and space. This beautiful metaphor reflects the profound connections that exist beyond the visible world.
© photo-ac / acゆう
Across cultures, the thread symbolizes human destiny. In Greek mythology the three Moirai, the goddesses of fate, spin the thread at birth and watch over the allotted life. In East Asia, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tales speak of a red thread of fate, with which the gods bind people to their predestined partner. The connected souls are destined to meet and recognize each other – no matter how unlikely their encounter may seem. They shape one another and lead each other onto the right path. In Western mythology, the same idea appears in the concept of a “soulmate” or “love at first sight”: a magical connection that cannot quite be explained by logic. This is not limited to romantic relationships but also includes platonic ones that give life depth.
The Old Man under the Moon
The legend of the red thread of fate originates from Chinese mythology. Described as an old man under the moon – sometimes on the moon – Yuè Lǎo, the god of love and marriage, is responsible for matchmaking couples and connects people with an invisible red cord. These two people are destined to love each other, and nothing can sever the bond. The complexity of life may tangle or stretch it, but it endures through time.
The story of the colour red in China is deeply rich with cultural significance and profound historical depth. Red symbolizes prosperity, good fortune, and joy, serving as a powerful emblem that plays a pivotal role in celebrations and traditional ceremonies throughout Chinese history. From vibrant festival decorations to the intricate bridal attire worn during weddings, this striking hue continues to embody the very essence of happiness, success, and auspiciousness in Chinese culture. © Unsplash / 阳 晨
One Cannot Escape Destiny
The Chinese writer Li Fuyan collected short tales of supernatural occurrences in the empire during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD). In his book More Tales of Mysteries & Monsters, the god of marriage with his red cords is mentioned in writing for the first time. Different versions of the following anecdote have been passed down, which was very popular at the time and spread throughout East Asia:
A young scholar named Wei Gu, while traveling through the city of Songchen, met an old man reading a book in the moonlight. Wei could not decipher the language and asked what kind of book it was. The old man explained that it recorded all engagements, marriages, and matchmakings. In a pouch, he carried red cords to tie the chosen couples together.
In the marketplace, the old man pointed to a young girl and prophesied that she would become Wei’s wife in ten years. Wei found this ridiculous, picked up a stone, and threw it at the girl. Years later, Wei became a government official and had completely forgotten this old encounter. For his good work, he was granted the hand of the governor’s daughter – a woman said to be beautiful but who had struggled to find a fiancé. On the wedding night, when he lifted the veil of his assigned bride, he noticed, besides her beauty, a scar on her face. She told him that a boy had once thrown a stone at her. He realized he had been that boy and had forever marked his own bride. She forgave him and explained that on that fateful night he had met the god Yuè Lǎo – an old smiling man with a long beard.
From Love to Finger Cutting
In the original form of the story, it was a red cord tied around the lovers’ ankles. In Japanese culture, however, it was believed that a thread ran from the man’s thumb to the woman’s little finger. Today, in both cultures, the red thread is usually depicted around the little finger. It is not exactly known when or why the change from ankle to finger occurred, but in Japan, there is a long tradition surrounding the little finger: it stands for solemn promises.
From the Edo period (1603–1868), the custom of “finger cutting” between men and women who had promised each other their future is recorded. This custom seems to have originated from a courtesan in the famous pleasure district of Yoshiwara in Edo (today’s Tōkyō), who cut off her little finger to prove her deep affection to her lover. Prostitutes who wished to win a man’s heart – or his money – gave him a piece of themselves. At first it might have been a lock of hair or a fingernail – not cut, but pulled out – but it later escalated to the little finger. The actual cutting off of the finger thus became a symbol of commitment and keeping a promise.
Pinky Promise
In postmodern Japan, yubikiri (literally “finger cutting”) is a popular custom that emphasizes keeping promises. The little fingers are hooked together, and a rhyme is recited that names the punishment for breaking the promise:
Cut a finger, ten thousand blows.
If you tell a lie, you must swallow a thousand needles.Yubikiri genman. Uso tsuitara hari senbon nomasu.
指切拳万。嘘ついたら針千本呑ます。
Japanese sources like to point out that the English expression “pinky promise” is an adaptation of this principle, which made its way to the USA through immigrants and films. Later, the Western custom of wedding rings was introduced to Japan, promising an unchanging relationship, and the finger became an important motif for love vows between partners. Thus, it makes perfect sense that the red thread should be around the finger and not the ankle.
Adaptations in Pop Culture
In many Japanese anime, the myth of the red thread of fate is used to lend romantic stories a touch of drama. With this image in mind, coincidences seem more like fate and explain why so many such love stories rely on destiny to unite the couple. A well-known example is the highly successful anime film Your Name by Shinkai Makoto (2016). The two protagonists develop a connection that transcends time and space – they are seemingly bound forever by a red thread. But also older anime series, such as Toradora! (2008), make use of this sentimentality to move viewers. In this case, a long red scarf is playfully used to evoke the same association and emotion.
The myth has long made its way into Western entertainment as well: In the successful American comedy series Ted Lasso, the theme is honored in the episode “The Strings That Bind Us” (Season 3, Episode 7). The fictional football coach Ted Lasso ties his team together with red threads during practice to teach them the unity and interconnectedness of a team. Have you seen it around?