Published October 2026.
Yue Lao is the Chinese god of love and marriage, the matchmaker behind the legend of the red string of fate. Known as the “Old Man Under the Moon,” he is said to tie an invisible red thread between two people who are destined to be together, a bond that can stretch and tangle but never break. For more than a thousand years people have prayed to Yue Lao for love, and today visitors still line up at his temples to ask for a good match. Here is who Yue Lao is, the story behind him and how people honor him today.
On this page:
- Who Is Yue Lao?
- The Story of Yue Lao and Wei Gu
- Yue Lao and the Red Thread of Fate
- Yue Lao Temples
- How People Pray to Yue Lao
- Yue Lao Today: Love, Weddings and Red Bracelets
- FAQ
Who Is Yue Lao?
Yue Lao (月老) is a shortened form of Yue Xia Lao Ren (月下老人), which means “the Old Man Under the Moon.” In Chinese folk religion he is the deity of love, matchmaking and marriage. He is usually pictured as a kindly old man with a long white beard, holding a walking staff and a book, often with a bundle of red cords at his side.
His book is said to record every marriage that will ever happen, and his red cords are what bind destined couples together. Because of this, Yue Lao is the god people turn to when they are looking for love, hoping to marry or wishing for a relationship to last.
The Story of Yue Lao and Wei Gu
The best-known Yue Lao story comes from a Tang dynasty collection of tales, often retold as The Inn of Betrothal. In it, a young man named Wei Gu is eager to marry. One night he comes across an old man sitting in the moonlight, reading a strange book and carrying a bag of red cords.
The old man explains that his book lists the marriages of everyone under heaven, and that his red cords tie the feet of husbands and wives together from the day they are born. No matter how far apart they live or how different their families are, once the thread is tied they will one day marry. He then tells Wei Gu that his future wife is a three-year-old girl, the daughter of a poor woman selling vegetables in the market.
Wei Gu is horrified and tries to escape his fate, even sending a servant to harm the child, who survives with a small scar on her brow. Years later Wei Gu marries the beautiful daughter of a respected official. She wears a flower ornament on her forehead, and when he asks why, she tells him about the scar she was given as a small child in the market. She was the same girl. The thread had held all along.
The lesson has been passed down for centuries: you cannot outrun the person you are meant to be with. That is why, in Chinese culture, a good match is often said to be “tied by the red thread.”
Yue Lao and the Red Thread of Fate
In the original Chinese telling, Yue Lao ties the red cord around the ankles of the destined couple. As the legend spread, especially into Japan, the thread moved to the little finger, which is how many people picture it today. Whether at the ankle or the finger, the meaning is the same: two people are connected by an unseen bond that time, distance and circumstance cannot sever.
For the broader legend, including the Japanese version and how it appears in pop culture, read our guide to the red string of fate.
Yue Lao Temples
Many temples in Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China have a shrine to Yue Lao. One of the most famous is the Xiahai City God Temple in Taipei’s Dadaocheng district, which draws visitors from around the world who come to ask for help finding love. Shrines to Yue Lao are also found in other well-known temples, and couples who meet after praying there often return to give thanks.
How People Pray to Yue Lao
Customs vary from temple to temple, but a traditional visit often looks like this:
- Introduce yourself. Quietly tell Yue Lao your full name, birthday and where you live, so he knows exactly who is asking.
- Describe who you are hoping to meet. Be specific about the qualities you want in a partner, or ask for a current relationship to grow stronger.
- Make a small offering. Sweets and candy are common, as a symbol of a sweet relationship.
- Receive a red thread. Many temples offer a red thread that has been blessed near the altar. Visitors pass it through incense smoke and keep it in a wallet or purse, or tie it on as a bracelet.
- Return to give thanks. If you meet your match, tradition says to come back with a thank-you offering, often wedding sweets.
You do not need to travel to a temple to honor the idea behind Yue Lao. Many people set a simple intention for love and wear or carry a red thread as a reminder of it.
Yue Lao Today: Love, Weddings and Red Bracelets
Yue Lao remains a popular figure in Chinese weddings and romance. He appears on wedding decorations and cards, and a happy couple may be described as having been matched by the Old Man Under the Moon. Around Qixi, the Chinese Valentine’s Day, interest in love traditions like Yue Lao and the red thread rises each year.
The red string bracelet has become a modern way to carry his legend. Couples wear matching red bracelets as a symbol of their connection, and single people wear one as an intention to meet the person they are tied to. In Chinese culture, red also brings luck and protection, which you can read more about in our Chinese red string bracelet guide.
Wear Your Red Thread
Our Red String Lovers Knot Bracelet is a simple, meaningful symbol of the thread that connects you to the one you are meant to find, and a sweet matching gift for couples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Yue Lao?
Yue Lao, short for Yue Xia Lao Ren or the “Old Man Under the Moon,” is the Chinese god of love and marriage. He is said to keep a book of every future marriage and to tie an invisible red thread between people destined to be together.
What is the story of Yue Lao and the red string?
In a well-known Tang dynasty tale, a young man named Wei Gu meets an old man reading by moonlight who reveals that his future wife is a toddler in the market. Wei Gu tries to escape that fate, but years later he marries a young woman who turns out to be that same girl, showing that the red thread cannot be broken.
How do you pray to Yue Lao?
At Yue Lao temples, visitors traditionally introduce themselves with their name, birthday and address, describe the partner they hope to meet, make a small offering such as sweets, and take home a blessed red thread to carry with them.
Where is the most famous Yue Lao temple?
The Xiahai City God Temple in Taipei, Taiwan, is one of the best-known places to pray to Yue Lao, and many temples across Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China have Yue Lao shrines.
Is Yue Lao the same as the red string of fate?
Yue Lao is the deity behind the Chinese version of the red string of fate legend. The red string of fate is the invisible thread he ties between two people destined to meet.
Can I wear a red string bracelet to attract love?
Many people wear a red string bracelet as a symbol of the red thread of fate and an intention to attract or honor a destined connection. Couples often wear matching red bracelets for the same reason.
Related Guides
- Red String of Fate: Meaning, Origins & Legend
- Chinese Red String Bracelet Meaning
- Red String Bracelet Meaning
Written by Lucky One
Lucky One is the voice behind the One Lucky Wish Blog. As part of the father-daughter team running One Lucky Wish from their home in Maryland, Lucky One writes about angel numbers, crystals, spiritual jewelry, and the everyday practice of inviting more meaning, protection, and abundance into your life. Every piece of jewelry that ships from One Lucky Wish is personally handled, cleansed, and charged with positive intention by the same people who write these words.