The Old Man Under the Moon (Yue Lao)

The legend of Yue Lao originates from Li Fuyan’s Tang-dynasty collection *Continuation of the Mysterious and Strange Records*. It recounts how Wei Gu of Duling encountered an old man one moonlit night, leaning against a pouch and reading a book; the elder identified himself as the celestial official in charge of all earthly marriages, explaining that once a red cord is tied between two people—even if they are sworn enemies or reside in distant lands—they are fated to wed. Disbelieving, Wei Gu ordered an assassin to kill the girl whom the old man had named as his future wife. Over a decade later, Wei Gu married a woman who turned out to be that very child—the incident convincing him that marital destiny is preordained. From the Song dynasty onward, veneration of Yue Lao spread widely, with dedicated temples erected across the country; the Yue Lao shrines at Taipei’s Xiahai City God Temple and Hangzhou’s West Lake remain especially renowned for their vibrant worship, drawing countless young devotees seeking love and partnership to this day.