In Chinese mythology, there is an old man who ties a red string around the little finger of every person at the moment of their birth. The other end of the string is tied to the person with whom they are destined to be married in this life. As the saying goes, “A thousand miles of marriage are connected by a single thread.” Worn on the wrist, it is a token of love.

Chinese people have always loved the color red, and traditionally, red is considered a color of good fortune and peace. Red strings have been regarded as a symbol of prayer since ancient times. For protection, it is best to pair them with a red string featuring a Vajra knot. Therefore, many people choose to wear a red string for protection and to pray for peace and safety! Believers often invite monks to recite sutras and prayers, infusing the red string with blessings and prayers through a consecration ritual, or pair it with symbols such as the Pi Xiu, treasure ingots, money bags, gourds, and other traditional ethnic symbols of wealth and good fortune. These are worn to seek blessings for peace and prosperity, to attain auspiciousness and wisdom, and to bring inner calm and purify the mind of distractions.

In traditional customs, the year of one’s zodiac sign is often regarded as an inauspicious year. In the year of one’s zodiac sign, both adults and children wear red strings to ward off the conflict with the Tai Sui, which is commonly known as “tying red strings”. People tie red strings around their waists and wrists, which can help them avoid misfortune and eliminate disasters.

Therefore, people have a special fondness for red every year of their zodiac sign. The custom of using red in the year of one’s zodiac sign should originate from the traditional Chinese worship of red for warding off evil and bringing good luck.