Different people will interpret tattoos and body markings differently. Something that is considered proper in one region of the world may not be in another; a symbol or picture that has deep significance in one may appear to be nothing more than a series of squiggles in another.
It’s reasonable to infer, in my opinion, that for as long as humans have existed as a species, people have used their appearances to promote messages and express themselves.
You’ll be accustomed to seeing people with tattoos unless you live on an isolated island. Certain designs may be insignificant items that individuals regret purchasing when they were younger, but others—those that tell tales or follow traditions or customs—may have profound, lasting meanings.
I don’t know about you, but when I see the same tattoo on multiple individuals, I find it quite intriguing. That is to say, I’m immediately curious in the meaning behind the tattoo in question and why the individual thought it was so significant that they chose to wear it as a permanent, visible reminder.
The so-called “red string of fate” is one that I’ve seen quite a bit over the years—and, to be honest, never bothered to study until now.
It’s highly likely that some of our readers will recognize the small, red tattoo, but there’s every chance that its symbolic meaning is not known to many of those who have seen it before.
As I said, I’d seen the tattoo on a number of people. Enough, certainly, to notice a pattern. This mark had to mean something, I just had no idea what.
So I did a little digging – thanks, internet – and found that the red string tattoo in question is known in Asian cultures as the ‘red string of fate’. Most commonly appearing on the thumb of a man and the pinky finger of a woman, the tattoo looks like a simple bow with tails, not unlike a tied shoelace.
Credit / Shutterstock (Stock Image)
It turns out there’s a symbolic meaning behind this small tattoo, and one that has its roots in romance and hope. The story reportedly comes from the Chinese tale of a matchmaker who knows the person each of us is fated to be together with.
Of course, the idea of being destined or fated to meet someone else isn’t reserved exclusively for romantic endeavors, just as the concept of being connected to someone else via an invisible bond isn’t confined to just one culture, but rather present in virtually all.
In this instance, the red string of fate implies that two people are destined lovers, irrespective of place, time, or circumstances. For some, that’s a warming, comforting thought. Others, however, would surely prefer to be wholly in charge of their own destiny.
What camp do you sit in? And have you ever seen someone wearing the red string of fate tattoo?
