Yue Lao Shrine in Shangqiu: Red Threads of Fate, Prayers for Love

“May all lovers in the world become spouses; this is predestined, do not miss your姻缘 (marriage).” With longing and anticipation for a beautiful marriage, I stepped into the Yue Lao Shrine, located in Shangqiu, Henan. Built during the Tang Dynasty, this shrine carries a thousand-year-old romantic legend. It is a sacred place of love in the hearts of countless single men and women, attracting visitors from all corners of the world. As soon as I arrived at the Yue Lao Shrine, I was struck by the lively scene before me. People coming to pray for love were shoulder to shoulder. There were vibrant young people, middle-aged couples hand in hand, and elderly people with gray hair. Everyone's eyes held expectation, filled with a yearning for love. The architectural style of the Yue Lao Shrine is simple and elegant, with flying eaves and brackets, carved beams and painted rafters, revealing a rich historical atmosphere everywhere. A pair of festive red lanterns hung on the vermillion gate, as if narrating those lingering love stories. Stepping into the Yue Lao Shrine, the first thing that caught my eye was a benevolent statue of Yue Lao. He had white hair and a silver beard, a kind smile, a marriage register in one hand, and a red string in the other, as if acting as a matchmaker for lovers in the world. In front of the statue, incense smoke curled upwards, surrounded by flowers and offerings from people. Everyone knelt devoutly on cushions, hands clasped together, silently praying, hoping that Yue Lao would grant them a beautiful marriage. On the walls of the Yue Lao Shrine, murals depict stories about Yue Lao, vividly showcasing the legend of him connecting people. The most famous one is the encounter between the scholar Wei Gu and Yue Lao in the second year of Yuanhe of the Tang Dynasty. Young and unmarried, Wei Gu longed to start a family. One day, in an inn in Songcheng (now the ancient city of Shangqiu), he encountered an old man reviewing a marriage register under the moonlight. He learned that the old man was Yue Lao, in charge of marriages in the world. With a tie of the red string in his hand, a man and a woman would become husband and wife, regardless of wealth, status, or distance, no one could escape. This story made me deeply appreciate the ancients' beautiful yearning for love and marriage, and filled me with awe for the mysterious power of the Yue Lao Shrine. Countless wishing plaques hung in the courtyard of the Yue Lao Shrine, covered with people's hopes and blessings for love. Some wrote, "May I meet the right person soon and stay together for a lifetime," while others wrote, "I hope Yue Lao will bless me and my loved one to be together forever." These wishing plaques swayed gently in the breeze, like seeds of love in people's hearts, waiting to sprout. I also bought a wishing plaque, solemnly wrote down my wish, and hung it in the most prominent position, hoping that Yue Lao would hear my voice. Inside the shrine, I also met several single men and women who had come from afar. They came from different cities, with different occupations and backgrounds, but all shared the same dream—to find their other half. One girl told me that she had always believed that fate is predetermined. Hearing that the Yue Lao Shrine in Shangqiu was very effective, she specially took leave to come here, hoping to meet her destined partner. Looking at the light shining in their eyes, I could feel their persistence and yearning for love. When I left the Yue Lao Shrine, the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on me, draping a golden coat over this ancient building. Looking back, the Yue Lao Shrine was still bustling with activity, and people's laughter echoed in the air. This trip to the Yue Lao Shrine not only allowed me to experience the rich atmosphere of love and culture, but also gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation of love. Love is an eternal theme of humanity. No matter how times change, people's yearning for love will never change. The Yue Lao Shrine in Shangqiu is like a beacon of love, illuminating the path for countless single men and women, allowing them to hold onto hope and bravely pursue their own happiness in the vast sea of people. And the wishes made here will bloom into the most splendid flowers in the long river of love as the years go by.