Korean Folktale : The Red Thread of Fate – The Tale of Yeonriji

🌺 Korean Folktale Series 18

“The Red Thread of Fate – The Tale of Yeonriji”

(인연을 잇는 붉은 실, 연리지 이야기 · Yeonriji Iyagi)

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🕰️ 1. The Story

Long ago, in an old village surrounded by mountains and rivers, there lived a young man and woman who loved each other deeply. Their love, however, was not meant to be—social rules and family opposition forced them apart. Heartbroken yet faithful, they vowed to remain connected even beyond life itself.

 

One day, as fate would have it, a great storm swept through the land. A bolt of lightning struck an old tree standing on a hill near the village, splitting its trunk in two. Months later, something miraculous happened—two separate trees began to grow together again, their branches entwined so tightly that they became one.

 

The villagers, astonished, called the tree “Yeonriji” (연리지)—a symbol of two hearts bound by destiny. They believed that when true lovers are separated by circumstance, the red thread of fate (“bulgeun sil”, 붉은 실) invisibly ties their souls, leading them back to one another no matter the distance, time, or lifetime.

 

Since then, lovers who visit the Yeonriji tree tie red ribbons to its branches, whispering prayers for eternal love and reunion. The tale reminds all that love born from sincerity can never be broken by worldly barriers—it lives on like the intertwined branches reaching toward the sky together.

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🪄 2. Meaning & Lessons

• True love transcends distance, time, and even death.
• Fate is not something we see—it is something we feel and live through.
• Love that is pure and patient finds its way, just as branches grow toward each other again.

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👀 3. Reflections in Life

• Even when people drift apart, sincere bonds often lead them back together.
• Every meeting in life carries meaning—some visible, some hidden by time.
• The most beautiful relationships grow through understanding and perseverance.

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🌏 4. Similar Tales Around the World

•  China — The Legend of the Red Thread of Fate
  The Chinese myth of a red string connecting destined lovers mirrors the Korean Yeonriji belief.
•  Japan — Akai Ito (The Red String of Fate)
  In Japanese culture, the red thread symbolizes souls meant to meet, no matter how far apart.
•  France — Tristan and Isolde
  A tale of destined yet tragic love that defies social norms, much like the lovers of Yeonriji.

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💬 A Warm Saying

“Love woven by fate never unravels—it only grows stronger, thread by thread.”

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📌 Note

This is creative cultural content from the Misojieum Story Blog (kor-telling.com).
Please do not copy without permission. Sharing is welcome with proper source citation.