Red String of Fate

[victory_angel]

There is a myth in Chinese and Japanese culture that the Gods place an invisible red string around the pinky finger two people who are destined to encounter each other in their life time. This thread doesn't break, it can stretch, tangle, be twisted in different directions, it doesn't break regardless of time, place, or circumstance.

Often this concept used to mean two people who are destined to become lovers. However I have seen this isn't always the case. As there some variations of the same myth where certain people are to fated meet one another in a certain situation or help each other in a certain way.

This concept could be certainly applied in Ninja Turtles for many of the relationships or chance meetings in the series.

For example Donatello is attracted to April the moment he sees her, but as much as he loves her. He is more content just being her friend regardless of whether he ends up with her or not.

[JTH]

A very interesting and insightful proverb.

I think you should make a story from that, I personally really enjoy your writing and work.

[NitpickingMask]

Idea that people are "destined" to become lovers is really crappy. I don't really get why people think that concept is romantic. Having to characters be together "because they are meant to be" instead of it actually making sense for them to be together is just dumb.

[kolaida]

I've heard this before, seems a lot of cultures have stories for people getting together. I think people just wind up together and then say it's destiny. It is a sweet thought and gives up to pining, single people. I do like the idea, though, and think its good writing/art material.

[saintsaucey]

Originally Posted by NitpickingMask

Idea that people are "destined" to become lovers is really crappy. I don't really get why people think that concept is romantic. Having to characters be together "because they are meant to be" instead of it actually making sense for them to be together is just dumb.

I bet you are a joy at weddings.

[pennydreadful]

Originally Posted by saintsaucey

I bet you are a joy at weddings.

[JTH]

Originally Posted by NitpickingMask

Idea that people are "destined" to become lovers is really crappy. I don't really get why people think that concept is romantic. Having to characters be together "because they are meant to be" instead of it actually making sense for them to be together is just dumb.

Well, I can tell where you don't live.

Best to have kept that opinion to yourself...

Insulting other countries cultures, myths, and beliefs? Stay classy pal...

[ssjup81]

Even though the red string of fate is mostly used for romantic situations, I think it can apply to non-romantic relationships too, like a true friend.

[victory_angel]

Often this concept used to mean two people who are destined to become lovers. However I have seen this isn't always the case. As there some variations of the same myth where certain people are to fated meet one another in a certain situation or help each other in a certain way.

In the Anime Tenchi in Tokyo, there is one episode where a love goddess is trying to tie a red string around the pinky finger of the title character and a girl named Sakuya.

It is revealed Tenchi is connected to all the main female characters in the show via a red string of fate. I may need to find and re-watch this episode again because I vaguely remember seeing him attached by a string of fate to his Father and Grandfather as well. Some people have taken this to mean that he is destined to marry all of them (the Female characters). But it's more like he was fated to simply meet them.

[Lou 500]

Just as well it's a myth considering there's no such thing as soul mates; people shouldn't be expected to be tied to one another for eternity.

[NitpickingMask]

Originally Posted by saintsaucey

I bet you are a joy at weddings.

Why? People who marry each other marry each other because they love each other, not because destiny said so.

Originally Posted by kolaida

I've heard this before, seems a lot of cultures have stories for people getting together. I think people just wind up together and then say it's destiny. It is a sweet thought and gives up to pining, single people. I do like the idea, though, and think its good writing/art material.

Pretty much, I doubt anyone actually believes it is literally destiny. Though I don't think its good writing material because of how often it is used crappily just as bad excuse. Besides, destiny is as writing concept more fun when its about fighting against it.

Originally Posted by jth

Well, I can tell where you don't live.

Best to have kept that opinion to yourself...

Insulting other countries cultures, myths, and beliefs? Stay classy pal...

Dunno what you mean, I'm not complaining about mythological belief(also, why you are talking about myths as if they are same as religion? This isn't religion, its more of silly "romantic" people like to spout because they think its romantic), I'm complaining about lazy writers who use destiny as in story reason for why things happen instead of actually bothering to write good reasons for it.

Originally Posted by Lou 500

Just as well it's a myth considering there's no such thing as soul mates; people shouldn't be expected to be tied to one another for eternity.

Exactly, there is no only one person in the world you could potentially find love and happiness with, just the person you actually do end up doing that with. Well, unless you and your partner are into polyamory.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Originally Posted by NitpickingMask

Why? People who marry each other marry each other because they love each other, not because destiny said so.

Pretty much, I doubt anyone actually believes it is literally destiny. Though I don't think its good writing material because of how often it is used crappily just as bad excuse. Besides, destiny is as writing concept more fun when its about fighting against it.

Dunno what you mean, I'm not complaining about mythological belief(also, why you are talking about myths as if they are same as religion? This isn't religion, its more of silly "romantic" people like to spout because they think its romantic), I'm complaining about lazy writers who use destiny as in story reason for why things happen instead of actually bothering to write good reasons for it.

Exactly, there is no only one person in the world you could potentially find love and happiness with, just the person you actually do end up doing that with. Well, unless you and your partner are into polyamory.

Wow. You really have NO clue, do you?

First off, one man's "myth" is another's religion. The ancient Greeks? Those stories were more than just "myths" or fairy tales to them. Those were their understanding of creation and history, not to mention destiny, death, souls, and a host of other subjects. I myself am a Wiccan, and follow several deities that most other religions consider "myths". So don't start talking about cultural myths as if they aren't the same thing- the ARE.

As for destiny, it does not mean what you seem to think it does. It MEANS that there is a reason and a purpose to what happens to a person during his or her lifetime, and that there are certain events or incidents, and even people, that are intended to be included in that greater "plan". Destiny or fate is not some terrible prison sentence that you can't fight or escape (unless we're talking Greek tragedy) but a greater plan for our lives that can and sometimes does include certain other individuals being a part of our lives. It doesn't even have to be as mates, but can include family members, friends, or teachers, etc. There are people in your life that are there for a reason- to make you who you are. It's not the universe (or whatever you believe in) saying "this is where you HAVE to go", but rather "this is where you NEED to be". It's a guide on the path of life giving us a nudge in the right direction, rather than a shove from some all-knowing higher power forcing its will on us.

And this concept includes who we love and find happiness with. Here's a little example for you. (We'll say it's hypothetical, but this actually happened.) A guy and a girl meet in high school through a mutual circle of friends, and he starts to have a crush on her, but never says anything, thinking she is probably already taken by someone else. She, on the other hand, has no real relationship with anyone, serious or otherwise. She knows nothing of his interest, and thus never really notices him. Even when their group attends their prom together, and he takes another girl as his date, and she ends up going stag (her date never shows) neither one ever realizes the other's potential.

Cut to- a year or so after graduation, when she is living on her own after moving out of her parents' home, working for a living and basically having no social life since most of her friends are all doing their own things, going to college, etc. She hangs out with a friend who works with her, and they decide one night to go to a certain place that she's never been to before, that is a local night-spot for eclectic types that she's never hung out with before. And coincidentally, the guy and one of their former mutual friends do the same- ON THE SAME NIGHT. And they meet again. Only this time, both discover that the other is available, and they strike up an interest in each other almost immediately. And it soon becomes clear that there is a connection- and a very strong one. He leaves a note on her door the next night, and pretty soon, they are living together! And then they end up engaged, and finally, sixteen years later, are still happily married. And all because they both "happened" to run into each other in a place neither had ever been to before, and wouldn't have known about if not for others around them. Coincidence? Not very likely.....

And in case anyone's wondering who this happened to- it was me. This is exactly how I ended up with the man who has been my best friend, confidant, and (wonderful) love of my life since that night. Destiny? I believe it was. How else does one explain how two people end up in the same place they've never been to or known about at the same time, and end up happily married for years? I honestly can't describe it as anything other than "it was meant to be".....

[NitpickingMask]

Red string of fate isn't religious belief, its folklore type of thing A philosophical thing. Nobody believes it as a religious teaching. Saying that I'm being intolerant for saying that I don't like the concept is saying that you are being religiously intolerant for not believing in soulmates. Its basically Asian version of same concept.

I find it kinda sad that at least two people have started to ramble to me about religious tolerance(speaking of which I don't have any actual problems with religions) when they themselves don't know anything about what the subject is about.

And I'm not sure why you think you are some great authority on definition of destiny. By definition it means "a predetermined course of events". Also, yes that IS indeed a coincidence. Happy coincidence, but coincidence is still a coincidence. Its perfectly possible that you would have never met and would have met someone else and be happily married with them. Humans have ability of trying to think all chaos in the world as some kind of linear path where everything has a meaning. If I wanted, I could give you plenty of examples of coincidences which were in retrospect pretty important to my life.

[Netkeeper]

While I do not condone the act of bashing myths and practices of another culture, I too dislike the red string of fate, partially because I think the concept of fate itself is not what people like to think it is. All fate is, is your own creation. We build our own destiny. It is not the product of some religion, faith, or myth. It's your own karma and actions, sorry to say. Own up.

[NitpickingMask]

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

While I do not condone the act of bashing myths and practices of another culture, I too dislike the red string of fate, partially because I think the concept of fate itself is not what people like to think it is. All fate is, is your own creation. We build our own destiny. It is not the product of some religion, faith, or myth. It's your own karma and actions, sorry to say. Own up.

Hey, I don't condone bashing believes, cultures or practices either, but red string of fate isn't one. Its not something that anybody from that culture really believes in (unless they happen to be same type of people who believes that soulmates really do exist), its thing that people say because they think its romantic while I think its horribly unromantic. Besides, I bash soulmate concept as much, it gives wrong picture to young people and pressure them to find "true love".

I personally think concept of fate is ridiculous concept since we can't see in the future. Without being able to predict future accurately, all that "destiny" is is basically same thing as history. You can only examine it in retrospect. What is physical difference between world where everything is predetermined and nothing is if in both worlds some guy starts to ponder about the existence of destiny? So in world where destiny exists some guy is destined to become a philosopher and ponder about existence of destiny for rest of his life?

[Netkeeper]

Wow, I think I'm feeling some strong intellectual attraction here.

This NitpickingMask is good people.

[ssjup81]

I feel that every person we meet was fated to happen. I also believe everything happens for a reason, even if we don't understand why at that particular moment.

The red string of fate seems to be very idealistic in the romantic sense I'm sure couples who have been married for years believe they were destined for one another even if they didn't know it. My own parents have been together for nearly 40 years and my mother says even now that she and my father were destined to meet. If she hadn't decided to walk to the store that "fateful day" instead of driving, she wouldn't have met him.

[NitpickingMask]

Originally Posted by Netkeeper

Wow, I think I'm feeling some strong intellectual attraction here.

This NitpickingMask is good people.

Heh, thanks, I rarely get appreciated for my habit to debate. But at least nobody can say that I don't back up my opinions.

[victory_angel]

In a way Donnie and April were destined to meet. I may be a Don O'Neil Shipper, but I am not entirely pointing this concept at the love triangle because that is another argument entirely. In fact lets ignore the whole love triangle for the moment.


In a way Donnie (as well as the other turtles) and April were fated to meet in general, because the thing that connects them is the Kraang and in some ways the Shredder.

April's mother is abducted some time before April is born, she is experimented on by the Kraang so that a person whose DNA can stabilize the mutagen can exist.

Around this time Hamato Yoshi and his Wife Teng Shen get married and Teng Shen has a baby girl, Miwa.

Some how April's mother is released or escapes the Kraang. April is born.

Shredder arrives and attacks Hamato Yoshi and his family, Teng Shen is killed in the fire and Miwa is abducted and renamed Karai. In his grief, Hamato Yoshi leaves Japan and settles in America.

Hamato Yoshi buys four baby turtles from a pet store and the five of them are accidentally mutated.

Shredder starts training Karai how to be a Kunoichi.

15 years later the Turtles go up to the surface for the first time. April and her Father are walking home together when the Kraang attempt to take them prisoner. Donnie sees the abduction take place and wants to help despite the fact they were not supposed to be seen by humans.

The Turtles stage a rescue operation to save the father and daughter. Unfortunately they carelessly leave a ninja star behind and that catches the attention of the Shredder. The Shredder travels to New York.

April becomes friends with the Turtles and shows Mikey how to get in touch with Chris Bradford. And Mikey's short lived friendship with Bradford alerts Splinter that Shredder is in the city.

April reveals that she has a sensitivity to things around her, and begins her training as a Kunoichi under Splinter. While attempting to get April's father back, the turtles learn the Kraang are going to detonate a mutagen bomb in the city. Chris Bradford and Xever are mutated into Dogpound and Fishface in their inconvenient attempts to destroy the Turtles. Turtles encounter Shredder for the first time.

Leo and Karai encounter each other. Leo senses something is familiar about Karai, but mistakes it for infatuation.

April sends in her saliva to the World Genome Project causing the Kraang realize April is the person they are looking for. Karai introduces the Shredder to the existence of the Kraang.

Karai strikes a deal with the Turtles to help them take down a Kraang Stealth ship. Turtles attack the Shredder and Karai reveals to Leo that the Shredder is her father. Shredder captures a Kraang squid fand learns that it was attacking the Turtles because they were preventing the Kraang from capturing April. Shredder realizes that April is the key to bring the Turtles and Splinter out of hiding and order's Karai to capture her.

Timothy is mutated into the Mutagen Man, Donnie promises to find a way to make retromutagen someday.

Shredder has April's father brainwashed so that April can be used to bring Splinter out of hiding. Splinter goes to save her and learns Karai is actually Miwa.

While attempting to intercept a shipment of Mutagen that is being delivered to the Shredder. The Turtles inadvertently mutate April's father. April leaves the Turtles and encounters Casey Jones. Donnie begins his attempts at creating retromutagen so they can fix the damage he and his brothers have caused.

Shredder leaves for Japan to locate Tiger Claw. Karai is driven by her hatred for Splinter and the turtles for the death of her mother and disobeys her fathers orders about destroying the Turtles. Leo is informed Karai is his older sister, Miwa.

April learns that the Kraang want her because her DNA can stabilize the mutagen. And the reason she is sensitive to the things around her is because she has Kraang DNA.

Casey encounters the turtles for the first time.

Donnie's robot friend sacrifices itself to allow the turtles to escape-Lair security system supposedly is compromised.

Shredder returns with Tiger Claw. Other Turtles learn Karai is Splinter's missing daughter. Karai learns that Splinter is her real father.

Donnie succeeds in making retromutagen, restoring April's father. April revealed to be a key to creating retromutagen because she is immune to mutagen.

Karai begins to question the Shredder's relation to her and discovers that she is indeed Splingters Daughter. Knowing that Karai can no longer be controlled by him, Shredder imprisons her. Lair location is compromised.


If Splinter didn't come to new york, the turtles would have remained regular pet store reptiles. Thus they wouldn't have met April and she would become be a Kraang guinea pig causing the Earth to be mutated.

[Netkeeper]

Thank you for the recap of the series. I don't see a point in there, just a lot of text.