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In Chinese, the expression 'old man under the moon' is a euphemism for matchmaker. Its origin can be traced to the T'ang dynasty. According to legend, Wei Ku discovered an old man holding a red rope in the woods one night. The old man told Wei the red rope was used to bind young people in marriage. Its bonds were unbreakable.
So saying, the old man pointed to a wet nurse carrying a child. He told Wei that the child would one day become his wife. Wei grew angry and ordered his servant to kill the child. But he only succeeded in wounding her forehead.
Fourteen years later, Wei was betrothed to the beautiful daughter of a local official. Wei noticed a small scar on the bride's brow, and asked her about it. She replied that when small, she had been attacked by a madman in the woods. A shocked Wei realized that the old man's prediction had come true.
(Craig Scott Galper)
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