A Sweet Guide to Praying to Yue Lao

　The 15th day of the eighth lunar month is not only the Mid-Autumn Festival, but also the birthday of Yue Lao（月老）, the matchmaker god who “ties red strings of fate.” Tradition holds that it is the perfect time to pray for love and good relationships.
　Today, Yue Lao's blessings go beyond simply finding a partner. Believers also pray for smooth marriages, helpful mentors, and even hard-to-get concert tickets—blending ancient faith with modern desires.

　Kaohsiung boasts several well-known temples dedicated to Yue Lao, who is also known as the Old Man Under the Moon. Each is popular and has its own unique features. When visiting Kaohsiung Guandi Temple（高雄關帝廟）, worshippers must first pay respects to the main deity, Lord Guan Shengdijun（關聖帝君）, before making their wishes to Yue Lao. Offerings include “harmony gold” (ritual paper currency used when praying for marriage or a stronger relationship), red thread, and candies. The last of these symbolizes petitioners' hopes for sweet romance.

　Fongyi Shuangci Pavilion（鳳邑雙慈殿）enshrines Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) Bodhisattva（觀音佛祖）and Mazu, the Heavenly Holy Mother（天上聖母）. Since the main deities are female, worshippers believe the temple offers special protection to women. A unique feature here is the use of “destiny powder” for prayers. Men apply it to the throat to speak appropriately, while women dab it on their cheeks to enhance friendliness. In front of the temple, the “wishing pavilion” allows visitors to hang love cards to express their heartfelt wishes.

　Kaohsiung Xiahai City God Temple（高雄市霞海城隍廟）, originally a branch of Taipei's Xiahai City God Temple, not only enshrines Yue Lao but also the city god's wife. The latter's “husband-taming shoes (blessed shoes)” are said to bring harmony to marriages. Worshippers can light love lamps or take away peace talismans, praying for smooth relationships and a bright future.
　When praying to Yue Lao, sincerity is what truly matters. This Mid-Autumn Festival, as you gaze at the moon, why not also wish for the matchmaker god to connect you with true love, supportive friends, or even a special chance to meet your idol?

向月老求牽線 甜蜜祈願攻略
文/蔡蜜綺  

    農曆8月15日不只是中秋節，傳說也是能為好緣分「牽線」的神祈——月老星君生日，故被認為是拜月老、求良緣的好契機。

    除祈願脫單，現今信眾也會向月老求婚姻順利、貴人運，甚至演唱會門票，讓古老信仰與現代生活交融。

    高雄有數座奉祀月老的知名廟宇，人氣旺且各具特色。至高雄關帝廟參拜，須先向主神關聖帝君請安，再向月老祈願。除了拜月老專用的「姻緣合和金」、紅線與糖果，也有人供奉甜品，期盼甜蜜緣分。

    鳳邑雙慈殿主祀觀音佛祖與天上聖母，因主神為女性，信眾普遍認為特別庇佑女子。這裡提供「緣粉」作為祈緣特色，男生點喉頭助說話得體，女生點雙頰增添親和。廟前「許願亭」可掛上姻緣卡，表達心願。

    由台北霞海城隍廟分靈而來的高雄市霞海城隍廟，不只供奉月老，還有城隍夫人的「馭夫鞋 (又稱幸福鞋）」庇佑婚姻圓滿。信眾可點姻緣燈、領平安符，祈求愛情順遂、未來光明。

    拜月老，心誠則靈。中秋賞月時，不妨也許願讓月老牽起與姻緣、貴人或偶像的好緣分。