When Chinese people get married, they always put up a post with the Chinese characters “麒麟到此” (Qilin Arrives Here)on their doors. Why? Here’s a story:

The Tang Dynasty was a period of great heroes, including renowned generals like Luo Cheng and Cheng Yaojin.

Love at First Sight

Legend has it that during the Tang Dynasty, Luo Tong, son of General Luo Cheng, led a campaign against the Northern Barbarians and engaged Princess Dou Yi.

On the battlefield, the princess fell in love with her at first sight. However, Luo Tong resented Dou Yi for killing his brother, Luo Ren. Princess Dou Yi, deeply in love with her, sought the help of mediator Cheng Yaojin.

The Princess Suicide

Determined to reconcile the two countries and end the conflict, Cheng Yaojin actively sought a compromise. However, Luo Tong refused. Later, Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty arranged the wedding, and Luo Tong reluctantly agreed. On their wedding night, he humiliated her to the point of committing suicide.

Infuriated, the Tang Emperor forbade Luo Tong to remarry and buried Princess Dou Yi at the foot of Qilin Mountain.

Spirit Possession

Later, Cheng Yaojin could no longer bear to see the Luo family extinct. He pleaded with Emperor Li Shimin to marry Shi Danai’s foolish daughter to Luo Tong, so that he could bear children for the Luo family. The emperor, mindful of the Luo family’s great contributions, agreed.

On the day of the wedding, the bridal sedan passed by Princess Dou Yi’s tomb at the foot of Qilin Mountain. Although deceased, Princess Dou Yi’s spirit remained deeply in love with Luo Tong. With the help of King Yama, the spirit of Princess Dou Yi was allowed to enter the body of Shi Nu, restoring her to her former appearance.

As the bridal sedan was carried into the Luo residence, the Luo family regretted marrying such a foolish woman. Unexpectedly, the bride that emerged from the sedan resembled Princess Dou Yi.

The Luo family was delighted to see her, and Cheng Yaojin was even more delighted.

Later, hoping to have a daughter-in-law as beautiful as Princess Dou Yi, people would write “Qilin Arrives Here” on red paper and affix them to the tops of their doors and in front of the sedan.