Page 403 - J. C. Turner - History and Science of Knots

CHAPTER 18

ON THE TRUE LOVE KNOT

Pieter van de Griend

Eljest aro ju knopar overvagande av
praktiskt kynne; heir er en som repre-
sentant for poesien. *
Thorild Wullf in a letter to
Hjalmar Ohrvall (ca. 1912)

Introduction

Excepting perhaps the Gordian Knot, there is no other knot name which is so
widely known as the elusive True Love Knot. The simple knot-tying act has
been one of all peoples and all times. Therefore, in general, it is seldom known
exactly when or how a name for a knot emerges. Symbolically a knot implies
something `bound', and hence the action has become at times a spell invoking
hindrance or impedance of the actions of other things or people. Conversely
the act of loosening a knot has been thought to bring about the removal of the
impediment it caused. The belief that magic knots can win or retain a lover
is widespread and dates back to extremely ancient times [13].
In China, references from literary works of two post-Han Dynasty States
speak of a True Love Knot. Both refer to a `true lover's knot', believed to have
been tied in an endlessly repeating pattern, symbolizing love and affection.
The first ruler of the early sixth century state of Liang, Wu Ti, mentions such
a knot in a poem [7] about his beloved:
*[The oldest of knots generally have a practical nature; here is one representing poetry.]

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