During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the hermit Lu Fahe lived in seclusion on a place called Hundred Li Isle near Jiangling, where his food, clothing, and shelter were as simple as a monk's—plain and unadorned. Those who met him could only see his calm and serene expression, never guessing what thoughts lay behind it.
Lu Fahe, known for his uncanny foresight, could predict events with remarkable accuracy. After being appointed as a high-ranking official, he began recruiting troops on a large scale in Jiangxia, planning to attack Xiangyang and seize Wuguan. As he prepared, Emperor Yuan of Liang ordered him to halt. Lu Fahe replied, "I am a devout Buddhist who has never coveted the throne of the Heavenly King, so why would I harbor any designs on your majesty's position? I only know that you share a deep affinity with the Buddha, and I foresaw that you would face karmic retribution, so I was ready to provide aid. Now that you doubt my sincerity and block my actions, it seems fate is sealed—this ill-fated bond cannot be changed." With a deep sigh, he set up an incense altar and placed a large flat cake upon it.
When the Wei army marched south to attack, Lu Fahe led his troops from Ying to the Han River, nearing Jiangling. Emperor Yuan of Liang sent a messenger ordering him back, boasting, "I will crush the enemy myself—your forces need only guard Yingzhou; there's no need to move." Lu Fahe obeyed, closing the city gates. He donned a coarse white linen shirt, tied an amulet sash around his waist, fastened a thick rope around his middle, and sat on a straw mat praying—remaining there for an entire day before removing the garments. Later, upon hearing that Emperor Yuan had been defeated and killed, Lu Fahe put on those same ill-omened clothes, wept, and mourned, sighing, "The Buddha's power is boundless, but Heaven's will cannot be defied!"
The idiom "Incense and Fire Bond" originally comes from Buddhist terminology. "Incense and fire" refers to the incense and lamps lit when offering to Buddhas and deities. In ancient times, people often lit incense when forming alliances, so Buddhists used "incense and fire bond" to describe kindred spirits who were destined to be allies from a previous life.
Source: *History of the Northern Dynasties*, "Biography of Lu Fahe"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "香火因缘" came to describe kindred spirits who were destined to be allies from a previous life.