Zu Lake Pavilion

Zu Lake Pavilion

Legend has it that in the deep pool of West Lake, during the reign of King Fuchu of Chu (225 BC), the southeastern region was plagued by continuous flooding. Sui Hao petitioned to offer sacrifices to the River God. The King of Chu approved the request and specially dispatched ritual officials to prepare offerings of golden winnowing baskets, jade dippers, horses, cattle, white sheep, and other items to conduct the ceremony by the lake—but to no avail. A local elderly man told the ritual officials, “If you wish to make a sacrifice, you must do so at the ancestor of the lake.” The officials hurriedly asked, “Where is the ancestor?” The old man replied, “At the mouth of Gan-Yue West Lake.” So the ritual officials carried the offerings to the lake’s mouth, built a pavilion there, and conducted the ceremony. The next day, the floodwaters receded. Hence, the pavilion was named Zu Lake Pavilion.