Golden Ox Lake

A long, long time ago, West Lake was called Golden Ox Lake.

At that time, this lake was just one vast expanse of plain water. Along the shores of the lake the soil was dark and fertile. People who lived nearby were all farmers, and they irrigated their fields with the lake water. When the rice plants bore ears, they were all full and round, like strings of pearls. When the farming was done, people would all go to the lake to fish or catch shrimp. They all got along well with each other, and they led a peaceful and happy life.

At the bottom of this lake there lived a golden ox. Whenever the sun shone for a long time, the waters of the lake would recede and the golden ox would appear. From afar, one could see his shining gold back, his raised head and the upright horns. Then the ox would spew out a huge mouthful of water, and the lake would immediately be filled to the brim again.

One summer, it hadn’t rained for nine times nine, eighty-one long days. It was so dry that the bottom of the lake was bared to the sky, and the fields around the lake were dry as rocks. The cracks in the fields were several inches wide and the tender shoots of grain were all withered. People were all so parched that their eyes caved in their sockets, and they were strengthless and limp. They were longing for the appearance of the golden ox every day.

One morning, as everyone was standing by the lake, looking for the appearance of the golden ox, suddenly they heard the sound of “moo,” and then they saw the golden ox come out, breaking through the dried mud. The ox shook his head several times, wagged his tail a little, then blew out a huge mouthful of water, and in no time at all, the lake was

filled to the brim.

The people were so happy that tears began to run down their cheeks. Just as they were thanking the golden ox, it raised its head, and with a glint in its bright eyes, gave a “moo” and disappeared into the lake again.

The news of this incident soon spread all around. The local bailiffs passed it on to the yamen runners, and the yamen runners passed it on to the Magistrate of Qiantang County.

When the County Magistrate heard this, he held on to his belly, laughed and said,“ What a living treasure! If I can present him to the Emperor, I’m sure I will be promoted and become rich!”

Right away he sent his yamen runners to go and catch the golden ox.

The yamen runners and the local bailiffs all hurried over to the lake, but all they could see was the vast expanse of plain lake water. Where could the golden ox be? They began to ask the local people. But when the people saw that they were from the local government, they either replied that they did not know, or they just silently slipped away. The yamen runners could do nothing but to go back and report the failure of their mission.

The County Magistrate was angry. Fondling his mustache, he thought and thought, until a wicked idea came to him. 

He told his underlings: “If that’s the case, you go and gather all the people to dry the lake. Kill anyone who refuses to come!” All the people who lived by the lake – men and women, old and young – were driven to the lake. Under the coercion and threats of the County Magistrate, and with tears in their eyes, they started to draw the water from the lake.

Drawing and drawing, they took the water for nine times nine, eighty-one long days, until they were all worn out and exhausted. Finally, on the last day they had drawn all the water from the lake and the lake was dried up, and indeed, there was the golden ox, lying at the bottom of the lake. The glow of his body made the whole sky and earth bright.

＇The golden glow was so bright that the County Magistrate could not even open his eyes. However, he still went ahead and called for the runners to go to the bottom of the lake and seize the golden ox. Strangely enough, the ox seemed to be rooted to the bottom. They could not lift or move him no matter how hard they tried. The local people were all pleased, though they dared not show it.

When the County Magistrate saw that the golden ox could not be moved, he said to the people,“ A reward of three hundred taels of silver to whomever can lift the golden ox!”

But none of the people made a move; they just ignored him in their anger.

When the County Magistrate noticed that the people were all ignoring him, he shouted angrily, “If the golden ox cannot be lifted up today, you will all be killed!”

Just as the County Magistrate finished uttering these words, the golden ox gave a roar as loud as a thunderclap in the blue sky. Then everyone saw sand flying and rocks rising. The earth quaked and the mountain shook. The County Magistrate was so scared that his face turned ashen white. He wanted to run away, but his legs went limp and could not even move a step.

At this moment, the golden ox stood up. With his round eyes shining bright, he raised his head and gave another roar. Then he spewed forth billows of white water which rushed directly towards the County Magistrate and his yamen runners. All were carried away by the huge waves.

Immediately, the lake was filled with water again.

From that time on, the golden ox in the lake never appeared again and the water in the lake has never dried up since.

People could not forget the golden ox. They built a high tower on top of the city wall by the lake and climbed up on it everyday to look for the appearance of the golden ox. This tower then later came to be known as “Surging Gold Gate.”