拉魯島

The legend of chasing deer at Sun Moon Lake tells of the Tsou people from Alishan who chased deer to Sun Moon Lake before it became a lake. Lalu Island, the highest point in the lake, was regarded as a sacred mountain by their ancestors and is the origin of the Thao people's name.

Originally an important site for the Thao people's daily rituals, it was later converted into a shrine by the Japanese. A temple dedicated to the Matchmaker God was built there during the Han Chinese era, but it was destroyed in the 921 earthquake. It was originally the resting place of the Thao people's ancestral spirits; closing the island is probably for the best, to prevent excessive tourists from disturbing this sacred site…

The new Sun Moon Lake viewing platform, "See Lalu," has been unveiled. The platform features an "island" that resembles a small mountain. Through "borrowed perspective," it can be connected to Lalu Island in the lake, recreating the appearance of the "mountain in the lake" of yesteryear.

One of the most famous landmarks in Sun Moon Lake. (The following information is sourced from the internet) Lalu Island, according to legend, is the abode of the highest ancestral spirit of the Thao people and one of their earliest settlements. The Nantou County Government designated Lalu Island as a sacred site for the Thao ancestral spirits, as a sign of respect for the Thao people. In 2000, the Thao people planted *Cinnamomum camphora* trees on the island, symbolizing the continuous cultural heritage of the Thao descendants. Lalu Island still retains its sacred and symbolic significance. The Thao people believe that their highest ancestral spirit resides in Lalu. According to tradition, any woman who wishes to learn to be a "Master Mother" (the Thao term for a traditional priestess) must be accompanied by a senior Master Mother to Lalu Island by boat to receive revelation from the highest ancestral spirit. Only after receiving permission is she considered qualified to enter the profession. This demonstrates the sacred status of Lalu Island in the hearts of the Thao people. However, Lalu Island has had several other names in different eras and contexts; during the Qing Dynasty, it was called "Zhuyu," "Zhushan," and "Zhuzaishan" in documents; the Japanese called it "Yushima," etc. After World War II, the Kuomintang government called it "Guanghua Island," meaning "glorifying China." Later, it was officially named Lalu Island.

Located in the center of Sun Moon Lake, this island was originally called Guanghua Island. It is considered the ancestral shrine of the local Shao people and is off-limits to outsiders. Currently, it is only mentioned briefly during sightseeing boat tours.