Three hundred years ago, when the Great Chen Founding Emperor was crossing the Heng River by boat, a servant caught a white fish, which, according to popular legend, was an incarnation of the Dragon King. Hence, the emperor ordered the fish's release.
Later, as the Founding Emperor battled for supremacy across the Central Plains, he fled to the banks of the Heng River after a defeat, with no hope for survival as no boats were available for crossing. Suddenly, a white shadow emerged from the river, and a huge white carp appeared, speaking in human tongue that it wished to repay a life-saving grace from the past. This enabled the Great Ancestor to escape with his life.
Having regained power and secured the realm, the Founding Emperor, out of gratitude for the white fish's rescue, issued a sacred decree naming the white fish the Heng River Dragon King and ordered the people from both banks to make sacrifices in all four seasons.
