The initiating events, as the starting point and basis for the deterministic safety analysis and probabilistic safety assessment of the lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR), provide important guidance on the design optimization and safe operation of reactors. This paper, based on the current design scheme of the small natural circulation lead-cooled fast reactor SNCLFR-100 and by reference to the experience of selecting initiating events of other advanced fast reactors, with the generalized 'core melting' taken as the top target event, provides the i...