Jiang Ziya
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Ancestral name (姓): | Jiang (Chinese: 姜; Pinyin: Jīang) |
| Clan name (氏): | Lü (Ch: 呂; Py: Lǚ) |
| Given name (名): | Shang (Ch: 尚; Py: Shàng) or Wang (Ch: 望; Py: Wàng) |
| Courtesy name (字): | Ziya (Ch: 子牙; Py: Zǐyá) |
| Posthumous name (謚): | Elder Duke (Ch: 太公; Py: Tàigōng) |
Jiang Ziya (Chinese: 姜子牙, Pinyin: Jiāng Zǐyá, Wade-Giles: Chiang Tzu-ya) (dates of birth and death unknown) was a Chinese historical and legendary figure who resided next to the Weishui River about 3,000 years ago. The region was the feudal estate of King Wen of Zhou. Jiang Ziya knew King Wen was very ambitious, so he hoped to get the king's attention and gain a position in his court.
He often went angling at the Weishui River, but he would fish in a bizarre way. He hung a straight hook, with no bait, three feet above the water. He over and over again said to himself, "Fish, if you are desperate to live, come and gulp down the hook by yourself."
Word of his outlandish way of fishing spread and it soon reached King Wen, who sent a soldier to bring Jiang to him. Jiang noticed the soldier coming, but paid no attention to him. He just continued with his fishing, and was soliloquising, "Fishing, fishing, no fish has been hooked—but shrimp is up to tomfoolery." The soldier reported this back to King Wen, who became more interested in Jiang.
King Wen then sent a bureaucrat to invite Jiang to appear at court. But again Jiang paid no attention to the invitation. He simply carried on fishing, saying, "Fishing, fishing, the big fish has not been hooked—but a small one is up to mischief."
Then King Wen realized Jiang might be a great genius so he went to invite Jiang personally, and brought many magnificent gifts with him. Jiang saw the king's earnest interest in him and agreed to work for him.
Jiang aided King Wen and his son in their overthrow of the Shang Dynasty; they established the Zhou Dynasty in its stead. Jiang was given the title hao (roughly analogous to a European marquis, although it can also mean "lord" or "nobleman" in a generic sense) of Taigong so people called him Jiang Taigong. His treatise on military strategy, Six Secret Teachings, is considered one of the Seven Military Classics of Ancient China.
Jiang Ziya's seventh generation descendant (his great-grandson's great-grandson's son) was Jiang Chi (姜赤). Jiang Chi had a great-grandson named Shi (傒), who was given a piece of land in Shandong province called "Lu" (盧). He took his surname from the land. All Chinese with the last name Lu (盧) can trace their ancestry back to Jiang Ziya.
[edit] In popular culture
He is a prominent character in the popular Chinese classic novel Creation of the Gods (封神演義).
There are two xiehouyu about him:
- Grand Duke Jiang fishes - those who are willing jump at the bait (姜太公釣魚──願者上鉤), which means "put one's own head in the noose".
- Grand Duke Jiang investiture the gods - omitting himself (姜太公封神──漏咗自己), which means "leave out oneself".
In the scenario "Chinese Unification" of the Civilization IV: Warlords expansion pack, Jiang Ziya is the leader of the State of Qi.
The protagonist of Hoshin Engi is based on Jiang Ziya.
Jiang Ziya is a playable character in Koei's Warriors Orochi 2. In the game he is called Taigong Wang.
