23 Facts About Jiang Ziya

Jiang Ziya was a military general and strategist who assisted King Wen of Zhou and King Wu of Zhou overthrow the Shang dynasty and establish the Zhou dynasty.

Jiang Ziya remained loyal to the regent Ji Dan during the Rebellion of the Three Guards; following the Ji Dan's punitive raids against the restive Dongyi, Jiang was enfeoffed with the land of Qi.

Jiang Ziya is celebrated as one of the main heroes in the Investiture of the Gods.

The names Jiang Shang and Jiang Ziya became the most common after their use in the popular Ming-era novel Fengshen Bang, written over 2,500 years after his death.

Jiang Ziya is less often known as "Grand Lord Jiang", Taigong Wang, and the "Hoped-for Lu".

Jiang Ziya was an expert in military affairs and hoped that someday someone would call on him to help overthrow the king.

Jiang Ziya disappeared, only to resurface in the Zhou countryside at the apocryphal age of seventy-two, when he was recruited by King Wen of Zhou and became instrumental in Zhou affairs.

The first meeting between King Wen and Jiang Ziya is recorded in the book that records Jiang's teachings to King Wen and King Wu, the Six Secret Teachings.

When King Wen met Jiang Ziya, at first sight he felt that this was an unusual old man who is angling with a straight hook hanging out of water, and began to converse with him.

Jiang Ziya discovered that this white-haired fisherman was actually an astute political thinker and military strategist.

Jiang Ziya took Jiang Ziya in his coach to the court and appointed him prime minister and gave him the title Jiang Taigong Wang in reference to a prophetic dream Danfu, grandfather of Wenwang, had had many years before.

King Wu and Jiang Ziya Taigong decided this was the time to attack, for the people had lost faith in the ruler.

Jiang Ziya Taigong charged at the head of the troops, beat the battle drums and then with 100 of his men drew the Shang troops to the southwest.

Jiang Ziya Taigong was made duke of the State of Qi, which thrived with better communications and usage of its fish and salt resources under him.

An account of Jiang Ziya's life written long after his time says he held that a country could become powerful only when the people prospered.

Jiang Ziya's descendants acquired his personal name Shang as their surname.

Jiang Ziya is ruthless with his enemies, usually executing captive generals from the Shang side, but is loyal to the Zhou cause.

In Chinese and Taoist belief, Jiang Ziya is sometimes considered to have been a Taoist adept.

Jiang Ziya is a prominent character in the Ming-era Investiture of the Gods, in which he is Daji's archrival and is personally responsible for her execution.

Jiang Ziya is destined to deify the souls of both humans and immortals who die in battle using the "List of Creation", an index of preordained names agreed upon at the beginning of time by the leaders of the three religions.

Jiang Ziya consumed zezhi lotus, lichen and rock-marrow [or zezhi lotus and earth-marrow], lived two hundred years, and then announced his death.

Jiang Ziya's descendants buried him with no corpse, only Six Chapters of Jade Tactics were placed to the coffin.

Jiang Ziya carefully planned his years, refined his body with lotus.