The story of Jiang Taigong has been used on many levels in China. At its simplest it may be said to be an example of patience, or the philosophy that if you wait long enough things will come your way. A more sophisticated message applicable in military and political strategy is: Wait until circumstances ripen.

He is a real historical character named Jiang Shang (also known as Jiang Ziya ) who in the 11th century B.C.) became advisor to King Wen and his son King Wu, founder of the Zhou dynasty (1122-771 B.C.).

The last ruler of the Shang dynasty (16th-11th century B.C.) was a tyrannical and debauched slaveowner who spent his days carousing with his favorite concubine Daji and mercilessly executing or punishing upright official and all others who objected. Jiang Shang had once served the Shang King and had come to hate him with all his heart. He was an expert in military affairs and hoped that some day someone would call on him to help overthrow the king . He waited and waited till he was 80 years old, continuing placidly with his fishing in a tributary of the Weihe River (near today’s Xi’an in the Shananxi Province). Some versions of the story have him using a barbless hook or even no hook at all, on the theory that the fish would come to him of their own volition when they were ready.

According to the story, King Wen of the Zhou state, which had risen in central Shaanxi, came along and found Jiang Shang fishing. King Wen, following the advice of his father and grandfather before him, was in search of talented people. In fact, he had been told by his grandfather, the Grand Duke of Zhou, that one day a sage would appear to help rule the Zhou state. When King Wen saw Jiang Shang, at first sight he felt that this was an unusual old man, and began to converse with him. He discovered that this white-haired fisherman was actually an astute political thinker and military strategist. This, he felt, must be the man his grandfather was waiting for. He took Jiang Shang in his coach to the court and appointed his prime minister and gave him the title Jiang Taigongwang (Hope of the Duke of Zhou). This was later shortened to Jiang Tai Gong.

An account of Jiang Taigong’s life written long after his time says he held that a country could become powerful only when the people prospered. If the officials enriched themselves while the propel remained poor, the ruler would not last long. The major principle in ruling a country should be to love the people; and to love the people meant to reduce taxes and corvee labor. By following these ideas, King Wen is said to have made the Zhou state proper very rapidly.

After King Wen died, his son King Wu, who inherited the throne, decided to send troops to overthrow the King of Shang. But Jiang Taigong stopped him, saying: "While I was fishing at Panxi, I realized one truth: If you want to succeed you need to be patient . We must wait for the appropriate opportunity to eliminate the King of Shang. "Soon it was reported that the people of Shang were so oppressed that no one dared speak. King Wu and Jiang Taigong decided this was the time to attack, for the people had lost faith in the ruler. A bloody battle was fought at Muye ( 35 Kilometers from the Shang capital Yin, now Anyang in Henan province). Jiang 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. King Wu’s troops moved quickly and surrounded the capital. The Shang King had sent relatively untrained slaves to fight. This, plus the fact that many surrendered or revolted, enabled Zhou to take the capital.

The Shang king set fire to his palace and perished in it, and King Wu and his successors as the Zhou dynasty established rule over all of China. As for Daji, one version has it that she was captured and executed, another that she took her own life. Jiang Taigong was made duke of the State of Qi (today’s Shandong province), which throve with better communications and exploitation of its fish and salt resources under him.

The figure of Jiang Taigong has for long captured the popular imagination. He was credited with having written a military book Liutao (Six Strategies). Many legends grew up around him over the years. They were collected in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) fictional work Fengshen Yanyi (Tales of Gods and Heroes).

In the river near Xi’an there is a big stone with an indentation said to have been worn there as Jiang Taigong sat fishing. A beard fisherman is frequently seem in miniature carvings ---the figure is traditionally that of Jiang Taigong.

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