Introduction to Jiang Taigong: Was there really a person in history? historical celebrities

Confucius: "Xu You is the one who is good for himself alone; the Taigong is the one who benefits the world." The Taigong mentioned by Confucius is Jiang Taigong. This sentence is very accurate to describe Jiang Taigong. Jiang Taigong's life was full of ups and downs, vigorous and mysterious. But overall, he made great contributions to politics, economy, and military. During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, he was once written into the mythological novel "The Romance of the Gods" by Xu Zhonglin. From then on, Jiang Taigong changed from a human to a god, and It is widely believed by the people.

In later novels "Fengshen Yanyi" and TV series "Fengshen Bang", Jiang Ziya was a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun in Yuxu Palace in Kunlun Mountain. He was later ordered to go down the mountain to help Zhou destroy Shang, and led the gods to help The story of King Wen of Zhou who gained power, went through all kinds of hardships, and finally achieved the great cause of becoming a god. This is the plot in novels and TV series. Is there a Jiang Ziya in real history, and what kind of person is he?

Jiang Taigong, a statesman, military strategist and strategist in the late Shang and early Zhou dynasties, had a surname of Jiang, a surname of Lu, a given name of Shang, and a prestige, with the courtesy name Ziya, or simply Huya, also known as Lu Shang. No. Flying Bear. A person from the late Shang Dynasty. Therefore, many people call him Jiang Ziya. His ancestor once served as an official in the Four Mountains and assisted Xia Yu in managing water and soil. During the time of Shun and Yu, they were granted the title of Lu Di, so they were also called Lu Shang. By the time Jiang Ziya was born, his family was in decline and it was no longer what it used to be. According to relevant literature, Jiang Ziya once worked as a butcher and a small vendor. He butchered cattle to Chaoge and sold Jijin food. Some say that he was the butcher of Chaoge and the host of Jijin who welcomed guests. But Jiang Ziya was poor and ambitious. Whether he was slaughtering cattle or doing business, he always worked hard to study astronomy, geography, military strategy, and how to govern the country, hoping to one day use his talents for the country. Before Jiang Ziya assisted King Wen of Zhou, his life was very poor and full of hardships. When he was thirty-two years old, due to the constant war in the Shang Dynasty, he ran to the mountains to practice Taoism in order to avoid the disaster of the war. After forty years of hard training, he returned to his hometown. Because he was old and had no skills, he had to temporarily stay at a friend's house. Jiang Ziya, who shouted to serve the country all day long, did nothing and was often ridiculed and cynicized by his wife.

After waiting for 72 years, Jiang Ziya finally got his Bole. This Bole is King Wen of Zhou. Volume 2 of "Wang Wu's Defeat of Zhou": "Because Jiang Shang was on time, he set up a hook to catch the fish in the Wei River without using any scented bait. He was three feet away from the water. Shang said to himself: 'The one who is destined to take the bait will take the bait!'" Jiang Shang The story of Taigong fishing happened in the Shang and Zhou dynasties. I don’t know whether this story is true or false. The Shang Dynasty was tyrannical, and King Wen of Zhou was determined to overthrow the tyranny. According to legend, when Jiang Ziya was 72 years old, he was fishing in Fenxi River on the shore of the Wei River. He met Jichang Hou Jichang (later King Wen of Zhou) who was thirsty for talents. King Wen of Zhou saw an old man fishing by the stream. The fishhook was actually straight, which made King Wen of Zhou very curious about what kind of person this person was. Ji Chang thought that Jiang Taigong was a genius, so he invited him to ride with him in the car and worshiped him as his teacher. From then on, he began his life of prospering Zhou Dynasty and destroying Shang Dynasty. the way. Therefore, there is a well-known saying: Jiang Taigong fishes for those who are willing to take the bait, which is a metaphor for willingly falling into the trap set by others.

Jiang Ziya was knowledgeable and tried his best to assist King Wen of Zhou in his quest to become the king. King Wen of Zhou also believed that Jiang Ziya was a saint, so he called Jiang Ziya "Tai Gong Wang" and the two of them rode together. When he returned, he was honored as the Grand Master. Jiang Ziya has made outstanding contributions in military, political, economic and other aspects, especially military affairs. Therefore, Tai Shigong said that "the later generations of soldiers and the Yin power of Zhou Dynasty are all based on Tai Gong." He can be called the originator of military strategists. .

He assisted the emperor, revitalized the country, and made many achievements in politics, economy, and culture. After Jiang Ziya established the State of Qi, he first governed the country by law and stabilized the people's hearts. Sikou camp Tang Yang disobeyed, took bribes, harmed the people, and deceived the public with evil words. Jiang Taigong ordered his beheading as a warning to others. For a time, there was no more disobedience to orders and regulations in Qi State, and the chaotic situation was quickly settled. Within a few months, Qi State was managed in an orderly manner by Jiang Ziya; politically, he implemented the policy of respecting the virtuous and honoring merit. Selecting talented people as officials regardless of relatives and friends set a precedent for the use of talents based on merit and talent, which made Qi's national power stronger; culturally, it promoted the enlightened policy of "according to customs and simplifying etiquette" and adapted measures to local conditions. Without violating local customs, it can well promote the new system of Zhou rites. After Jiang Ziya's series of reforms, Qi gradually developed from a small, remote and desolate poor country into a large and wealthy country in the east.

Jiang Ziya spent half his life in a humble state, unable to choose his master and wandering uncertainly, but he was able to move his heart and forbearance, observe the situation, wait for the opportunity, and finally meet the master of the Ming Dynasty, assist Ji Chang, cultivate virtue and martial arts, in order to prosper the Zhou Dynasty. Sometimes there is a saying that "the world is divided into three parts, and the two who return to the Zhou Dynasty are mostly the Taigong's schemes", which shows the importance of the Taigong's position in the Zhou Dynasty. Because of Jiang Ziya's efforts, Qi became what it is today, and it also laid the foundation for Qi Huangong to become the leader of the Five Hegemons.