Chinese Four Hundred Faces - Chinese History and Culture Grand View

Author: Jin Ge
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Jiang Taigong (Unknown birth and death dates) was a minister during the time of King Wen of Zhou. Also known as Jiang Shang, he styled himself Ziya. He was from the coast of Donghai (referring to the coastal areas of Jiangsu and Shandong). Some research suggests his specific hometown is now Rizhao City in Shandong Province. His ancestors were enfeoffed in Lü, so he was also known as Lü Shang and Lü Wang. During the early Zhou period, he served as the Grand Tutor under King Wen and was revered as Shangfu during King Wu's reign. Jiang Taigong was a man of great talent and strategy, and he achieved immortal merits in overthrowing the corrupt Shang Dynasty and establishing the Zhou Dynasty.
1. Fishing in the Wei River and Joining the Zhou State
Jiang Taigong lived in poverty in his early years. At the age of 50, he worked as a chef in Jijin, selling rice. At 70, he became a butcher in Chaozhou, selling meat. He also held positions in the Shang Dynasty. Later, feeling that King Zhou was tyrannical and unjust, he resigned and traveled to persuade the feudal lords. During this time, he met with no success and retreated to seclude himself by the coast of Donghai. Later, Jiang Taigong heard that King Wen of Zhou, known as Ji Chang, was promoting virtue and respecting the elderly in Xiqi, so he traveled thousands of miles to Shaanxi and fished along the banks of the Wei River.
Once, when King Wen went hunting, he consulted an oracle before leaving. The oracle's divination said, "You will not catch a dragon or a tiger, but rather the minister of a hegemon." When King Wen reached the Wei River, he encountered Jiang Taigong. After a conversation, Jiang Taigong's strategies deeply impressed King Wen, who exclaimed, "My grandfather, Taigong, once told me that a sage would come to the Zhou state, and the state would flourish because of him. You must be the sage we have long awaited." Thus, Jiang Taigong was called "Taigong Wang," and later simplified to Jiang Taigong. King Wen invited Jiang Taigong to return in his chariot and appointed him as the Grand Tutor. It is said that Jiang Taigong was already 72 years old at this time.
2. Concealing Strength and Eliminating Shang's Allies
King Wen of Zhou was a wise ruler who appointed capable officials and implemented benevolent policies, gradually strengthening the Zhou state. However, compared to the Shang Dynasty, Zhou was still in a weaker position. Therefore, upon assuming office, Jiang Taigong advised King Wen, "When a hawk prepares to strike, it first bends its body and folds its wings; when a fierce beast prepares to fight, it first droops its ears and lies on the ground; when a king prepares to act, he must first appear foolish." He persuaded King Wen that to overthrow King Zhou of Shang, one must first hide one's talents and wait for the right moment.
King Wen accepted Jiang Taigong's advice and outwardly showed submission to King Zhou of Shang, leading the rebellious feudal lords to pay homage to him, thereby convincing King Zhou that he had no intention of challenging the throne. At the same time, King Wen built jade gates, constructed spirit platforms, gathered concubines, and rang bells, creating an appearance of indulgence and corruption to further deceive King Zhou of Shang. Jiang Taigong's strategy proved effective, and King Zhou completely relaxed his vigilance against King Wen.
Meanwhile, under Jiang Taigong's guidance, King Wen adopted a strategy of winning over more allies, eliminating Shang's supporting states, and advancing toward the capital of Shang, Chengzhou (now Qixian County, Henan). Jiang Taigong and King Wen implemented benevolent policies domestically, launched political campaigns to expand their influence, and worked to divide and weaken Shang's vassals, winning over numerous allies. Many small states came to join them. The feudal lords regarded King Wen as a "divinely appointed ruler" capable of replacing King Zhou of Shang.
At that time, two small states—Yu (now Pinglu County, Shanxi) and Rui (now Chaoyi County, Shaanxi)—were in dispute over their borders and could not reach a resolution. They traveled to Zhou to ask King Wen to mediate. Upon entering Zhou, they found that the farmers were willing to yield in disputes over field boundaries and that there was a custom of younger people showing respect to their elders. Feeling ashamed, the people of Yu and Rui returned without meeting King Wen. Afterward, they joined Zhou. This was the result of King Wen's benevolent policies, supported by Jiang Taigong.
After the dispute between Yu and Rui, King Wen declared himself "the" and became known as King Wen of Zhou. Under Jiang Taigong's planning, the Zhou state launched a series of wars against hostile forces. First, they attacked northwest and southwest, conquering the Dongrong (now northwestern Shaanxi) and defeating the Misu (now southwest of Lingtai County, Gansu), eliminating the threat of attack on Chengzhou. Next, they crossed the Yellow River and entered the regions of Hedong and Hexi. Soon after, Zhou forces attacked Han (now northeastern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), where King Zhou often went hunting, posing a direct threat to the Shang capital. After Zhou's victory in Han, King Wen and Jiang Taigong personally led troops to attack the core state of Shang—Chong (now northeastern Chong County, Henan). The ruler of Chong was Chong Houhu, who had once slandered King Wen to King Zhou of Shang and was deeply hated by King Wen. After fierce fighting, Zhou forces captured Chong City, removing a major obstacle to their eastward advance and opening a path to attack Chengzhou.
After capturing Chong City, the Zhou state built Fengjing (now southwest of Feng River, Chang'an County, Shaanxi) and moved their capital there.
3. Battle of Muye and Enfeoffment in Qi
After King Wen of Zhou passed away, his son ascended the throne as King Wu of Zhou, marking the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty. After eight years of active preparation, King Wu had gathered considerable strength. To test whether the feudal lords could rally and unite to attack King Zhou of Shang, King Wu and Jiang Taigong conducted a military exercise in the ninth year of King Wu's reign (1059 BC). Before the army set out, Jiang Taigong tightly gripped the yellow axe in his left hand and held the white banner high in his right, delivering an inspirational speech: "Black oxen, black oxen, lead your troops well and hold your oars firmly. Those who arrive late will be executed!"
Under his command, the Zhou army was disciplined and acted swiftly, arriving at Mengjin (also known as Mengjin, now northeastern Mengjin County and southwestern Meng County, Henan) quickly. As a result, more than 800 feudal lords came without being summoned. They all declared, "Now is the time to attack King Zhou of Shang." However, King Wu believed the time was not yet ripe and wanted to wait until the people completely turned against King Zhou before striking decisively. Thus, the Zhou army returned.
Two years later, King Zhou of Shang became even more tyrannical. He killed the loyal minister Bi Gan and imprisoned Ziji, forcing many ministers to flee abroad. At this point, King Wu felt the time was right and announced to the feudal lords, "King Zhou has committed heinous crimes and can now be attacked." However, before the Zhou army set out, an unfavorable oracle was received. The lords were in doubt, but suddenly, storms broke out, further unsettling their hearts. Only Jiang Taigong urged King Wu to act. He passionately said, "Today, King Zhou has's heart and imprisoned Ziji. How can we not attack him? As long as we act in accordance with the will of heaven, we need not consult the calendar, and the matter will proceed smoothly; we need not rely on divination, and the outcome will be auspicious. How can withered grass and rotten bones determine fortune?" With that, Jiang Taigong burned the oracle tortoise and beat the drum, leading the troops across the river first.
King Wu, no longer hesitating, led his army eastward to attack King Zhou of Shang. Along the way, many feudal lords brought their troops to join the Zhou army. King Wu announced the outrageous crimes of King Zhou to the soldiers, vowing to act in the name of heaven and eliminate King Zhou. The entire army was filled with righteous fervor and high morale.
Two months later, King Wu's forces faced King Zhou of Shang's army in the suburbs of Chengzhou at Muye (now southwest of Qixian County, Henan). Although the Shang army had a large number of soldiers, most were slaves hastily gathered together, who had long despised King Zhou's cruel rule. As soon as the battle began, they turned against their masters, and King Zhou's hundreds of thousands of troops collapsed instantly. King Zhou escaped back into the city, climbed the Lu Terrace (now southern Chaoguo Town, Tangyin County, Henan), put on fine robes, gathered the treasures of the Lu Terrace, sighed deeply, and ordered his men to pile dry wood. He set himself and the vast wealth he had plundered from the people on fire.
With this, the Shang Dynasty fell. In the battle of Muye, Jiang Taigong played a major role, and King Wu enfeoffed him with Qi. After arriving in Qi, Jiang Taigong reformed the administration, brought order to the government, adapted to local customs and rituals, and established various regulations. He also emphasized the development of industry and commerce, vigorously promoting fishing and salt production. The people around Qi came to join, and Qi became a prosperous state. Later, the Zhou king specially granted Qi the right to conquer any feudal lord who defied the Zhou state. Qi thus gained the authority to wage wars, became a major political power, and established its capital in Yingqiu (now northern Linzi Town, Zibo City, Shandong).