Jiang Ziya Bestows Divinity

Fishing at Wei River

Jiang Ziya studied under Yuanshi Tianzun for forty years, then fell into poverty — butcher, wine-seller, abandoned by his wife. At eighty, he had achieved nothing.

But when he fished at the Wei River with a straight hook — no bait, held three feet above the water — he said: 'Those whose destiny is aligned will come.'

“Jiang Taigong fishes — the willing bite the hook.”

— Chinese proverb

King Wen Seeks Wisdom

King Wen dreamt of a flying bear. At the Wei River, he met Jiang Ziya. King Wen pulled the chariot himself for eight hundred steps. Jiang Ziya said: 'You pulled me eight hundred steps; I shall protect your dynasty for eight hundred years.'

The Investiture of the Gods

Jiang Ziya served two generations and overthrew the tyrant at the Battle of Muye. After victory, he presided at the Investiture Terrace, enlisting fallen warriors as gods.

Interestingly, Jiang Ziya enshrined everyone except himself. He sits atop the altar: 'With Taigong present, all taboos are lifted' — the one being who transcends the gods.