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{{Short description|Ancient Chinese minister and monarch (1000s BCE)}}
{{hatnote|For the 2020 film, see [[Jiang Ziya (film)]]}}
{{redirect|Duke Tai of Qi|the later Qi ruler with the same title|Duke Tai of Tian Qi}}
{{anchor|Name|Titles}}
{{stack begin}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image        = Portrait_of_Jiang_Ziya.jpg
| caption      = Jiang Ziya's portrait in the ''[[Sancai Tuhui]]''
| name         = Duke Tai of Qi<br/>齊太公
| title        =
| succession   = Duke of [[Qi (state)|Qi]]
| predecessor  = ''None (Dynasty established)''
| successor    = [[Duke Ding of Qi|Duke Ding]]
| reign        = 11th century BC
| birth_date   = 1128 BC
| death_date   = 1015 BC (aged 113)
| full name    = [[Chinese surname#Xing|Ancestral name]]: Jiāng (姜)<br/>[[Chinese surname#Shi|Lineage name]]: Lǚ (呂)<br/>Given name: Shàng (尚)<br/>[[Courtesy name]]: Zǐyá (子牙)
| posthumous name = Duke Tai (太公)
| temple name  = Shizu (始祖) {{small|(by [[Later Liang (Sixteen Kingdoms)|Later Liang]])}}
| spouse       = Shen Jiang
| issue        = [[Duke Ding of Qi|Duke Ding]]<br>[[Yi Jiang]]
| house        = Jiang
| dynasty      = [[Qi (state)#House of Jiang|Jiang Qi]]
}}
{{chinese
| c = {{linktext|姜|子|牙}}
| p = Jiāng Zǐyá
| w = Chiang<sup>1</sup> Tzŭ<sup>3</sup>-ya<sup>2</sup>
| altname = Jiang Shang
| c2 = {{linktext|姜|尚}}
| p2 = Jiāng Shàng
| w2 = Chiang Shang
| altname3 = Lü Shang
| t3 = {{linktext|呂|尚}}
| s3 = {{linktext|吕|尚}}
| p3 = Lǚ Shàng
| w3 = Lü<sup>3</sup> Shang<sup>4</sup>
| altname4 = Shangfu
| c4 = {{linktext|尚|父}}
| p4 = Shàngfù
| w4 = Shang<sup>4</sup>-fu<sup>4</sup>
| altname5 = Master Shangfu
| c5 = {{linktext|师|尚|父}}
| p5 = Shī Shàngfù
| w5 = Shih Shang-fu
| l5 = Master Shangfu
| showflag = p
| j = Goeng1 Zi2 Ngaa4
| j2 = Goeng1 Soeng6
| j3 = Leoi5 Soeng6
| j4 = Soeng6 Fu6
| j5 = Si1 Soeng6 Fu6
}}
{{chinese
| title = Titles
| altname = Grand Duke of Qi
| t2 = {{linktext|齊|太|公}}
| s2 = {{linktext|齐|太|公}}
| p2 = Qí Tài Gōng
| w2 = Ch‘i<sup>1</sup> T‘ai<sup>4</sup> Kung<sup>1</sup>
| altname3 = Grand Duke Jiang
| c3 = {{linktext|姜|太|公}}
| p3 = Jiāng Tài Gōng
| w3 = Chiang<sup>1</sup> T‘ai<sup>4</sup> Kung<sup>1</sup>
| altname4 = Grand Duke Wang
| c4 = {{linktext|太|公|望}}
| p4 = Tài Gōng Wàng
| w4 = T‘ai<sup>4</sup> Kung<sup>1</sup> Wang<sup>4</sup>
| altname5 = Lü Wang
| t5 = {{linktext|呂|望}}
| s5 = {{linktext|吕|望}}
| p5 = Lǚ Wàng
| w5 = Lü Wang
| showflag = p
| j3 = Goeng1 Taai3 Gung1
| j4 = Taai3 Gung1 Mong6
| j2 = Cai4 Taai3 Gung1
| j5 = Leoi5 Mong6
}}
{{stack end}}
'''Jiang Ziya''' ({{fl.|12th}} century&nbsp;BC – 11th century&nbsp;BC), also known by [[#Names|several other names]], also known by his [[posthumous name]] as the '''Duke Tai of Qi''', was the founding monarch of the [[Qi (state)|Qi state]].

He 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]]. Following their victory in the [[Battle of Muye]], he continued to serve as a Zhou minister. He remained loyal to the regent [[Duke of Zhou|Ji Dan]] (Duke Wen of Zhou) 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. He established his seat at [[Ancient Linzi|Yingqiu]] (in modern-day [[Linzi, Zibo|Linzi]], [[Zibo]], [[Shandong]]). 

He has been worshipped as a war god since the Han and, especially, Tang dynasties. He is also celebrated in Chinese literature, and is one of the main heroes in the Ming-era ''[[Investiture of the Gods]]''.

==Names==
The first ruler of [[Qi (state)|Qi]] bore the [[Chinese personal names|given name]] '''Shang'''. The nobility of ancient China bore two [[surname]]s, an [[ancestral name|ancestral temple surname]] and a [[Chinese clan name|lineage surname]]. His were '''[[Jiang (surname 姜)|Jiang]]''' ({{zhi|姜}}) and '''[[Lü (surname)|Lü]]''' ({{zhi|呂}}), respectively. He had two [[courtesy name]]s, '''Shangfu''' ({{zhi|尚父}}; "Esteemed Father") and '''Ziya''' ({{zhi|子牙}}; lit. "Master [[Ivory]], Master [[Tusk]]"), which were used for respectful address by his peers. The names Jiang Shang and Jiang Ziya became the most common after their use in the popular [[Ming dynasty|Ming-era]] [[Chinese literature|novel]] ''[[Investiture of the Gods|Fengshen Bang]]'', written over 2,500 years after his death.<ref name=long/>

Following the elevation of Qi to a [[duke (China)|duchy]], he was given the [[posthumous name]] {{zhi|齊太公}} {{nowrap|'''Grand ~ Great Lord of Qi'''}}, on occasions left untranslated as "Duke Tai". It is under this name that he appears in [[Sima Qian]]'s ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]''.<ref name="shiji">{{cite web |url=http://www.guoxue.com/shibu/24shi/shiji/sj_032.htm |script-title=zh:齊太公世家 |trans-title=House of Duke Tai of Qi |work=[[Records of the Grand Historian]] |author=Sima Qian |author-link=Sima Qian |language=zh |publisher=Guoxue.com |access-date=14 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Shiji |script-title = zh:史記 | title-link= Shiji |editor=Han Zhaoqi (韓兆琦) |year=2010 |publisher=Zhonghua Book Company |location=Beijing |isbn=978-7-101-07272-3 |language=zh |pages=2495–2510}}</ref> He is also less often known as "Grand Lord Jiang" ({{zhi|姜太公}}; Jiang Taigong), Taigong Wang ({{zhi|太公望}}), and the "Hoped-for Lü" (Lü Wang; 呂望).<ref name=long>Long Jianchun (龍建春) (2003). ''Discussion on Taigong's surname, clanname, given name and titles'' 《"太公"姓氏名号考论》. <苏秦始将连横>臆说之一. Taizhou Academy Newspapers (台州学院学报) 2nd semester, 2003.</ref> as Jiang Ziya was seen as the sage – whom [[King Wen of Zhou]]'s ancestor Revered Uncle Ancestor Lei ({{zhi|[[:zh:公叔祖類|公叔祖類]]}}) (also titled 太公 "Great ~ Grand Lord") had prophesied about and hoped for – to help the Zhou prosper.<ref>[[Sima Qian]], ''[[Records of the Grand Historian]]'' [https://ctext.org/shiji/qi-tai-gong-shi-jia "Hereditary House of the Grand Duke of Qi"] quote: "於是周西伯獵，果遇太公於渭之陽，與語大說，曰：「自吾先君太公曰『當有聖人適周，周以興』。子真是邪？吾太公望子久矣。」故號之曰「太公望」，載與俱歸，立為師。" translation: "The [[King Wen of Zhou|Overlord of the West]] then went out hunting, and as a result met the Grand Duke [of Qi] on the [[Wei River]]'s north bank, and talked [with the Grand Duke of Qi] and became greatly pleased, saying: "My lordly ancestor the Grand Duke himself had said: 'Just when one has a sage coming to/fit for Zhou, Zhou will prosper'. Are you truly that one? My Grand Duke had hoped for you long ago. [The Western Count] therefore called [the Grand Duke of Qi] 'Grand Duke's Hope', returned along with him in the same chariot, and honored him as teacher."</ref>

==Background==
The last ruler of the Shang dynasty, [[King Zhou of Shang]], was a tyrant who spent his days with his favorite concubine [[Daji]] and executing or punishing officials. After faithfully serving the Shang court for approximately twenty years, Jiang came to find King Zhou insufferable, and feigned madness in order to escape court life and the ruler's power. Jiang was an expert in military affairs and hoped that someday someone would call on him to help overthrow the king. Jiang 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.<ref name="SawyerRalph">{{aut|Sawyer, Ralph D.}} ''The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China''. New York: Basic Books. 2007. p. 27.</ref>  It is said that, while in exile, he continued to wait placidly, fishing in a tributary of the [[Wei River]] (near today's [[Xi'an]]) 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.<ref>{{multiref2|{{cite conference <!-- this is a hack to permit subnesting --> | editor= Yan Kejun | editor-link= :zh:嚴可均 | author= Fu Lang | author-link= :zh:苻朗 | chapter = [[:zh:s:全晉文/卷一百五十二#苻朗|方外]] | volume = 152 | script-title = zh:全晉文 | script-work=zh:[[:zh:全上古三代秦漢三國六朝文|全上古三代秦漢三國六朝文]] | orig-date =c. 400 | date=1834}}| {{cite web|url=https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/52422/ |title= Learn Cantonese! | author=<!--Not stated--> |type= English translation|date= 2009 |website=CantoneseSheikCo|publisher= |access-date= 15 June 2024|quote= The story was Jiang Taigong (Jiang Ziya, a historical figure) went fishing, but he only used a hook without any bait at all. According to Jiang's philosophy, bait was unnecessary. "If the fish wants to be caught, the fish will get itself hooked voluntarily."}} }}</ref>

==Hired by King Wen of the Zhou==
[[Image:Dai Jin-Dropping a Fishing Line on the Bank of the Wei River.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Dai Jin, ''Dropping a Fishing Line on the Bank of the Wei River'', [[National Palace Museum]]]]
King Wen of Zhou, (central Shaanxi), found Jiang Ziya 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.

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]]'' (太公六韜).  The meeting was recorded as being characterized by a mythic aura common to meetings between great historical figures in ancient China.<ref name="SawyerRalph" /> Before going hunting, King Wen consulted his chief scribe to perform divination in order to discover if the king would be successful. The divinations revealed that, "'While hunting on the north bank of the Wei river you will get a great catch. It will not be any form of dragon, nor a tiger or great bear. According to the signs, you will find a duke or marquis there whom Heaven has sent to be your teacher.  If employed as your assistant, you will flourish and the benefits will extend to three generations of Zhou Kings.'"  Recognizing that the result of this divination was similar to the result of divinations given to his eldest ancestor, King Wen observed a vegetarian diet for three days in order to spiritually purify himself for the meeting.  While on the hunt, King Wen encountered Jiang fishing on a grass mat, and courteously began a conversation with him concerning military tactics and statecraft.<ref>"T'ai Kung's Six Secret Teachings". Trans. Ralph D. Sawyer. In {{aut|Sawyer, Ralph D.}}, ''The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China.'' New York: Basic Books. 2007. p. 40.</ref>  The subsequent conversation between Jiang Ziya and King Wen forms the basis of the text in 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 [[fishing gorge|straight hook]] hanging out of water, 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 Ziya in his coach to the court and appointed him prime minister and gave him the title Jiang Taigong Wang ("The Great Duke's Hope", or "The expected of the Great Duke") in reference to a prophetic dream Danfu, grandfather of Wenwang, had had many years before. This was later shortened to Jiang Taigong. King Wu married Jiang Ziya's daughter Yi Jiang, who bore him several sons.

==Attack of the Shang==
[[File:歷代聖賢半身像 冊 姜子牙 (Jiang Ziya).png|left|thumb|Portrait of Jiang Ziya, [[National Palace Museum]]]]
After King Wen died, his son [[King Wu of Zhou|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 realised 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. The bloody [[Battle of Muye]] then ensued some 35 kilometres from the Shang capital [[Yin (city)|Yin]] (modern day Anyang, Henan Province).

Jiang Taigong charged at the head of the troops, beat the [[Zhangu|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.

[[King Zhou]] 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 by the order of Jiang Taigong himself, another that she took her own life, another that she was killed by King Zhou. Jiang Taigong was made duke of the [[Qi_(state)|State of Qi]] (today's [[Shandong]] province), which thrived with better communications and usage of its fish and salt resources under him.

As the most notable prime minister employed by King Wen and King Wu, he was declared "the master of strategy"—resulting in the Zhou government growing far stronger than that of the Shang dynasty as the years elapsed.

==Personal views and historical influence==
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. If the officials enriched themselves while the people 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 corvée labour. By following these ideas, King Wen is said to have made the Zhou state prosper very rapidly.

His [[treatise]] on military strategy, ''[[Six Secret Strategic Teachings]]'', is considered one of the [[Seven Military Classics]] of Ancient China.

In the [[Tang dynasty]] he was accorded his own state temple as the martial patron and thereby attained officially sanctioned status approaching that of [[Confucius]].

==Family==
Wives:
* Lady, of the Ma lineage ({{lang|zh|馬氏}})
* Shen Jiang, of the Jiang clan of [[Shen (state)|Shen]] ({{lang|zh|申姜 姜姓}})

Sons:
* First son, Prince Ji ({{lang|zh|公子伋}}; 1050–975 BC), ruled as [[Duke Ding of Qi]] from 1025 to 975 BC
* Prince Ding ({{lang|zh|公子丁}})
* Prince Ren ({{lang|zh|公子壬}})
* Prince Nian ({{lang|zh|公子年}})
* Prince Qi ({{lang|zh|公子奇}})
* Prince Fang ({{lang|zh|公子枋}})
* Prince Shao ({{lang|zh|公子紹}})
* Prince Luo ({{lang|zh|公子駱}})
* Prince Ming ({{lang|zh|公子銘}})
* Prince Qing ({{lang|zh|公子青}})
* Prince Yi ({{lang|zh|公子易}})
* Prince Shang ({{lang|zh|公子尚}})
* Prince Qi ({{lang|zh|公子其}})
* Prince Zuo ({{lang|zh|公子佐}})

Daughters:
* First daughter, Yi Jiang ({{lang|zh-hant|邑姜}})
** Married [[King Wu of Zhou]] (d. 1043 BC), and had issue ([[King Cheng of Zhou]], [[Shu Yu of Tang]])

His descendants acquired his personal name [[Shang (surname)|Shang]] as their surname.<ref>The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland</ref>

== In literature ==
In the popular Ming-era novel Investiture of the Gods, Jiang Ziya is represented as a disciple of the Kunlun sect practicing Chan Taoism. Aside from fortune-telling, he is able to perform supernatural feats such as mounting clouds,<ref name=":1" /> using his internal energy to breathe out a divine fire from his mouth,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Xu |first=Chong Lin |title=封神演義 |pages=41 |language=Chinese |trans-title=Investiture of the Gods |chapter=17, the Serpent Pit}}</ref> releasing thunder<ref name=":0" /> and lightning<ref>{{Cite book |last=Xu |first=Chonglin |title=封神演義 |pages=94 |language=Chinese |trans-title=Investiture of the Gods |chapter=Chapter 37, Jiang Ziya visits Mount Kunlun}}</ref> at will, creating illusions to conceal the presence of an entire army,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Xu |first=Chonglin |title=封神演義 |pages=139 |trans-title=Investiture of the Gods |chapter=52, Fall of the Legendary Hero}}</ref> and through the use of ritual and incantation, of summoning wind storms to carry away hundreds of refugees,<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Xu |first=ChongLin |title=封神演義 |pages=43–44 |language=Chinese |trans-title=Investiture of the Gods |chapter=18, Flight from Zhaoge}}</ref> of bringing about snow in order to freeze the Shang army encamped in a mountain valley,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Xu |first=Chong Lin |title=封神演義 |pages=101–103 |language=Chinese |trans-title=Investiture of the Gods |chapter=40 - Siege of Phoenix City}}</ref> and of conjuring a barrier made of the water of the North Sea in order to protect the Zhou capital.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Xu |first=Chonglin |title=封神演義 |pages=103–104 |language=Chinese |trans-title=Investiture of the Gods |chapter=40, Phoenix City's Great Siege}}</ref>  

He is ruthless with his enemies, usually executing captive generals from the Shang side, but is loyal to the Zhou cause. When outmatched by another wielder of supernatural powers, Zhao Gongming, he employs underhanded means on the advice of another thaumaturge named Lu Ya, employing a voodoo-like ritual involving building a straw effigy of his rival which is later shot at with arrows, leading to Zhao's death.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Xu |first=Chonglin |title=封神演義 |pages=126 |language=Chinese |trans-title=Investiture of the Gods |chapter=48, Lu Ya's Gourd of Supreme Light}}</ref>  

==In Taoism==
[[File:Chiang Tzu-ya at K-un-lun- Project Gutenberg eText 15250.jpg|thumb|upright|Jiang Ziya at [[Kunlun]]]]

Jiang Ziya has been revered as a god in temples throughout China since the Han dynasty. The height of his worship as a war god occurred under the reign of [[Emperor Xuanzong of Tang]], when Jiang was to be worshipped by candidates for military examination, and by generals before and after victory in military campaigns.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Li |first1=Shiwu |title=Folklore Studies of Traditional Chinese House-Building |date=2021 |publisher=Springer Nature |isbn=978-981-16-5477-0 |pages=89–92 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M_JQEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA91 |language=en}}</ref>

In [[Chinese folk religion|Chinese]] and [[Taoism in China|Taoist]] belief, Jiang Ziya is sometimes considered to have been a Taoist adept. In one [[Chinese legend|legend]], he used the knowledge he gained at [[Mount Kunlun (mythology)|Kunlun]] to defeat the Shang's supernatural protectors [[Qianliyan]] and [[Shunfeng'er]], by using magic and invocations.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Zhizhong |last=Gu |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/467902421 |title=Creation of the gods |date=1996 |publisher=New world Press |isbn=7-80005-134-X |oclc=467902421}}</ref> He is also a prominent character in the Ming-era ''[[Romance of the Investiture of the Gods|Investiture of the Gods]]'', in which he is Daji's archrival and is personally responsible for her execution. The storyline present throughout the novel revolves around the fate of Jiang Ziya. He is destined to deify the souls of both humans and immortals who die in battle using the "List of Creation" (Fengshen bang, 封神榜), an index of preordained names agreed upon at the beginning of time by the leaders of the three religions. This list is housed in the "Terrace of Creation" (Fengshen tai, 封神臺), a reed pavilion in which the souls of the deceased are gathered to await their apotheosis. In the end, after defeating the Shang forces, Jiang deifies a total of 365 major gods, along with thousands of lesser gods, representing a wide range of domains, from holy mountains, weather, and plagues to constellations, the cyclical nature of time, and the five elements.
 
There are two ''[[xiehouyu]]'' about him:
*Grand Duke Jiang fishes – those who are willing jump at the bait ({{linktext|姜太公釣魚——願者上鉤}}), which means "put one's own head in the noose".
*Grand Duke Jiang investiture of the gods – omitting himself ({{linktext|姜太公封神——漏了自己}}), which means "leave out oneself".

[[Liexian Zhuan]], a book on Taoist immortals, contains his short legendary biography:

{{Verse translation|lang=zh-Hant|italicsoff=y|呂尚者冀州人也。
生而內智，預見[or 豫知]存亡。
避紂之亂，隱於遼東四[or 三]十年。

適西周，匿於南山，釣於溪[or 磻溪, or 卞谿]。
三年不獲魚，比閭皆曰：「可以止矣。」
尚曰：「非爾所及也。」
已而，果得大鯉，有兵鈐在腹中。

文王夢得聖人，聞尚，遂載而歸。
至武王伐紂，尚作陰謀百餘篇。

服澤芝地衣石髓[or 澤芝地髓]，
具二百年而告亡。
有難而不葬。
後子葬之，無屍，
唯有《玉鈐》六篇在棺中云。

呂尚隱釣，瑞得赬鱗。
通夢西伯，同乘入臣。
沈謀籍世，芝體煉身。
遠代所稱，美哉天人。|attr1=[[Liexian Zhuan]], with version according to [[Yiwen Leiju]]
|Lü Shang was from [[Ji Province|Jizhou]].
Born with inherent wisdom, he could foresee life and death.
Avoiding the chaos of [[King Zhou of Shang|king Zhou]], he has been hiding in [[Liaodong]] for 40 [or 30] years.

Then at [[Western Zhou]] he fled to [[Nanshan (Shaanxi)|Nanshan]], and fished in mountain creeks [or in [[:zh:磻溪镇 (宝鸡市)|Panxi]], or in Bianxi].
For three years he hadn't caught any fish, and the villagers told him, "You maybe should stop".
But he said: "That's not what you can understand".
And after a while, he finally caught a large carp with a military book in its belly.

[[King Wen of Zhou|King Wen]] saw a sage in a dream, and then heard of Lü Shang, and ordered to bring him [to the Court].
And then, when [[King Wu of Zhou|king Wu]] fought [[King Zhou of Shang|king Zhou]], Lü Shang suggested more than 100 military gimmicks.

He consumed [[Nelumbo nucifera|''zézhī'' lotus]], lichen and rock-marrow [or ''zézhī'' lotus and earth-marrow],
lived two hundred years, and then [[Shijie (Taoism)|announced his death]].
Due to the difficulties, he wasn't buried.
His descendants buried him with no corpse,
only [[Six Secret Teachings|Six Chapters of Jade Tactics]] were placed to the coffin.

Lü Shang hid and fished, blessed with pale-red scales.
Passed in a dream of [[King Wen of Zhou|Lord Zhou]], and was carried to him to become a minister.
He carefully planned his years, refined his body with lotus.
For generations it'll be said, "Oh, beautiful saint!"}}

==In popular culture==
===Manga===
* The protagonist of ''[[Hoshin Engi]]'', Taikoubou (Tai Gong Wang), is based on Jiang Ziya. However, his personality is quite comical.

===Video games===
* In the scenario "Chinese Unification" of the ''[[Civilization IV: Warlords]]'' expansion pack, Jiang Ziya is the leader of the [[State of Qi]].
* He is also playable in video games ''Aizouban Houshin Engi'', ''Hoshin Engi 2'' and ''[[Mystic Heroes]]''.
* Jiang Ziya is a playable character in [[Koei]]'s ''[[Warriors Orochi 2]]''. In the game, he is alternatively referred to as Taigong Wang. A stark contrast to the historical accounts, however, would be that he is portrayed as a handsome young man, who is quite arrogant, although he is still a divinely gifted strategist and a good man at heart. He is often referred to by others, namely [[Fu Xi]], [[Nüwa]] and [[Daji]] as "boy". The reason for his radically improvised design may be to emphasize his rivalry with Daji, whose character design depicts her as being young and beautiful as well. Their clashes are loosely inspired by the ''Fengshen Yanyi''.
* In ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'', the item "Lu Shang's Fishing Rod" is awarded to players for catching 10,000 carp. It is noteworthy for its ability to catch both small and large fish, and is notoriously hard to break.
* In ''[[Final Fantasy XIV]]'', Taikoubou is available in the Japanese language version of the game as a title for catching 100 different fish in A Realm Reborn, Heavensward or Stormblood areas.
* In the online game ''[[War of Legends]]'', Jiang Ziya is a playable monk, with 45 "ability".
* In the game ''Eiyuu Senki'', Tai Gong Wang is one female amongst the ancient heroes player will encounter in the game.
* In ''[[Dragalia Lost]]'', Jiang Ziya is the name of an obtainable female Qilin adventurer.
* In December 2021, ''[[Fate/Grand Order]]'' revealed Taikoubou (one of Jiang Ziya's aliases) as a new obtainable servant in the game.
* He is a hero unit in the Immortal Pillars expansion to ''[[Age of Mythology: Retold]]''.

=== Food ===

* In [[Vietnamese cuisine]], the grilled fish dish [[Chả cá Lã Vọng]] is named after Jiang, specifically after his title "Lü Wang" (Lã Vọng in Vietnamese).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2011-06-03 |title=The kings of chả cá |url=http://www.thanhniennews.com/travel/the-kings-of-cha-ca-12029.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723154510/http://www.thanhniennews.com/travel/the-kings-of-cha-ca-12029.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2014 |access-date=2020-04-24 |website=Thanh Nien Daily}}</ref>

===Films===
* ''[[Jiang Ziya (film)|Jiang Ziya]]'' – 2020 Chinese 3D computer-animated fantasy adventure film directed by Cheng Teng and Li Wei. The plot is loosely based on the classic novel ''[[Investiture of the Gods]]'', attributed to [[Xu Zhonglin (novelist)|Xu Zhonglin]].
* [[Huang Bo]] portrays Jiang Ziya in ''[[Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms]]'' (2023) and its sequel, ''[[Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force|Demon Force]]'' (2025).

===Literature===
* In ''[[The Poppy War]]'' trilogy by [[R. F. Kuang]], Jiang Ziya is the name of a loremaster at the Sinegard Academy, and the protagonist's primary mentor figure.

==See also==
* [[Boyi and Shuqi]]
* [[Zhou Wang]] ([[Shang dynasty]])
* [[King Wu of Zhou]] ([[Zhou dynasty]])
* [[Chinese mythology]]
* ''[[Six Secret Teachings]]''
* [[Caodaism]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Jiang Ziya}}
* [http://www.jadedragon.com/archives/tao_heal/meh1223.html Jiang Taigong: The Supreme Strategist] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303044244/http://www.jadedragon.com/archives/tao_heal/meh1223.html |date=2015-03-03 }}
* [http://www.taoistsecret.com/taoistgod.html Welcome to Taoistsecret.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014132717/http://www.taoistsecret.com/taoistgod.html |date=2008-10-14 }}

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{{s-hou|[[House of Jiang]]|| || ||name=Duke Tai of Qi}}
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{{s-new|creation}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ruler of [[Qi (state)|Qi]]|years=11th century BC}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Duke Ding of Qi]]}}
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{{Monarchs of Qi (state)}}
{{Fengshen Yanyi}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:11th-century BC Chinese monarchs]]
[[Category:Ancient Chinese military writers]]
[[Category:Deified Chinese men]]
[[Category:Founding monarchs in Asia]]
[[Category:Investiture of the Gods characters]]
[[Category:Monarchs of Qi (state) from the House of Jiang]]
[[Category:Military strategists]]
[[Category:Zhou dynasty generals]]
[[Category:11th-century BC rebels]]