help bg
Go Back

There are always fish willing to be caught by angler Jiang Taigong

Even for small children in China, they know the story of Jiang Taigong, which is a popular name for Jiang Ziya, statesman and strategist. As an advisor of King Wen of the Zhou State in ancient China, he helped the young King Wu overthrow the Shang Dynasty and established the Zhou Dynasty. Jiang Ziya lived near the Weishui River about 3000 years ago. The area was the feudal estate of Count Ji Chang. Jiang Ziya knew Ji Chang was very ambitious so he hoped to get Ji’s attention. He often went fishing on the Weishui River, but he would fish in an unusual way. He hung a straight fishhook, without bait, three feet above the wnater. He often said to himself, “Fish, if you don’t want to live anymore, come and swallow the hook yourself.” Soon his strange way of fishing was reported to Ji Chang. Ji sent a soldier to fet ch him. Jiang just said, “Fishing, fishing, no fish has been hooked. A shrimp is up to mischief.” The soldier reported it to Ji, and Ji became more interested. Ji sent an official to invite Jiang this time. Jiang said the sentence again, “Fishing, fishing, the big fish hasn’t been hooked. A small one is up to mischief.” Then Ji realized that Jiang may be a great talent so he went to invite Jiang himself. Jiang saw his sincere desire and decided to help him. Jiang helped him and his son turn over the Shang Dynasty so people called hin Jiang Taigong. Today, people use this old idiom to describe someone who willingly falls in a trap or does something regardless of the result.

Please use vertical scrolling on your mobile device.