Pictures of Jiang Zi Ya aka Jiang Tai Gong (周朝帝師姜子牙)

Jiang Zi Ya (姜子牙) aka Jiang Fei Xiong (姜飛熊) or Jiang Tai Gong (姜太公), real name known as Jiang Shang (姜尚) or Lv Shang (呂尚 Lv as in the place where he was born, so the family take the name of the place as the surname), born in Late Shang Dynasty (商朝末年), King Geng Ding Period (BC1211 商更丁帝年間), 3rd Day of Lunar 8 Month (農曆三月初八日). Hometown in Shan Dong Province, Ri Zhao Area 家鄉於山東省日照市 (Ri Zhao Area was believed to be the biggest town in Asia in Shang Dynasty, a very developed and well-maintained town with all routes connected to all areas in China).

Jiang Zi Ya was also believed to be the direct descendant of Emperor Yan which is known as Shen Nong Shi (為炎帝神農氏後裔).

At a very young age, Jiang Zi Ya had been doing self study on the changes on the Politician issues happened in Shang Empire, the ways that battles carried out between Kingdoms and Countries, Natural Spiritual Skills, etc. From then, he was well versed with different kinds of strategies & planning, which later being compile and record in his book on Battling Strategies called "Jiang Tai Gong Bing Fa" (姜太公兵法).

In order for him to concentrate on his studying on the strategies and protecting his family from sufferings that caused by the Battles and Wars, Jiang Zi Ya and his family shifted to Northern part of China, around Liao Ning Province (中國北方遼寧省), from records, the whole family stayed there for about 40 years before they shifted back to Mt Zhong Nan area (鐘南山一帶).

Due to Jiang Zi Ya was well versed with the Skills of Prediction, he knew that by the age of 80 (逢八十而出仕), someone who would be a Leader of a Empire in the future would be there to invite him as a Premier, and so, he disguised himself as a fisherman who stayed beside Wei Shui (渭水) river to do fishing (while he's doing his fishing, he also spread a phrase to the commoners in order to direct the person who going to invite him to Wei Shui to look for him, the phrase was, Jiang Tai Gong Diao Yu, Bu Xiang Qu Zhong Qiu, Zhi Xiang Zhi Zhong Qu, Yuan Zhe Shang Gou 姜太公釣魚﹐不向曲中求﹐只向直中取﹐願者上鉤).

After the phrase being spread-out, Ji Fa (姬發), second son of Ji Chang (姬昌次子), got the phrase and immediately passed the message to Ji Chang. With serious studying on the phrase, Ji Chang knew that Jiang Tai Gong was not a normal person and so, he summoned Ji Fa to go to Wei Shui to look for Jiang Zi Ya.

Upon reaching Wei Shui, Ji Fa reported to Jiang Zi Ya the purpose of his visiting, but Jiang Zi Ya ignored Ji Fa, just before Ji Fa left with disappointment, Jiang Zi Ya conveyed a phrase to him – Jiang Zi Ya only willing to catch a Big Fish and not a small Shrimp (只釣大魚﹐不取小蝦).

Again, Ji Fa conveyed the message to his father. This time round, Ji Chang got the message and went to Wei Shui to invite Jiang Zi Ya personally.

Upon reaching, Ji Chang stood at a far site, waving and try to communicate with Jiang Zi Ya, but Jiang Zi Ya ignored him. Ji Chang was disappointed and left.

After serious considering, Ji Chang found out that, maybe he was not sincere enough and immediately, Ji Chang went to Wei Shui to look for Jiang Zi Ya again. On the third time, after reporting to Jiang Zi Ya of his purpose of this visiting, Jiang Zi Ya accepted his invitation and from then, Ji Chang appointed him as the Premier of Zhou Kingdom (周天下).

Immediately after Jiang Zi Ya joined the Zhou Kingdom, Ji Chang started his planning on attacking the Shang Empire. With the Military Expert Jiang Zi Ya, their attacking was very successful and soon, Shang Empire was being overthrown and King Zhou (紂王) killed himself by burning himself on Lu Tai (鹿台).

After Ji Chang aka Zhou Wen Wang (周文王) passed away, Ji Fa took over the throne. Jiang Zi Ya vowed to withhold the strength and peacefulness of Zhou Dynasty and so, he continued to serve the Empire for another 3 more Generations.

BC1072, Jiang Zi Ya passed away with an age of 139 (till now, consider as the oldest Premier in the Chinese History). wwhich later being bestowed with the title of Zhao Lie Wu Cheng Wang (昭烈武成王).

After his death, Officers, Taoists and Folks respected him as an Ancestor of Military Art and also Spiritual Skills.

Throughout the whole life of Jiang Zi Ya, he written a few popular books, they are Jiang Tai Gong Bing Fa (姜太公兵法 Jiang Zi Ya Strategies on Battling), Yin Fu Jing (陰符經 The Yin Authorities Classic), Liu Tao (六韜 The Importance of Strategies Planning), etc. Most of them are still being studies and practiced nowadays.

For High Res Pics, please proceed to this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taoism_deity_singapore_2007/photos/album/2064436032/pic/list