Pictures of Zhou Wen Wang Ji Chang (周文王姬昌)

Zhou Wen Wang (周文王) aka Xi Bo Hou (西伯侯), real name known as Ji Chang (姬昌) and in some other contexts known as Zhou Gong (周公), descendant of Yellow Emperor (Huang Di 黃帝), born in late Shang Dynasty (生于商朝末期), birthday unknown (生年不詳) and was known as the first Emperor of Zhou Dynasty (欲為周朝第一王).

During Ji Chang's temporary imprisonment, being accused by some other cruel officers, Ji Chang invented a set of Prediction Theory known as Yi (易) – which later translated as The Book of Change (Yi Jing 易經). Yi, a multiplication of Trigram (Trigram*Trigram 八卦演繹) to form 64 symbols (成六十四卦) for prediction purposes.

During the end period of Shang Dynasty, a lot of minor Kingdoms around the Shang Empire started their revolution to oppose against the Evil King Zhou. They gathered volunteered commoners as armies to set up troops to battle with the Shang Empire, Ji Chang was one of them.

With his upright reputation and sincerity in bringing peace for the Country, in very short period, Ji Chang gathered a large number of volunteers (義軍) and commoners who wished to overthrown King Zhou and besides that, Ji Chang also combined the troops from surrounding minor Kingdoms to form a larger oppose force.

In order for Ji Chang to succeed in the battles, he personally went to Wei Shui 渭水(a location) to invite a Military Expert known as Jiang Zi Ya (姜子牙) aka Jiang Shang (姜尚). From then, Jiang Shang was being appointed as the Premier of Ji Chang (at that time, Jiang Shang was believed to be 80 years old).

Around BC1034 - 1046, Ji Chang passed away and the throne was being passed down to his second Son, Ji Fa (次子姬發) (first son Bo Yi Kao was being killed by King Zhou 長子伯邑考被紂王所殺).

Around BC1046, Ji Fa started his battle with Shang Empire, with his strong will & well planned strategies and the assistances from the Military Experts, Ji Fa defeated King Zhou and Shang Empire was being overthrown.

After Shang Empire fall, Ji Fa named his Country with the title Zhou and bestowed his father, Ji Chang, as the first Emperor of Zhou Dynasty, known as Zhou Wen Wang (周文王) and himself as Zhou Wu Wang (周武王).

Due to Ji Chang’s will in bringing peacefulness to the Country and stopped all kinds of sufferings, after his death, folks respected him as a Deity of Uprighteous & Compassion (正義仁慈之神祗).

And in stories, Ji Chang was known as the Father for 99 sons and 1 foster son (which is Lei Zhen Zi in the Classic of Creation of Deities 封神榜中指雷震子) from then, Ji Chang was also being honored as a Deity of Child-bearing (因有百子之說﹐亦被敬為生育守護神).