Preface: Jiang Tai Gong was a Chinese militarist, statesman, tactician and thinker at the end of the Shang Dynasty, and a founding father of the Western Zhou Dynasty, who lived to be over 100 years old. Legend has it that he presided over the “God Sealing List”, which helped to stabilize the Heavenly Court.
A long, long time ago, during the late Shang Dynasty, there was a wise old man by the Wei River named Jiang Tai Gong.
Although he was born of noble descent, he once worked as a butcher and a bartender, and his life was not as he wished.
But he didn’t give up and chose to fish by the Wei River, waiting for the destined ruler.
His way of fishing was very special: the hook was straight, there was no bait, and it was three feet above the water.
When people asked him why he fished like that, he always said, “Come on, bite the hook! Only those who are willing will be hooked!” Everyone thought he was very strange.
One day, King Wen of Zhou passed by while hunting, saw Jiang Tai Gong, and was attracted by his demeanor and expression, so he approached to talk.
King Wen found that Jiang Tai Gong was knowledgeable and had unique insights into politics and military affairs, so he recognized him as a great sage.
King Wen earnestly requested Jiang Tai Gong to come out of retirement and assist him, and Jiang Tai Gong happily agreed.
After arriving at King Wen’s side, he first served as the national master and later rose to the position of prime minister, overseeing all national affairs.
He helped King Wen develop production, so that the people could live and work in peace and contentment; he also conquered tribes, expanded territories, and weakened the Shang Dynasty.
It turned out that Jiang Tai Gong’s fishing was not really for fish, but for waiting for a ruler who appreciated him.
King Wen was the person he had been waiting for. Together, they rapidly grew the power of Zhou.
The story of Jiang Tai Gong’s fishing has become a famous tale, and people say that he had unique insights, patience, and wisdom.
The related saying is “Jiang Tai Gong’s fishing—only those who are willing will be hooked,” which is now used to metaphorically describe someone who willingly falls into someone else’s trap.
通过阅读中国神话、民间故事、历史典故、人物传记学汉语，简单易学，中英对照，适合初学者！
Learning Chinese through reading Chinese mythology, folk stories, historical allusions, and biographies is easy to learn and bilingual, suitable for beginners!