In ancient Chinese legends, the story of King Wen of Zhou and Jiang Ziya is undoubtedly a model full of mystery and wisdom. According to legend, King Wen of Zhou walked 800 steps with Jiang Ziya on his back, indicating that the Zhou Dynasty would last for 800 years. Why is it only 800 steps, and what about one more step or one less step?
From ancient times to the present day, stories about fate and choice have always been particularly fascinating. In the vast history of China, the story of King Wen of Zhou and Jiang Ziya is particularly fascinating. Not only because of its blend of prophecy and wisdom, but also because of the profound philosophy it contains that is still evocative today.
The story takes place in the 11th century B.C., a time of great change. King Wen of Zhou, formerly known as Ji Chang, was the leader of the Zhou tribe. According to historical records, he was not only benevolent but also wise. Under his leadership, the Zhou tribe grew in power and eventually became a powerful force capable of challenging the Shang dynasty's rule.
Ji Chang's life was not all smooth sailing. When he was young, he was imprisoned by the tyrant King Su. In that cold and gloomy prison, Ji Chang suffered unimaginable torture. But it was in this desperate situation that he experienced a bizarre dream, and a mysterious flying bear took him into the future world. In his dream, a mysterious old man told him that in the future there would be a wise man who would assist him in his great deeds. This dream not only gave him hope, but also guided him in the direction of the future.
After escaping, Ji Chang searched everywhere for the destined wise man. This search seemed to be arranged by fate, and he met an old man who was fishing on the bank of Weishui - Jiang Ziya. Interestingly, Jiang Ziya fished with a straight hook and no bait, and this strange fishing method made Ji Chang deeply interested. In the conversation with Jiang Ziya, Ji Chang felt the unfathomable wisdom of the other party, and he was convinced that this was the wise man in his dreams.
Jiang Ziya's answer is even more meaningful: "Those who wish will take the bait, and those who don't want will naturally go away." This sentence not only shows Jiang Ziya's unfathomability, but also reflects his insight into people's hearts. Such a wise man is exactly the assistant that Ji Chang needs. The two hit it off, and Jiang Ziya decided to assist Ji Chang and plan the future of the Zhou tribe together.
Since then, the cooperation between King Wen of Zhou and Jiang Ziya has opened a new chapter in Chinese history. Not only did they overthrow the tyranny of the Shang Dynasty, but they also established a powerful dynasty that lasted for 800 years, the Zhou Dynasty. All of this seems to be closely linked to that prophecy.
Legend has it that in order to verify whether Jiang Ziya was really the destined wise man, King Wen of Zhou decided to carry Jiang Ziya on his back. They walked 800 steps, each step representing every year of the Zhou Dynasty in the future. At that time, King Wen of Zhou may not have known that these 800 steps would become the focus of discussion in later generations.
In ancient times, numbers often had special symbolic meanings, and the number 800 was given a meaning in the story of King Wen of Zhou and Jiang Ziya to herald the continued prosperity of the country. But why 800 steps, and not 1,000 steps or more? Is there some kind of hidden consideration in this?
Some speculate that this may have something to do with the ancient astronomical calendar and mathematics. In ancient China, people attached great importance to astronomical observations and calendar calculations, and the choice of numbers often echoed the order of the universe. There is also a view that this may be a test of Jiang Ziya's ability by King Wen of Zhou, in this way to determine whether Jiang Ziya can really help him realize his concept of governing the country.
What is even more talked about is the deep friendship and mutual trust between King Wen of Zhou and Jiang Ziya. King Zhou Wen's wisdom and foresight, coupled with Jiang Ziya's strategy and intelligence, the cooperation between the two can be said to be a match made in heaven. Jiang Ziya not only helped King Wen of Zhou plan his military and political affairs, but also continued to assist his son King Wu of Zhou in completing the fall of the Shang Dynasty after King Wen of Zhou's death.
In this process, Jiang Ziya's wisdom and decision-making played a decisive role. He was not only a military strategist and politician, but also a wise man who was well versed in astronomy, geography, and people's hearts. Many of his decisions and strategies have shown extraordinary insight and foresight.
On the other hand, the story of King Wen of Zhou and Jiang Ziya also reflects the importance and selection mechanism of talents in ancient China. In that era, whether or not you can find the right talent often determines the rise and fall of a country or dynasty. King Wen of Zhou was able to identify and reuse Jiang Ziya, which was not only a personal success, but also the key to the longevity of the entire Zhou dynasty.
In Chinese history, the Zhou Dynasty lasted for nearly 800 years, making it the longest dynasty in Chinese history. This initiative undoubtedly proves the correctness and foresight of King Zhou Wen's choice of Jiang Ziya and their common concept of governance. And is all this really just a coincidence?