Jiang Ziya

HouseJiangDynasty Jiang QiMilitary careerAllegiancePredynastic Zhou
Western Zhou

Conflicts

Battle of Muye
Rebellion of the Three GuardsJiang ShangChineseHanyu PinyinJiāng ShàngLü ShangTraditional ChineseSimplified ChineseHanyu PinyinLǚ ShàngShangfuChineseHanyu PinyinShàngfùMaster ShangfuChineseHanyu PinyinShī ShàngfùLiteral meaningMaster ShangfuGrand Duke JiangChineseHanyu PinyinJiāng Tài GōngGrand Duke WangChineseHanyu PinyinTài Gōng WàngLü WangTraditional ChineseSimplified ChineseHanyu PinyinLǚ Wàng

Jiang Ziya (fl. 12th century BC – 11th century BC), also known by several other names, was the founding monarch of the Qi state.

He was a military general and strategist who assisted King Wen of Zhou and King Wu of Zhou overthrow the Shang dynasty and establish the Zhou dynasty. Following their victory in the Battle of Muye, he continued to serve as a Zhou minister. He remained loyal to the regent Ji Dan (Duke Wen of Zhou) during the Rebellion of the Three Guards; following the Ji Dan's punitive raids against the restive Dongyi, Jiang was enfeoffed with the land of Qi. He established his seat at Yingqiu (in modern-day Linzi, Zibo, Shandong).

He has been worshipped as a war god since the Han and, especially, Tang dynasties. He is also celebrated in Chinese literature, and is one of the main heroes in the Ming-era Investiture of the Gods.