• Environmet
• Energy conservation
  & efficiensy
• Electronics

---

Back Number

• 2022.07/興一利 If you try to obtain one profit, you should remove one harm.

Back Number

• 
• 
• 
• 
• Environment for young Europeans

Lu Shang Taigongwang

Lu Shang Taigongwang is a real historical character later known as Jiang Shang (also known as Shi Shangfu) who in the 11th century BC became advisor of King Wen and his son King Wu, afterwards they were founders of the Zhou dynasty(1122-771 BC). Many legends had grown up around him for long time, and they were recorded as various books.

King Zhouwang, the last ruler of the Shang dynasty(16th -11th BC) was a tyrannical and debauched. He spent his days carousing with his favorite concubine Daji, mercilessly executing, and punishing many servants who are objected to his policy..

Lu Shang was an expert in military affairs, hoping that someone would call him to overthrow the King of the Shang some day. He waited and waited till he was 80 years old with fishing by a tributary of the Weihe River (near today’s Xi’an).

King Wen, he was the Duke of the Zhou state at that time (central Shaanxi), found Lu Shang fishing by chance. King Wen was in search of talented people in accordance with the advice of his father and grandfather. In fact, it had been predicted by his grandfather, the Grand Duke of Zhou that a sage would appear to help rule the Zhou state some day.
When King Wen saw Lu Shang, he felt that he was an unusual man at first sight. He began to exchange opinions with him, and recognized that this white-haired fisherman was actually an astute political thinker and also a military strategist. “This must be the man his grandfather was waiting for”, he felt. He took Lu Shang to the court by his coach. He appointed him as a prime minister and gave the title Taigongwang (Hope of the Duke of Zhou).

It was written long after his time in an article of Lu Shang Taigongwang’s life that he held firmly that a country could become powerful only when the people prospered. The ruler would not last long when the only officials enriched and the people remained poor. The major principle in ruling a country should be to love the people, which meant to reduce taxes and corvee. By following these ideas, King Wen is said to have made the Zhou state rich and powerful very rapidly.

After King Wen died, his son King Wu, who inherited the throne of the Zhou, decided to send troops to overthrow the King of Shang. But Lu Shang Taigongwang stopped him, saying “While I was fishing at Panxi, I realized one truth that is, if you want to succeed you need to be patient. We must wait for the appropriate opportunity to eliminate the King of Shang”. Soon it was reported that the people of Shang were so oppressed that no one dared to speak. King Wu and Lu Shang Taigongwang decided this was the time to attack, for the people who lost their faith to the ruler. A bloody battle was taken place at Muye (35 kilometers from the Shang capital “Yin”, now called Anyang in Henna province).

Lu Shang Taigongwang attacked the enemy at the head of troops, beating the battle drum.

The Shang King perished in his palace by setting fire. King Wu and his successors as the Zhou dynasty established rule over all of China. Lu Shang Taigongwang became the Duke of Qi (today’s Shandong province), which thrived with the trade with the neighborhood and exploitation of its fish and salt resources under his rule.

Miyagitani Masamitu, Jpanease novelist, released the novel in 1998 about Lu Shang Taigongwang. In his novel, Lu Shang Taigongwang was depicted as a young man not old bearded fisherman. He actively involved the whole country in China, and obtained many Duke’s agreement by discussing them. Finally King Wu and young Lu Shang Taigongwang led the King of Shang to a downfall.
This novel gives courage and impression. Site master believe that Lu Shang Taigongwang, who left actually significant work in the Chinese history, was a young man not aged, with sense of foresight, wisdom, network and the activeness. Lu Shang Taigongwang said in this novel “I want to name this country Qi (It means equality) so that the people can live equally.　Live together!”
Site master hopes the appearance as many Taigongwang as possible in the east Asia who pulls e-technology.

ShoukaSonjuku