ExclusiveEmpress Wu Zetian's Ancestral Sentiment to King Wen of Zhou. Seven Years in Prison creating Yi Jing.

Over a thousand years after the fall of the Zhou dynasty, in the year 690 A.D., a descendant of the Zhou dynasty emerged as an unexpected female emperor, re-establishing the Zhou dynasty. You might have guessed it, this person is none other than Empress Wu Zetian. After ascending to the throne, Empress Wu Zetian changed the country's name to Zhou, establishing the Wuzhou. She also posthumously honored Ji Chang as the ancestor emperor when and the youngest son of Emperor Ping of Zhou as the intelligent ancestor Emperor Kong. It is said this decision was based on Empress Wu Zetian's family lineage, which traced back to Duke Ji Chang of the Zhou dynasty. Additionally, the youngest son of King Ping of Zhou was born with the character Wu in his hand. Consequently, he was granted the surname Wu, which was subsequently adopted by all of his descendants. Empress Wu Zetian admired the duke of Zhou, so she replicated the construction of the Ming Tang during the early Western Zhou period. The Ming Tang was where the emperor held court meetings and conducted ceremonies. She made Luoyang the capital of her reign to imitate the Zhou dynasty. Additionally, she instructed officials to follow the rituals of the rites of Zhou by changing the six ministries into six offices. All these actions showed her respect for her ancestors and her desire to emulate the wise rulers and virtuous ministers of the Zhou dynasty, like King Wen, King Wu, and Jiang Ziya, who laid the foundation for the dynasty lasting for 800 years. Hello everyone, I'm Sarah. Today, we're going to talk about King Wen of Zhou. We'll explore how he developed Dijing during his seven years in prison and his encounter with Jiang Ziya. During the final years of the Shang dynasty, King Zhou, influenced by evil spirits, became tyrannical and cruel. In a distant region, Duke of the West, Ji Chong, governed his state with virtue, benevolence, and in accordance with the will of heaven. After 50 years of effort, he transformed his small agricultural state into a powerful entity capable of rivaling the Shang dynasty. However, King Zhou, influenced by false accusations, imprisoned the 84-year-old Duke of the West, Ji Chong. Initially, Ji Chong was perplexed. He had always been loyal, righteous, virtuous, and benevolent throughout his life. So, why was he now languishing in prison? One night, unable to sleep, Ji Chong rose from his bed and stood by the small window in his cell, gazing at the bright moon above. Memories flooded his mind. Forty years ago, his father, Ji Li, had been unjustly imprisoned by King Wen of Ding, the grandfather of the current King Zhou. Ji Li had dedicated his life to defending the Shang kingdom, fighting battles and wars. However, out of jealousy, King Wen of Ding imprisoned Ji Li, who eventually died from the torture inflicted upon him in prison. Ji Chong couldn't hold back his tears as he thought about his father's tragic fate. In the dim moonlight, Ji Chong perceived dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing, while mythical birds glided above. As he rubbed his eyes and focused, he discerned the stars in the sky, arranging themselves into a splendid constellation. He contemplated whether the events of human life and the rise and fall of dynasties followed a similar order. Deep in thought, he experienced a sudden revelation. Just as there were natural laws governing the heavens and the earth, there must also be laws dictating the affairs of humankind. The Duke of Zhou was once imprisoned in Xia Tai, narrowly escaping death. Upon safely returning home, he answered the feudal lord's call to overthrow the Xia dynasty. He confronted Xia Jia in battle at Mingtiao and ultimately brought an end to the Xia dynasty. Later, after a gathering of 3,000 feudal lords, the Duke of Zhou was elected as emperor, becoming the founding emperor of the Shang dynasty. Now, considering the tyranny of King Zhou and the injustice of Xia Jia, how similar are they to each other? Ji Chong also reflected on the challenges endured during the reigns of Shen Nong, the Yao emperor, and Di Yu. Compared to the adversity of imprisonment he faced, those hardships seemed less bitter. In that moment of enlightenment, Ji Chong gazed up at the stars, which instantly aligned to form a brilliant constellation. The next day, Ji Chong went to the courtyard to divine his fate. But what could he use for divination? He looked around and saw that the courtyard was filled with mugwort. Mugwort, known for its longevity, could live for thousands of years and was called the immortal herb. It absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, bathed in the dew of the sun and moon, and like tortoise shells, it harbored spiritual energy, capable of discerning the ebb and flow of the world and the outcomes of human endeavors. Ji Chong carefully plucked the mugwort, dividing it into segments. Relying on his memory, he arranged the hexagrams of the early heaven Bagua and the later heaven Bagua on the ground, engaging in repeated deductions. Through this process, Ji Chong discerned his own destiny and the Ji family's mission, as well as comprehended the universal laws governing all things. Utilizing the early heaven Bagua as a foundation, Ji Chong reorganized the sequence, deducing the later heaven Bagua and the sixty-four hexagrams. Additionally, with a focus on moral cultivation, he penned the hexagram texts for each of the sixty-four hexagrams. This marked the inception of today's I Ching, the Book of Changes. Ji Chong, a man of auspicious signs, was finally released and returned to Qishan. He continued to respect the elderly and honor the virtuous, and he governed with benevolence. Once, before going hunting, Ji Chong divined for himself. The hexagram indicated that he would not encounter dragons or tigers, but would instead meet someone who would assist him in achieving hegemony. Ji Chong was delighted when he saw the divination results. He fasted and bathed for three days before setting out solemnly. By the Wei River, Ji Chong indeed encountered an elderly man with white hair who was fishing. The man was Jiang Xia. Ji Chong approached him and asked, Are you fishing, sir? The old man glanced at him and replied, Anyone who comes to fish aims to catch fish. But catching fish requires skill. Take fishing bait for example. Ordinary bait can only catch small fish. To catch big fish from deep waters, you need big bait. Likewise, in governing a country, to attract talents, one must offer prominent positions and generous rewards. Ji Chong listened quietly. The old man continued, In calm and deep waters, that's where fish gather. Similarly, a benevolent ruler who is approachable and accommodating will attract talented individuals. Ji Chong nodded in agreement. The old man continued, Just as the fish are drawn to the bait, the people will be drawn to a ruler who treats them well and governs with virtue. By setting an example of benevolence and fairness, a ruler can inspire wholehearted loyalty from the people. Upon hearing these profound teachings, Ji Chong said to Jiang Xia with deep respect, Sir, your words have enlightened me greatly. For a long time, I have awaited the arrival of a sage, as prophesied by Zhou Taigang, to assist the Zhou dynasty. Ji Chong, eager to discuss important matters with Jiang Xia, invited him to the palace. To test Ji Chang's sincerity, Jiang Xia feigned old age and physical weakness, pretending to be unable to walk. He asked Ji Chong to carry him. Without hesitation, Ji Chong bent down and lifted Jiang Xia onto his back. Only when Ji Chong could no longer carry him did he allow Jiang Xia to board his carriage. Ji Chang's son then pulled the carriage until they could go no further. Legend has it that Ji Chong carried Jiang Xia for 48 steps, symbolizing the 48 emperors of the Zhou dynasty. Afterward, his son carried Jiang Xia for 808 steps, symbolizing the 808 years of the Zhou dynasty's reign. This tale is often recounted to highlight the profound connection between Ji Chang, Jiang Xia, and the destiny of the Zhou dynasty. Jiang Xia's contributions extended far beyond establishing a robust political system for the Zhou dynasty. He also laid the groundwork for Duke Huan of Qi's hegemony and Guan Zhong's uniting the states to rectify the realm. His military theories, encapsulated in works like the Six Secret Strategic Teachings, Yin Fu Jing, Taigong's Art of War, and Taigong's Treasury of Military Strategy, became foundational texts. These teachings influenced renowned military strategists throughout history, including Sun Wu, Gegezi, Huang Shigong, and Zhuge Liang. In subsequent episodes, we'll delve deeper into Jiang Xia's remarkable legacy. Thank you for watching today's video. If you enjoyed it, don't hesitate to leave a comment, like, and share it with your friends. Stay tuned for more exciting content. See you next time.