Lü Shang (呂尚) | 24 Histories

Overview

Lü Shang was a Zhou strategist and founder of the state of Qi, also known as Jiang Taigong.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Lü Wang	呂望	Lü Wang

Life and dates

Age

72
As Stated 七十有二 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Book of Han 76, passage 259

Attested activity

呂
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 6
呂尚困於棘津
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 124, passage 9
legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Book of Chen 19, passage 258; Book of Han 101, passage 131; Book of Later Han 32, passage 105; Book of Later Han 33, passage 239; Book of Later Han 118, passage 83; Old History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 107; History of Liao 89, passage 80; History of Ming 57, passage 29; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 26; Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 77; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 14; Book of Song 62, passage 109; New Book of Tang 161, passage 96; Book of Zhou 23, passage 294
legendary antiquity
Uncertain · Old History of the Five Dynasties 103, passage 242
BC 1046 不容於太公
Directly stated · Book of Wei 96, passage 3
BC 1046 伊、呂
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 65, passages 370-371

Show 19 more source-backed claims

BC 1046 伊尹、呂尚之謀
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 103, passage 52
BC 1100 to BC 1000 傅說、呂望
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 92, passage 163
c. BC 1100 to BC 1046 呂望
Strongly inferred · Book of Zhou 23, passage 164
c. BC 1050 to c. BC 1000 呂望肆伐
Directly stated · History of Song 256, passage 212
BC 1046 to BC 1000 周初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 31, passage 157
BC 1046 周初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 25, passage 100
BC 1046 周初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 3, passage 100
BC 1050 to BC 1040 周望兆动于渭滨
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 117, passage 257
BC 1046 周武王復封於齊，曰太公望
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 183
BC 1046 太公
Directly stated · History of the Northern Dynasties 88, passage 3
BC 1100 to BC 1000 太公呂望所出
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 122, passage 201
BC 1100 to BC 1040 太公困於鼓刀（周初）
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 173
BC 1046 太公望封於營丘
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 24
BC 1100 to BC 1040 文、武…獲呂望
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 179
c. BC 1100 to c. BC 1050 文王
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 163
c. BC 1100 to BC 1046 武成王（呂尚，西周開國時）
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 35, passages 52-53, 56
BC 1100 to BC 1050 載呂尚而歸，以王天下
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 228
BC 1046 齊太公廟
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 183
BC 1046 齊太公廟
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 145, passage 20

Family

Descendant of Bo Yi (伯夷)
descendant 之後
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 183

Kinship Role descendants · Held states alongside Shang and Zhou · Quantity unknown
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 100

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Enfeoffed
BC 1046 周武王復封於齊 · At Qi 齊
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 183
enfeoffed at Yingqiu 封於營丘
At Yingqiu 營丘 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passage 24
At Qi 齊
Directly stated · Book of Han 76, passage 259
Rank duke or marquis 公侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 76, passage 319

Places and affiliations

Zhou 周
Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 228
Qi 齊
Directly stated · Book of Han 76, passage 259
Polity Later Han 後漢 · Relation Associated with
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 103, passage 242
Polity Qi 齊 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passages 24-25
Polity Zhou 周 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 65, passage 370; Book of Han 75, passages 173, 179
Polity Zhou 周 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 257

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At Xihai / Donglü 西海
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 122, passage 201
At banks of the Wei 渭滨 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 257
At Jijin 棘津 · Relation Stranded at
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 124, passage 9
At Wei riverbank 渭濱 · Relation Found at · Mode quotation Speaker Zhi Yun (郅惲)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 163

Works and attributed material

Six Secret Teachings 六韜
Relation Author
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 118, passage 83
Quotation · Author · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 118, passage 83
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 26

Events and relationships

Butchered and fished before advancement
c. BC 1100 to BC 1046 昔呂望之屠釣 · Personal · Subject · Mode document Source Person Id Su Chuo (蘇綽)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 23, passage 164
Campaigned
c. BC 1050 to c. BC 1000 呂望肆伐 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · History of Song 256, passage 212
Cited as a model of late recognized talent
BC 259 四十八年 · Historical comparison · Exemplar
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passages 69, 77
Cited as model or warning
AD 544 大統十年 · Political · Exemplar · Mode document Source Person Id Su Chuo (蘇綽)
Directly stated · Book of Zhou 23, passages 164-165, 168
Developed handicrafts and fish salt trade
Economic · Ruler · At Yingqiu 營丘
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 129, passages 24-25
Fished at Jijin
Personal · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 122, passage 201

Show 14 more source-backed claims

Line destroyed by Chen clan
Political · Ruler of line
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 36, passage 183
Omen stirred for him on the Wei banks
Political · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Han 117, passage 257
Reduced to butcher knife
Personal · Laborer · Mode allusion Speaker Wang Bao (王褒)
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 173
Returned with
BC 1100 to BC 1050 載呂尚而歸，以王天下 · Recruitment · Recruited advisor · With King Wen of Zhou (周文王) · At Jing and Wei rivers 涇、渭
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 228
Supported and sent away
Political · Protector · With Bo Yi (伯夷)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passages 26-27
Temple sacrifice music prescribed
Ritual · Honoree
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 144, passage 183
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Han 25, passage 100
Relation Served · Person King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 26
Type served · Person King Wu of Zhou (武王)
Directly stated · Book of Han 76, passage 259
Relation Advisor of · Person King Wen of Zhou (周文王)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 228
Type served · Person King Wen of Zhou (周文王)
Directly stated · Book of Han 76, passages 259, 315
Relation Minister of · Person King Wen (文王)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 179
Relation Minister of · Person King Wu (武王)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 75, passage 179
Relation Minister of · Person King Wen (文王) · Mode quotation Speaker Zhi Yun (郅惲)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 163

Assessments and attributes

Assessment Lu Wang's achievements were invoked as an unsurpassed historical standard · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Su Dai (蘇代)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 73, passage 77
Assessment these men are righteous · With Bo Yi (伯夷) · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Lü Shang (呂尚)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 26
Assessment Zhao Pu's merit scarcely exceeded Lü Wang's campaigning · Mode edict Source Person Id Emperor Zhenzong of Song (真宗)
Directly stated · History of Song 256, passage 212

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 75, passage 173; Records of the Grand Historian 83, passage 228; History of Song 256, passage 212
Historicity legendary
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 239; Old History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 107; Records of the Grand Historian 61, passage 26; Records of the Grand Historian 99, passage 15
Value historical
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 33, passage 163

Later references and commemoration

Received a dedicated martial temple
AD 1206 泰和六年 · Posthumous commemoration · Honoree
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 35, passages 52-53
Received a Ming founding announcement at his martial temple
AD 1368 告武成王廟 · Posthumous commemoration · Honoree
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 57, passages 24, 40

References in the histories

Search passages

History

54 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 3Volume 3 Annals 3: Emperor Wenxiang · 1 passage

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縱太公為將，不能獲存，歸之高明，何以克濟。 Even if the Grand Duke were general, he could not survive; return to the high and bright—how could success be achieved?

History of the Northern Dynasties, Chapter 88Volume 88 Biographies 76: Recluses · 1 passage

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昔夷、齊獲全于周武，華矞不容于太公，何哉？ Long ago Boyi and Shuqi were spared by King Wu of Zhou, yet Hua Yu found no place with the Grand Duke Jiang—why was that?

Book of Chen, Chapter 19Volume 19: Shen Jiong; Yu Li; Ma Shu · 1 passage

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樞肆志尋覽，殆將周遍，乃喟然歎曰：「吾聞貴爵位者以巢、由為桎梏，愛山林者以伊、呂為管庫，束名實則芻芥柱下之言，翫清虛則糠秕席上之說，稽之篤論，亦各從其好也。 Shu read through them almost entirely and sighed: "I hear that men who prize office take Chao Fu and Xu You as shackles, and men who love the hills take Yi and Lü as storekeepers; those who bind name to fact treat Laozi as straw, and those who play at emptiness treat banquet talk as chaff. In earnest judgment each follows his own bent.

Book of Han, Chapter 25Volume 23: Treatise on Punishment and Law · 1 passage

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故伊、呂之將，子孫有國，與商周並。 Thus, when Yi Yin and Lü Shang served as commanders, their descendants received states that endured alongside Shang and Zhou.

Book of Han, Chapter 65Volume 56: Dong Zhongshu · 3 passages

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贊曰：劉向稱：「董仲舒有王佐之材，雖伊、呂亡以加，管、晏之屬，伯者之佐，殆不及也。」 The encomium says: Liu Xiang wrote, "Dong Zhongshu had the talent to assist a true king. Even Yi Yin and Lü Wang could add nothing to him; Guan Zhong and Yan Ying, ministers to hegemons, likely fell short."

至向子歆以為：「伊、呂乃聖人之耦，王者不得則不興。 But Liu Xiang's son Liu Xin held: "Yi Yin and Lü Wang were companions fit for sages; without men like them, a true king could not rise.

然考其師友淵源所漸，猶未及乎游、夏，而曰管、晏弗及，伊、呂不加，過矣。」 Yet weighed against the lineage that produced Ziyou and Zixia, to call Guan and Yan his inferiors and rank him with Yi and Lü is going too far."

Book of Han, Chapter 75Volume 64b: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 2 · 2 passages

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是故伊尹勤於鼎俎，太公困於鼓刀，百里自鬻，甯子飯牛，離此患也。 Yi Yin labored over pots and chopping boards; the Grand Duke was reduced to working as a butcher; Baili Xi sold himself, and Ning Qi fed oxen. In this way they suffered these hardships.

故世平主聖，俊艾將自至，若堯、舜、禹、湯、文、武之君，獲稷、契、皋陶、伊尹、呂望，明明在朝，穆穆列布，聚精會神，相得益章。 Thus, in an age of peace under a sage ruler, outstanding elders come of their own accord. Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Kings Wen and Wu obtained the service of Hou Ji, Xie, Gao Yao, Yi Yin, and Lü Wang. Brilliant at court and solemn in their ranks, they joined their finest insights and magnified the glory of ruler and minister alike.

Book of Han, Chapter 76Volume 65: Dongfang Shuo · 4 passages

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譬若以周、邵為丞相，孔丘為御史大夫，太公為將軍，畢公高拾遺於後，弁嚴子為衛尉，皋陶為大理，後稷為司農，伊尹為少府，子贛使外國，顏、閔為博士，子夏為太常，益為右扶風，季路為執金吾，契為鴻臚，龍逢為宗正，伯夷為京兆，管仲為馮翊，魯般為將作，仲山甫為光祿，申伯為太僕，延陵季子為水衡，百里奚為典屬國，柳下惠為大長秋，史魚為司直，蘧伯玉為太傅，孔父為詹事，孫叔敖為諸侯相，子產為郡守，王慶忌為期門，夏育為鼎官，羿為旄頭，宋萬為式道候。」 Imagine the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao as your chancellors; Confucius as chief censor; the Grand Duke as commander; Duke Bi Gao as court remonstrant; Bian Zhuangzi as captain of the guard; Gao Yao as chief judge; Hou Ji as minister of agriculture; Yi Yin as palace treasurer; Zigong as foreign envoy; Yan Hui and Min Ziqian as court scholars; Zixia as master of rites; Yi as western capital intendant; Zilu as capital commandant; Xie as master of guest ceremonies; Guan Longpeng as keeper of the imperial genealogy; the minister Boyi as metropolitan governor; Guan Zhong as northern capital intendant; Lu Ban as chief engineer; Zhong Shanfu as palace chamberlain; the Earl of Shen as master of the horse; Prince Jizi of Yanling as keeper of parks and waters; Baili Xi as commissioner for dependent peoples; Liuxia Hui as chamberlain to the empress; Shi Yu as censor of conduct; Qu Boyu as grand tutor; Kong Fu as supervisor of the heir apparent's household; Sunshu Ao as chancellor to the feudal lords; Zichan as commandery governor; Prince Qingji as a palace gate guard; Xia Yu as cauldron officer; Yi the Archer as vanguard officer; and Song Wan as road-clearing scout."

太公體行仁義，七十有二乃設用於文、武，得信厥說，封於齊，七百歲而不絕。 The Grand Duke lived out benevolence and righteousness; not until he was seventy-two did Kings Wen and Wu put his counsel to use. They believed him, enfeoffed him in Qi, and his line lasted seven hundred years.

故伊尹蒙恥辱、負鼎俎、和五味以干湯，太公釣於渭之陽以見文王。 That is why Yi Yin swallowed humiliation, shouldered the kitchen cauldron, and seasoned five flavors to win Tang's ear, and the Grand Duke angled on the north bank of the Wei until King Wen found him.

太公、伊尹以如此，龍逢、比干獨如彼，豈不哀哉！ The Grand Duke and Yi Yin met with such success, while Guan Longpeng and Bigan met with the opposite fate. Is that not tragic?

Book of Han, Chapter 101Volume 89: Upright Officials · 1 passage

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故事各達其時之英俊，若必伊尹、呂望而後薦之，則此人不因足下而進矣。」 History shows every era advances its own capable men. If you insist on waiting for another Yi Yin or Lü Shang, talent will pass you by—those men will never owe their careers to you."

Book of Han, Chapter 103Volume 91: Usurers · 1 passage

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故曰：「吾治生猶伊尹、呂尚之謀，孫、吳用兵，商鞅行法是也。 He liked to say, "Building a fortune takes the cunning of Yi Yin or Lü Wang, the timing of Sun and Wu in using troops, and the ruthlessness of Shang Yang's code.

Book of Han, Chapter 117Volume 100a: Afterword and Family History 1 · 1 passage

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殷說夢發於傅巖，周望兆動於渭濱，齊甯激聲於康衢，漢良受書於邳沂，皆俟命而神交，匪詞言之所信，故能建必然之策，展無窮之勳也。 Fu Yue was revealed in a dream at Fuyan; Lü Wang's omen stirred on the banks of the Wei; Ning Qi's song rang out at the crossroads; and Zhang Liang received the book at the bridge at Xiapi. All awaited their appointed time and communed in spirit, relying on more than words; thus they could devise certain strategies and achieve immeasurable merit.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 31Volume 28a: Biographies of Huan Tan; Feng Yan · 1 passage

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伊、望之策，何以加茲！ What could Yi Yin or Lü Wang add beyond that?

Book of Later Han, Chapter 32Volume 28b: Biography of Feng Yan · 1 passage

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詔伊尹於亳郊兮，享呂望於酆州； I call Yi Yin from the outskirts of Bo and feast Lü Wang by Fengzhou;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 33Volume 29: Biographies of Shentu Gang; Bao Yong; Zhi Yun · 2 passages

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惲不謁，曰：『昔文王拔呂尚於渭濱，高宗禮傅說於巖築，桓公取管仲於射鉤，故能立弘烈，就元勛。 Yun declined: "Wen met Taigong by the Wei; Wuding hailed Fu Yue from the cliffs; Huan Gong took Guan Zhong from captivity—never were chief ministers hired as mere clerks.

鳥獸不可與同群，子從我為伊、呂乎？ Will you roam with beasts or follow me as Yi Yin and Lü Wang?

Book of Later Han, Chapter 92Volume 82a: Biographies of Alchemists 1 · 2 passages

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舜用皋陶，政致雍熙、殷、周雖有高宗、昌、發之君，猶賴傅說、呂望之策，故能克崇其業，允協大中。 Shun used Gao Yao and harmony followed. Yin and Zhou boasted kings like Gaozong, Wen, and Wu, yet even they leaned on Fu Yue and Lü Wang—only thus could they magnify their work and hit the great mean.

德量績謀，有伊、呂、管、晏之任； In moral breadth and policy depth he rivals Yi Yin, Lü Wang, Guan Zhong, and Yan Ying;

Book of Later Han, Chapter 118Volume 107: Five Elements Part Five · 1 passage

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太公《六韜》曰：「人主好重賦役，大宮室，多臺遊，則民多病溫也。」 The Taigong's Six Secret Teachings says: "When a ruler delights in heavy taxes and labor services, great palaces, and many terraces and pleasure grounds, the people suffer many epidemics."

Book of Later Han, Chapter 122Volume 111: Commanderies and States Part Three · 1 passage

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〖西海〗東觀書曰有勝山。博物記：「太公呂望所出，今有東呂鄕。又釣於棘津，其浦今存。」 At Xihai, the Dongguan Hanji notes Mount Sheng. The Bowu ji says, “This is where Grand Duke Lü Wang came from; today there is Donglü Township. He also fished at Jijin, and its inlet still survives.”

History of Jin, Chapter 35Volume 35 Treatises 16: Rites 8: Consecration of Shrines to a Sages; Temple to the Warrior King Cheng of Zhou; Monarchs of Past Ages; Halls to Various Spirits in Changbai Shan, Dafang Shan, Amur River, Jia Yin Hou; Spirits of the Lu River; Spirits of Zhao Yin Shun; Spirits of Zhen an Gong, Rui Shen Gongl; Worshipping, Sacrifices, Vists, and State Ceremonies at Zhen Xian Jun Wang Temple · 5 passages

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武成王廟 The Temple of the Martial Accomplished King

泰和六年，詔建昭烈武成王廟于闕庭之右，麗澤門內。 In Taihe 6, an edict ordered the construction of the temple of the Illustrious Martial Accomplished King to the right of the palace courtyard, inside the Lizhe Gate.

於是，以秦王宗翰同子房配武成王，而降管仲以下。 Thereupon Prince of Qin Zonghan was paired with Zifang to accompany the Martial Accomplished King, while Guan Zhong and those below were demoted.

又躋楚王宗雄、宗望、宗弼等侍武成王坐，韓信而下降立於廡。 Prince of Chu Zongxiong, Zongwang, Zongbi, and others were further promoted to attend beside the Martial Accomplished King's seat; from Han Xin downward they stood in the side halls.

其祭，武成王、宗翰、子房各羊一、豕一，餘共用羊八，無豕。 At the sacrifice, the Martial Accomplished King, Zonghan, and Zifang each received one sheep and one pig; the remainder shared eight sheep in all, with no pigs.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 40Volume 40 Book of Later Tang 16: Mingzong Annals 6 · 1 passage

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八月丁酉朔，大理正路阮奏：「切見春秋釋奠於文宣王，而武成王廟久曠時祭，請復常祀。」 On dingyou in the eighth month Lu Ruan, grand court corrector, said: "Spring and autumn sacrifices reach Confucius, yet the Martial Completion King has long lacked regular rites; I ask that worship be restored."

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 103Volume 103 Book of Later Han 5: Emperor Yin Annals, Part 2 · 1 passage

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輔政之臣，復非伊、呂。 and his ministers were no Yi or Lü.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 144Volume 144: Treatises 6 Music 1 · 1 passage

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祭孔宣父、齊太公廟降神奏《宣和》，請改為《師雅之樂》； For sacrificing at the temples of Confucius and Duke Tai of Qi, when welcoming the spirits they play "Proclaiming Harmony"—please change to "Music of the Master's Elegance";

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 145Volume 145: Treatises 7 Music 2 · 1 passage

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祭孔宣父、齊太公廟降神奏《師雅》，請同用《禮順之樂》； for spirit-descent rites at the temples of Confucius and Duke Tai of Qi, where Master Elegance was played, he asked that Li Shun be used instead;

History of Liao, Chapter 89Volume 89 Biographies 19: Yelu Shucheng, Yang Ji, Yelu Hanliu, Yang Ji, Yelu Heshang · 2 passages

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上曰：「卿今日何減呂望之遇文王！」 The emperor said, "How is the favor shown you today any less than what Lü Wang received from King Wen!"

佶對曰：「呂望比臣遭際有十年之晚。」 Ji replied, "Compared with me, Lü Wang met his opportunity a full ten years too late."

History of Ming, Chapter 57Volume 57 Treatises 33: Rites 11 · 2 passages

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唐則告於廟社，又告太公廟。 Under the Tang, announcement was made at the temples of the ancestral spirits and of the soil and grain, and also at the Temple of the Grand Duke.

其告武成王廟儀，前二日，大將省牲。 For the protocol of announcing at the Temple of King Wu Cheng, two days beforehand the grand general inspects the sacrificial victims.

History of Ming, Chapter 135Volume 135 Biographies 23: Chen Yu, Ye Dui, Fan Chang, Song Siyan, Guo Jingxiang, Yang Yuangao, Ruan Hongdao, Kong Keren · 1 passage

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太祖渡江，以秦從龍薦，發書聘之，引伊、呂、諸葛為喻。 After the Founder crossed the Yangzi, Qin Conglong recommended him; the Founder sent a letter of invitation comparing Chen to Yi Yin, Lü Shang, and Zhuge Liang.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 36Houses of Chen and Qi · 1 passage

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伯夷之後，至周武王復封於齊，曰太公望，陳氏滅之，有世家言。 Bo Yi's descendants were again enfeoffed at Qi by King Wu of Zhou, under the name Tai Gong Wang. The Chen clan destroyed them. Their story is told in the hereditary houses.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 61Biographies: Biography of Bo Yi · 1 passage

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太公曰：「此義人也。」 The Grand Duke said, "These men are righteous."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 73Biographies of Bai Qi and Wang Jian · 1 passage

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武安君所為秦戰勝攻取者七十餘城，南定鄢、郢、漢中，北禽趙括之軍，雖周、召、呂望之功不益於此矣。 Lord Wu'an's victories for Qin—conquering over seventy cities, pacifying Yan and Ying in the south, taking Hanzhong, capturing Zhao Kuo's forces in the north—even the achievements of Zhou Gong, Shao Gong, and Lu Wang would not surpass this.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 83Biographies of Lu Zhonglian and Zou Yang · 1 passage

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周文王獵涇、渭，載呂尚而歸，以王天下。 King Wen of Zhou went hunting along the Jing and Wei rivers, encountered Lu Shang, and brought him home—and with his help went on to rule the realm.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 99Biographies of Liu Jing and Shusun Tong · 1 passage

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及文王為西伯，斷虞芮之訟，始受命，呂望、伯夷自海濱來歸之。 When Wen Wang became Western Bo, he adjudicated the dispute between Yu and Rui, began receiving the mandate, and Lü Wang and Bo Yi came from the seacoast to submit to him.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 124Biographies of Knight-errants · 1 passage

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太史公曰：昔者虞舜窘於井廩，伊尹負於鼎俎，傅說匿於傅險，呂尚困於棘津，夷吾桎梏，百里飯牛，仲尼畏匡，菜色陳、蔡。 The Grand Historian remarks: In the old days, Emperor Shun was nearly killed in a well and a granary. Yi Yin labored among the pots and cutting boards. Fu Yue hid himself at the cliffs of Fu. Lu Shang was reduced to desperate straits at Jijin. Guan Zhong wore fetters. Baili Xi fed cattle for a living. Confucius was besieged at Kuang and went hungry until his face turned sallow between Chen and Cai.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 129Biographies of Money-Makers · 2 passages

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故太公望封於營丘，地澙鹵，人民寡，於是太公勸其女功，極技巧，通魚鹽，則人物歸之，繦至而輻湊。 When the Grand Duke Wang was enfeoffed at Yingqiu, the land was salty and barren and the people few. He encouraged women's handicrafts, perfected artisanal skills, and opened up trade in fish and salt. People and goods streamed toward him, arriving as if carried in swaddling clothes, converging like spokes toward the hub of a wheel.

故曰：「吾治生產，猶伊尹、呂尚之謀，孫吳用兵，商鞅行法是也。 He declared: 'My approach to managing commerce and production is comparable to the stratagems of Yi Yin and Lü Shang, the military art of Sunzi and Wu Qi, and Shang Yang's implementation of the law.

History of Song, Chapter 256Volume 256 Biographies 15: Zhao Pudi and Younger Brother: Anyi · 1 passage

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二年，詔曰：「故太師贈尚書令、追封韓王趙普，識冠人彝，才高王佐，翊戴興運，光啟鴻圖，雖呂望肆伐之勳，蕭何指縱之效，殆無以過也。 In the second year an edict declared: "The late Grand Preceptor Zhao Pu, posthumously granted Minister of the Masters of Writing and enfeoffed as Prince of Han, surpassed all others in wisdom and stood among the greatest of royal counselors. He supported the dynasty at its founding and helped open its grand design. The achievements of Lü Wang on campaign and Xiao He in directing strategy scarcely exceed his.

Book of Song, Chapter 62Volume 62 Biographies 22: Yang Xin, Zhang Fu, Wang Wei · 1 passage

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常謂生遭太公，將即華士之戮； I have often said that had I lived in the age of the Grand Duke of Qi, I would soon have shared Hua Shi's fate;

Book of Wei, Chapter 96Volume 90: Retired Officals: Sui Kua, Feng Liang, Li Mi, Zheng Xiu · 1 passage

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昔夷齊獲全於周武，華矞不容於太公，何哉？ Long ago Boyi and Shuqi were spared by King Wu of Zhou, yet Hua Yu found no place with Duke Tai of Qi—why was this?

New Book of Tang, Chapter 161Volume 161 Biographies 86: Zhang, Zhao, Li, Zheng, Xu, Wang, Feng, Yu · 1 passage

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建言享武成王廟不宜與文宣王等，制從之。 He proposed that offerings at the temple of the Martial King of Completion should not rank equal with Confucius; the regulation followed his view.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 23Volume 23 Biographies 15: Su Chuo · 4 passages

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昔呂望之屠釣，百里奚之飯牛，甯生之扣角，管夷吾之三敗，當此之時，悠悠之徒，豈謂其賢。 In ancient times Lü Wang butchered and fished, Baili Xi fed cattle, Ning Qi beat time on an ox horn, and Guan Yiwu suffered three defeats. At the time, would ordinary observers have recognized their worth?

若必待太公而後用，是千載無太公； If you must wait for a Taigong before appointing anyone, there will be no Taigong for a thousand years;

若伊之在商，周之有呂，說之相丁，用保我無疆之祚。」 Like Yi Yin in Shang, Lü Wang in Zhou, and Yue assisting Wu Ding—you preserve our boundless fortune."

誠能監前事之得喪，勞虛己於吐握，其知賢也必用，其授爵也勿疑，則舜禹湯武之德可連衡矣，稷契伊呂之流可比肩矣。 If rulers could truly weigh past success and failure, humble themselves as Duke of Zhou did when he "spit out his food and released his hair grip" to receive men, employ the worthy without fail, and grant office without hesitation, then the virtue of Shun, Yu, Tang, and Wu would stand in one line and men like Hou Ji, Xie, Yi Yin, and Lü Shang could walk shoulder to shoulder.