There are always fish willing to be caught byanglerJiang Taigong
Jiang Taigong is a popular name for Jiang Ziya,statesman and strategist.
姜太公字子牙,是中國古代的一位影響久遠的傑出的韜略家、軍事家和政治家。
As an adviser of King Wen of the Zhou State inancient China, he, at the age of 80, helped the youngKing Wu overthrow the Shang Dynasty and establish the Zhou Dynasty.
他在八十高齡,輔佐文王,興邦立國,幫助年輕的周武王滅掉商朝,建立起周朝。
Jiang Ziya lived near the Weishui River about 3 000 years ago.
The area was the feudal estate of Count Ji Chang.
Jiang Ziya knew Ji Chang was very ambitious so he hoped to get Ji』s attention.
姜子牙聽說西伯姬昌尊賢納士,年逾七旬的他便千里迢迢投奔西歧。
He often went fishing at the Weishui River,
but he would fish in an unusual way. He hung a straight fishhook, without bait, three feetabove the water .
姜子牙的釣法奇特,短竿長線,線系直鉤,不用誘餌之食,釣桿也不垂到水裡,離水面有三尺高,
He often said to himself, 「Fish,if you don』t want to live any more, come and swallow the hookyourself. 」
並且一邊釣魚一邊自言自語,「不想活的魚兒呀,你們願意的話,就自己上鉤吧。」
Soon his strange way of fishing was reported to Ji Chang.
Ji sent a soldier to fetch him.
Jiang saw the soldier conning, but ignored him.
Jiang just went on with his fishing, and was saying to himself,「Fishing, fishing,no fish hasbeen hooked. A shrimp is up to mischief. 」
只顧自己釣魚,並自言自語道:「釣啊,釣啊,魚兒不上鉤,蝦兒來胡鬧!」
The soldier reported this back to Ji Chang, who became more interested in Jiang.
Ji sent an official to invite Jiang this time.
But Jiang again ignored the invitation.
He just carried on fishing,and was saying,「Fishing,fishing,the big fish has not been hooked.A small one is up to mischief」
邊釣邊說:「釣啊,釣啊,大魚不上鉤,小魚別胡鬧! 」
Then Ji Chang realized Jiang may be a great talent so he went to invite Jiang himself andbrought many generous gifts with him.
姬昌這才意識到,這個釣者必是位賢才,要親自去請他才對。於是他帶著厚禮,前往磘溪去聘請太公。
Jiang saw his sincere desire so decided to work for him.
Jiang helped Ji Chang and his son turn over the Shang Dynasty and establish the ZhouDynasty.
後來,姜尚輔佐文王,興邦立國,還幫助文王的兒子武王姬發,滅掉了商朝,建 立了周朝。
Today, people use this old idiom to describe someone who willingly falls in a trap or doessomething regardless of the result.