King Wen Meets Jiang Ziya

The Angler of the Wei River

A dream of a flying bear leads King Wen to the old angler who would found the Zhou.

Jiang Shang, old and unrecognized, fishes in the Wei River with a straight hook and no bait, saying that only those who wish to be caught will bite. King Wen of Zhou dreams of a flying bear, rides out to hunt and finds the old angler; after one conversation he carries Jiang home in his own carriage and makes him his teacher. Under that guidance the Zhou prepare the conquest that will topple the Shang.