Ji Chang

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ji Chang (姬昌)
Alias(es)	Marquis of the West; Western Marquis; King Wen of Great Zhou; Emperor of Zhou 16 18 26 55
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Western Qi; Great Zhou Dynasty 17 26 55
Occupation/Role	Ruler of Western Qi; founder, king, and emperor of Great Zhou 26 55
First Appearance	Chapter 16

Power Progression

Stage	Chapter(s)	Details
No confirmed cultivation advancement	—	Ji Chang has not been shown possessing a stated cultivation realm, cultivation art, divine ability, or personal magical treasure. His power and influence are primarily political, military, and dynastic.

Background / History

While returning to Western Qi from Chaoge, Ji Chang passed through the Yan Mountains with his generals and adopted sons. Yun Zhongzi stopped the party seeking an infant that Ji Chang was supposedly meant to find, but Ji Chang truthfully stated that neither he nor his entourage had encountered one; Di Xiao had already intercepted Lei Zhenzi. 16

Soon afterward, Ji Chang repeatedly dreamed of his son Ji Fa being rescued by a winged white tiger. On Sanyi Sheng's interpretation, the vision signified the arrival of a “Flying Bear”—a worthy minister. Ji Chang ordered his court to ceremonially prepare before personally traveling to the Wei River to seek the man. 17

At the Wei River, Ji Chang invited Jiang Shang, the Daoist known as Flying Bear, to become Western Qi's Chancellor. Jiang Shang agreed only if Ji Chang personally pulled his carriage. Despite his ministers' objections and physical exhaustion, Ji Chang honored the condition himself, pulling the carriage eight hundred steps. Jiang Shang declared that these steps foretold an eight-hundred-year Great Zhou Dynasty and identified himself as a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun. 17 18

After returning to Haojing, Ji Chang formally made Jiang Shang Chancellor and placed Western Qi's military and political power under his authority. When a phoenix illusion appeared on Qi Mountain, Jiang Shang presented it as an omen of Western Qi's coming prosperity; Ji Chang ordered preparations for a court-opening ceremony. 20

Ji Chang later founded the Great Zhou Dynasty at Qi Mountain, reporting the new state to the Heavenly Dao. After receiving an imperial seal bearing the words “Mandated by Heaven, may it endure in prosperity forever,” he proclaimed himself King Wen of Great Zhou. He appointed Jiang Shang as Prime Minister, Nangong Shi as Grand Marshal, and Sanyi Sheng as Grand Minister. 26

Following Jiang Shang's counsel, King Wen began preparing for a campaign against Great Shang rather than attacking immediately. He ordered invitations sent to other feudal lords, directed Nangong Shi to recruit able-bodied soldiers, and ordered weapons production accelerated. 26

When Jiang Shang requested the assembly of Great Zhou's generals to strengthen them, Ji Chang initially feared an attack on Sishui Pass. He was visibly relieved when told Great Zhou would remain dormant until it had sufficient strength. 29

Ji Chang later convened hundreds of feudal lords in Haojing and proposed overthrowing Great Shang. Jiang Shang presented a proclamation accusing Di Xin of four crimes: disrespecting Heaven, debauchery, extravagance that exhausted the people, and the killing of loyal ministers. Most lords initially opposed the proposal, but Daoist Randeng secretly used the Mind-Control Technique to compel their obedience to King Wen. The lords subsequently returned to their territories and began secretly mobilizing elite troops for Great Zhou. 38 39

After Great Zhou's generals completed ten years of secluded training, Ji Chang formally entrusted the dynasty's command seal and entire army to Jiang Shang. He promised not to interfere with Jiang Shang's decisions, then accompanied his officials to review the assembled forces. 54

At the army assembly, Ji Chang stirred his soldiers by claiming that Great Shang had extorted Great Zhou's wealth and seized its territory. He ordered all soldiers to obey Jiang Shang, granting him authority over Great Zhou's military and political affairs. Jiang Shang then began the War of Conquering Shang, personally commanding the central army while appointing Nangong Shi and Ji Fa to command the left and right armies respectively. 55

Great Zhou's campaign subsequently attacked Sishui Pass under Jiang Shang's command but failed to secure a decisive victory after Great Shang's defenders and reinforcements forced the Elucidation Sect's experts to withdraw. Great Zhou later recalled the forces led by Nangong Shi and Ji Fa from Azure Dragon and Jiameng Passes to join the main army at Sishui Pass. 71 74 85

Di Xin later told the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors that Ji Chang had cooperated with Yuanshi Tianzun's plan for Jiang Shang to establish Great Zhou and overthrow Shang. According to this account, Great Zhou was intended to replace Great Shang while lowering the human ruler's status from Human Sovereign to the Heaven-subordinate title of Son of Heaven, prompting the ancient human rulers to condemn Ji Chang's actions as a betrayal of humanity. 220

Personality

Ji Chang is portrayed as respectful toward talent and willing to humble himself for Western Qi's future. He disciplined his own ministers when they protested Jiang Shang's demand that he pull a carriage, and he refused to let anyone replace him after giving his word. 17 18

As King Wen, he acts cautiously rather than rushing into open war. He accepts Jiang Shang's advice to consolidate Great Zhou's strength, gather support among the feudal lords, recruit soldiers, and prepare weapons before launching a campaign against Shang. 26 29

Ji Chang is also capable of delegating extensive authority when he considers it necessary. After Great Zhou's forces completed their preparation, he surrendered command of the army to Jiang Shang and pledged not to interfere with the Chancellor's military decisions. 54

He can be an effective public speaker, appealing to his troops' grievances and ambitions to raise morale before the War of Conquering Shang. However, his coalition-building was also dependent on the Elucidation Sect's coercive intervention, as Randeng's Mind-Control Technique compelled reluctant feudal lords to submit to his cause. 38 55

Relationships

• Jiang Shang — His Chancellor and later Great Zhou's Prime Minister, Grand Marshal, and commander of the three armies. Ji Chang sought him out after interpreting the Flying Bear dream as an omen, personally pulled his carriage, and entrusted him with Great Zhou's military and political authority. 17 20 26 54 55
• Ji Fa — His son, whose danger in Ji Chang's recurring dream prompted the search for the Flying Bear. Ji Fa later supported his exhausted father during the carriage trial and was appointed commander of Great Zhou's right army during the War of Conquering Shang. 17 18 55
• Nangong Shi — Western Qi general appointed Grand Marshal of Great Zhou; he repeatedly offered to pull Jiang Shang's carriage in Ji Chang's place and was later tasked with recruitment and military preparations. Jiang Shang subsequently appointed him commander of the left army. 18 26 55
• Sanyi Sheng — Western Qi minister who interpreted Ji Chang's Flying Bear dream and was appointed Grand Minister of Great Zhou. 17 26
• Daoist Randeng — Elucidation Sect ally present during Ji Chang's assembly of feudal lords; Randeng used the Mind-Control Technique to force the lords to obey King Wen. 38 39
• Yuanshi Tianzun — Leader of the Elucidation Sect and Jiang Shang's master. Jiang Shang identified himself as Yuanshi's disciple, while later accounts identify Yuanshi's sect as the force directing Jiang Shang to support Ji Chang's establishment of Great Zhou and campaign against Shang. 18 35 220
• Di Xin — Political adversary and Human Emperor of Great Shang. Ji Chang's proclamation invoked Di Xin's alleged crimes to justify Great Zhou's planned overthrow of Shang, while Di Xin later characterized Ji Chang's alliance with the Heavenly Dao Saint factions as a betrayal of the human race. 38 220
• Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors — Ancient human rulers who learned of Ji Chang's role in the planned replacement of Great Shang. After Di Xin's explanation, they denounced Ji Chang for submitting human sovereignty to Heaven. 220

Notable Quotes

“I have said that I would personally pull the carriage for Daoist Jiang. How could I let another do it for me?” 18

“Enough. Since Heaven's will has come to this, eight hundred years is not bad at all!” 18

“Chancellor Jiang, from this moment onward, I entrust the Great Zhou Dynasty's army to your command. I will not interfere with any decision Chancellor Jiang makes!” 54

“I hereby order all soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty to obey Chancellor Jiang's command from today onward!” 55