Ministers › Diplomat / Envoy
Jiao Ge
Late Shang worthy who first lived by trading fish and salt before being raised to office; Mencius cites him as an example of greatness born of adversity.
On a road beside a desert gateway, a camel train carries a lidded chest and rolled bundles while travellers walk along the path; a large sailing ship lies in the harbour at the right, a stone waymark stands by the road, and dunes and mountains fill the distance.
Also known as Jiao Ge of Yin
- Roles
- Diplomat / Envoy
Jiao Ge lived at the end of the Shang dynasty and little is known of his life. Mencius says he was raised to office from among fish and salt traders, and elsewhere lists him with Weizi, Wei Zhong, Prince Bigan and Jizi as worthies who served the last Shang king. According to the Lüshi Chunqiu, he met King Wu of Zhou as an envoy of Shang during the march against the Shang king. He is one of the six figures in Mencius's passage on being born in adversity and dying in ease who rose from hardship.
Life and times
Dates Dates unknown; active under the last Shang king Di Xin (c. 11th century BCE)