Jiang Yuan

Jiang Yuan is an important figure in Chinese mythology. She is recorded as having lived during ancient Chinese history. Jiang Yuan was the mother of Houji, who is a culture hero and revered as the god of millet and, by extension, agriculture.

Clan name and title Jiang Yuan's personal name was not recorded. During the Spring and Autumn period, women were not called by personal names (名 míng) and even seemingly did not have such names, which could be considered taboo (諱 huì) to those of inferior status. In his account, he credits the success of Zhou as being due primarily to the two women: Jiang Yuan and Tai Ren . It is possible he meant this to credit the virtue and success of their children, but it is also possible that they represented important marriage alliances. The Jiang were closely involved with the Ji before and after their rise to empire: Jiang Yuan was mother of Zhou dynasty's founder Hou Ji, Tai Jiang (or Jiang Nü) was wife of Gugong Danfu and mother of his son Jili, Tai Ren - born in Zhi (摯) and connected to the Shang dynasty - was wife of Jili and mother of King Wen.