姜太公

Jiang Ziya (姜子牙 Jiāng Zǐyá) supposedly fished on the Wei River with a straight, baitless hook held above the water until King Wen of Zhou recognized his talent and recruited him in his eighties. He then helped overthrow the Shang and founded Qi (齐国 Qíguó). The fishing image gave Chinese the saying 姜太公钓鱼，愿者上钩 — used for any 'willing victim' situation, like obvious sales gimmicks people line up for anyway.

He is also revered as a god of war and folk deity who can ward off evil; old buildings sometimes have 姜太公在此 (Jiāngtàigōng zài cǐ — 'Jiang Taigong is here') written on them as a charm.