The 'Book of Odes' (Shijing), the earliest anthology of Chinese poetry, contains a poem that extols King Wen of Zhou. It praises him for embodying the will of Heaven and overthrowing the Yin-Shang dynasty.

King Wen not only brought glory to his ancestors but also ensured that his descendants would rule as emperors and nobles for many generations.

His descendants were advised to emulate King Wen's virtues and learn from the cautionary example of King Zhou of Shang. They were expected to constantly engage in self-reflection, diligently cultivate their moral character, strive for self-improvement, and ultimately, 'seek their own good fortune' (自求多福).