Confucius once said, “The wise find pleasure in water; the virtuous find pleasure in hills,” which means the wise should be as clever and intelligent as water while the virtuous should be as solemn and lofty as mountains.
In Shandong Province of eastern China soars the famous Taishan Mountain, which is listed as a World Culture Heritage site by UNESCO just like Confucius’ hometown. In 497 BC, when Confucius climbed to its peak, he looked out over the vast lands lying so tiny before his feet. He vowed to change the land, to bring to fruition his ultimate dream to return the world to a state of “Ren” and found a society full of benevolence and goodwill.
At the age of fifty-five, Confucius left his homeland and set out on a 14-year-long journey traveling around the vast lands of China in his wooden ox cart.
As for the motivations and reasons for his traveling, countless explanations had been put forward by historians and Confucians. But where do the real reasons lie? If one looks at the historical background, at least two main reasons become clear: in the first place, he could no longer stay in the State of Lu. The King of Lu was, by this time, a mere puppet: a figurehead while real power rested in the hands of the three families, namely Jisunshi, Shusunshi and Mengsunshi. They completely controlled the military, financial and political power of the state.
The very essence of Confucius’ political ideas of stability and morality ran counter to the interests of the three Heng families. He wished to see the power of the three families weakened and the prestige of the king of Lu strengthened.
Once Confucius’ true viewpoint on this situation was discerned by the most powerful minister of the three families, Confucius lost their support and confidence and his position became untenable.
Thereafter, the eastern Qi State sent beauties to alienate Confucius and the king of Lu and the ministers of the three families. In this way, Confucius at last utterly lost their support and in this case, his only choice was to resign.
Given the unstable nature of society at this time, it would have made sense for Confucius to remain close to home and wait for a chance to stage a comeback. He chose not to because he nurtured a great political ideal that had universal and not just local application. He wanted to go to other states to seek opportunities to put his ideals into practice and to disseminate his thoughts; he sought to persuade the rulers of various different regions to accept his beliefs on the centrality of the idea of benevolence in the administration of a state. Even if such ambitions ultimately failed to be fully realized, he could at least expand somewhat his “international influence” as well as bring his ideas to a wider public.
This was the most fundamental reason why Confucius and his followers set off on their travels.
The unique procession of disciples and followers, led by Confucius, traversed six or seven states including the Wei, the Chen, the Zheng, the Song, the Cai and the Chu.