During the Spring and Autumn period, after Confucius was marginalized in the political arena of Lu, he led his disciples on a tour of various states. He visited states like Wei and Song, but his teachings did not gain significant influence.

On his way to Jin, his disciple Zilu advised him not to seek refuge with a morally questionable figure like Zhao Yang.

Confucius, however, believed himself to be a junzi (a noble person) who would 'be ground but not thinned, dyed but not blackened,' meaning he would maintain his integrity and not tarnish his reputation, regardless of the environment or people he encountered.