Confucius

SINOPSIS

Kong Qiu (Chow Yun-Fat), who is later known by the name Kongzi resp. Confucius, is a scholar and mayor in the Kingdom of Lu. When at a public session he denounces the barbaric ways of the old tradition of burying alive slaves along with their deceased masters and his concern is being applauded the ruler of the kingdom believes that the time has come to support Confucius and to spread his teachings. The scholar gets promoted to minister of justice and is consulted in important political affairs. Thus, he is supposed to travel to the neighboring Kingdom Qi along with a delegation in order to strengthen the friendly bonds while already being aware that an ambush is awaiting him there. However, Confucius' keen intellect is more than once about to help him in dangerous situations and so he finds himself put to use by the ruler of Lu as a political and military advisor, although he wishes for nothing more than to be allowed to spread his moral teachings and make the country a better and stronger one from within. Soon the ruler of Lu sees Cofucius' growing influence as a danger for his country and so he banishes him. Years of wandering are about to come for the thinker and his students and the countries he travels through are also oppressed by war and chaos.