Chinese Idiom: 不远千里 (Bu Yuan Qian Li)
English Translation: Not hesitating to travel a thousand miles
pīn yīn: bù yuǎn qiān lǐ
Idiom Meaning: This idiom means to endure the hardship of a long journey or to make an effort to travel a great distance. It often implies a sense of dedication and perseverance in order to achieve a goal or fulfill a purpose.
Historical Source: The idiom comes from a passage in Mencius (《孟子》), specifically in the chapter “Liang Hui Wang I” (《梁惠王上》).
Idiom Story:
In ancient China, during the Warring States period, the ruler of the State of Wei was known as Liang Hui Wang (梁惠王), also referred to as Wei Hui Wang. His given name was Tao, and “Hui” was his posthumous title. He ascended to the throne around 370 BC and later moved the capital from the old city of An Yi (now near Shanxi Province) to the new capital, Da Liang (now Kaifeng, Henan Province), about nine years into his reign.
Liang Hui Wang was a significant ruler whose state was one of the strongest among the warring states. In 344 BC, he even declared himself king. By around 320 BC, the renowned Confucian philosopher Mencius traveled from the State of Teng (滕国) to Wei to meet Liang Hui Wang, who was then an elderly man in his eighties.
Upon Mencius’s arrival, Liang Hui Wang remarked, “Old sir, you have traveled a thousand miles without hesitation. This must be beneficial to my state, right?” Here, Liang Hui Wang was acknowledging the effort Mencius made to visit him, assuming it was for the benefit of the state.
Mencius replied, “Your Majesty, why must we always discuss benefits? The focus should be on virtues like benevolence and righteousness. If you talk only about what benefits the state, and ministers discuss what benefits their fiefs, and scholars and common people discuss what benefits themselves, then the state will be in danger. It is because those who value personal gain above righteousness will never be satisfied unless they take from others. Therefore, Your Majesty, you should focus on righteousness and benevolence rather than merely talking about benefits.”
From this exchange, the phrase “不远千里” evolved into an idiom. It emphasizes the dedication and commitment required to undertake a long journey or effort, often for a noble purpose or in pursuit of a significant goal.
