Scott No: -
Serial number: 2018-17
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: June 24, 2018
Denomination: 480 fen
Designer: Hu Fuzong
Size of stamps: 33 * 44 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 12
Sheet Size: 162 * 182 mm
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Liaoning Provincal Postage Stamp Printing Works

The "Integrity and Probity (I)" special stamps were issued by China Post on June 24, 2018. The full set consists of 4 stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, making a total face value of 4.80 yuan. Designed by Chinese painter Hu Bozong, the stamps were printed by Shenyang Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory in Liaoning Province using the offset printing process. They showcase the exemplary deeds of incorruptible and self-disciplined officials in ancient China through four historical scenarios: "Valuing Non-Greed as a Treasure", "Yang Xu Hanging Up the Fish", "Clean Hands and Pure Heart" and "Issuing a Proclamation to Refuse Gifts".

The culture of incorruptible governance has a long history in China and is an important part of traditional Chinese moral cultivation. People abhor corruption deeply, and integrity and probity are the greatest expectations of the common people for officials. Throughout China’s 5,000-year history of civilization, people with lofty ideals who were upright and incorruptible have left many widely renowned stories of incorruptible governance, which have become classics in Chinese culture. These figures and stories are of great educational significance for promoting the building of an incorruptible government, especially for carrying out publicity and education activities on combating corruption and promoting integrity among Party members and cadres.

The stamps select 4 well-known stories from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Qing Dynasty about ancient officials who were upright and self-disciplined in their official posts.

"Valuing Non-Greed as a Treasure"

This story took place during the Spring and Autumn Period. Zihan was a virtuous minister of the State of Song and one of the "Six Senior Officials" (a top-ranking official position at that time). Someone obtained a piece of exquisite jade and wanted to present it to Zihan. However, Zihan refused to accept it and solemnly told the jade giver, "You regard this exquisite jade as a precious treasure, but I value the quality of non-greed as my treasure. If I accept this jade, you will lose your treasure, and I will also lose the thing I cherish. Therefore, it is better for us to keep our respective treasures."

"Yang Xu Hanging Up the Fish"

This story occurred in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Yang Xu once served as the Governor of Nanyang. Nanyang was a major prefecture, and as a senior local official, Yang Xu held great power. At that time, a subordinate official (Fu Cheng, an official position in charge of administrative affairs) presented fresh live fish to Yang Xu, but Yang Xu hung the fish in the main hall of his official residence. When the subordinate came to present fish again, Yang Xu took out the hung fish and educated him, showing his refusal to accept gifts.

"Clean Hands and Pure Heart" (Liang Xiu Qing Feng)

This story happened in the mid-Ming Dynasty. Yu Qian was a famous and distinguished official of the Ming Dynasty, and could even be called a national hero. The History of the Ming Dynasty praised him, saying "His loyalty and righteousness are as glorious as the sun and the moon". One year, when he went to the capital to meet the emperor and report on his work, someone advised and induced him that currying favor with the powerful eunuchs was the shortcut to success in officialdom. Yu Qian brushed his sleeves and left on the spot. He also wrote the famous line "I go to the court with clean hands and pure heart" in his poem Going to the Capital. Later generations often use the phrase "Liang Xiu Qing Feng" (literally "two sleeves filled with fresh breeze", metaphorically meaning being incorruptible) to describe an official who is honest and upright.

"Issuing a Proclamation to Refuse Gifts"

This story took place in the early Qing Dynasty. Yu Chenglong was a famous official in the early Qing Dynasty. During his 24 years of serving as an official, he won deep love and respect from the people and high praise from Emperor Kangxi for his outstanding political achievements and his life of being incorruptible and hardworking. One Mid-Autumn Festival, the county magistrate of Daming County (under Yu Chenglong’s jurisdiction) privately sent a valuable gift to him. Yu Chenglong not only resolutely refused it on the spot but also issued a public notice titled Proclamation on Strictly Banning Gift-Giving, sternly ordering all subordinate officials not to give gifts or offer bribes. He warned that anyone who violated this rule again would not be forgiven.

The designer of the stamps is Hu Bozong, a famous painter and member of the Comic Strip Art Committee of the Chinese Artists Association. Using the artistic form of traditional Chinese painting, the stamps vividly restore the historical scenarios of the four allusions.