Integrity: it means integrity, that is, aboveboard and aboveboard.
Keep your sleeves clean: it means there is nothing in your sleeves except the breeze. Nowadays, it is often compared to a person who is honest and upright, does not take bribes and bend the law, and is strict with himself.
The clothes worn by the ancients had no pockets. Most people's skirts are covered to the right, tied around their waist, and all the scattered things they bring can be held in their arms. Officials wear robes with wide sleeves, which are convenient for putting some silver coins, poems and articles.
In ancient times, corrupt officials put bribes in their sleeves. If an official is clean and does not take bribes, of course, his sleeves are empty, and there is only "breeze", so "keeping two sleeves clean" has become a loan word for an official to be clean and honest.
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Yu Qian, remain uncorrupted
Yu Qian was a famous minister and national hero in Ming Dynasty. He was praised by later generations for his honesty, loyalty and patriotism. Yu Qian is strong-willed, outspoken and upright.
In the fifth year of Xuande (1430), severe famine occurred in Henan and Shanxi. Yu Qian was ordered to inspect these two places. When he took office, there was no ostentation and extravagance, no gongs and drums, and no guards. During unannounced visits to the investigation, he even rode lightly and never disturbed the people. At that time, every year when foreign officials returned to Beijing to report on their work, they would send heavy gifts to ministers and relatives.
But Yu Qian is honest, never goes with the flow, and is empty-handed every time. Good-hearted people advised him to follow suit: "Don't send gold and silver, send some local products." He raised his sleeves and said with a smile, "Look, didn't I bring a clean slate?"
He also wrote a poem "Going to Beijing" to express his ambition: "Handkerchiefs, mushrooms and thread incense are harmful to the people. The wind and the sleeves are covered with blue sky, so as not to talk short. " It means that silk handkerchief, mushrooms and incense sticks were originally for the people to enjoy, but because of the search and exploitation by corrupt officials, they brought disasters to the people. So I only brought clean sleeves to see the emperor, so as not to cause dissatisfaction among the people.
Later, the idiom "remain uncorrupted" was handed down from then on.
After the "National Revolution", Yingzong was captured and shocked North Korea. Yu Qian personally turned the tide and led the troops to repel Vara's attack, so that the Ming Dynasty was out of danger. In recognition of Yu Qian's achievements, Emperor Jingtai made him the Governor of Shaobao and Military Affairs. However, Yu Qian said: "There are many wars on all sides of the border. This is a disgrace to Dr. Qing. How dare you ask for a reward! " Do not accept tough words.
Yu Qian is simple and honest, frugal and worried about the country. Ming Yingzong was able to return to his old capital because Yu Qian resolutely refused to make peace with Vala, but Yu Qian never took credit in front of Yingzong.
After the change of the Eastern Palace, Emperor Jingtai ordered everyone who was also the Crown Prince to get two salaries, but Yu Qian refused again and again. Seeing that Yu Qian lived frugally, Emperor Jingtai gave him the Xihuamen mansion, but he firmly refused, saying, "How can a courtier lead a peaceful life by himself?" The emperor refused and had to accept it.
However, Yu Qian did not check in. On the contrary, he sealed up all the imperial books, court clothes and silver ingots given by the emperor before and put them there with instructions. He just visits every year.
Yu Qian is not only loyal to the country, honest and self-disciplined, but also advocates clean government. He wrote many poems to guide people to be honest and clean, the most famous of which is Ode to Lime: "A thousand hammers cut out a deep mountain, and a fire burns idle. I am not afraid of being smashed, I want to remain innocent in the world. " In the poem, lime metaphor is used to express one's will, showing loyalty, innocence and noble personality pursuit.
It means stones that have been excavated from deep mountains after thousands of times of digging. It regards burning a blazing fire as a very common thing. Even if it is smashed into pieces, it is not afraid, as long as the noble moral integrity stays in the world.
In the eighth year of Jingtai (1457), Ming Yingzong was restored by the "Rebellion" and Yu Qian was framed and killed. When the property was stolen, it was "no money at home" and only the main house was locked. When I opened it, I found that it was all embroidered robes and swords given by the emperor. The security guard, who is in charge of checking property, was also moved by his moral integrity and could not help crying.
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