At 9:30 a.m. on June 13, the lecture of *Jincheng Lecture Hall* will be held in the lecture hall of Lanzhou Library. This lecture is delivered by Wang Shirong, Professor and Doctoral Supervisor of Northwest University of Political Science and Law. Centering on *The System of Retiring to Hometown in Ancient China and Its Implied Values of Integrity Culture*, he will lead the audience to learn about the ancient retirement-to-hometown system and the inheritance of the integrity culture behind it.
As an ancient saying goes, "Having retired from officialdom, one bequeaths integrity to the family." The four characters "retire and return to one's hometown" embody the spiritual journey home of ancient Chinese officials. They brought back to their hometowns decades of experience in official service and moral values that could stand the test of local communities over time. Doffing their official robes, they settled back in their native lands. The essence of retiring to one's hometown lies not in the glory of returning in fine attire, but in the integration of one's reputation as an official and public appraisal in the hometown. It turned integrity, once enforced by imperial laws and decrees, into a shared moral standard across local societies. Ostensibly a retirement arrangement for officials, it was essentially an integrity mechanism deeply rooted in rural communities. Officials were under the joint scrutiny of clans, local gentry and public opinion, so they remained prudent and steadfast throughout their tenure. Even after leaving office, they had to face fellow townsfolk with a spotless reputation. In short, this formed a complete integrity system: supervision while in service and restraints after retirement.
Looking back at history and focusing on the present: How can leading cadres today uphold integrity and moral conduct? How to extend power supervision from their tenure to after they leave office? The system of officials retiring to their hometowns holds the answers. Meanwhile, this ancient institution also reminds us that the development of a culture of integrity relies not only on institutional constraints, but also on the joint efforts of public opinion and moral traditions.
In this lecture, Teacher Wang Shirong will draw on his years of experience, professional insights and in-depth reflections to guide everyone in revisiting stories of officials retiring from public service recorded in ancient classics, and explore the enlightenment that this ancient system brings to the construction of a contemporary integrity culture.
Wang Shirong, male, born in Longxi, Gansu Province, holds a Doctor of Laws degree. He is a professor and doctoral supervisor at Northwest University of Political Science and Law. He also serves as Vice President of the Trial Theory Research Association of China Law Society and Distinguished Professor of the Research Institute for the New Era Fengqiao Experience at Zhejiang University. He has been awarded titles such as "National Outstanding Teacher" by the Ministry of Education and "National People's Mediation Expert" by the Ministry of Justice.
We plan to recruit 200 on-site audience members for this event. Interested citizens can sign up online. After successful registration, please attend the lecture at the lecture hall of Lanzhou Library on the day of the event. The "Jincheng Lecture Hall" will lead numerous culture enthusiasts on an unforgettable cultural journey. Let us look forward to this feast of ideas together.
The Jincheng Lecture Hall is a public welfare cultural brand carefully built by the Publicity Department of the CPC Lanzhou Municipal Committee. This activity invites renowned experts and scholars from across the country and Gansu Province to deliver a series of thoughtful, insightful and engaging special lectures. It aims to meet the public's growing demand for high-quality cultural services, forge Lanzhou's urban cultural brand, enhance the city's cultural soft power, and fuel the high-quality development of the city with cultural vitality.