During the Ming Dynasty, there was a man named Liu Kui from Taihe, a student of the renowned philosopher and educator Wang Yangming. He successively served as Tongpan of Baoqing Prefecture, Magistrate of Junzhou, and Tongzhi of Chaozhou Prefecture. Wherever he served, Liu Kui was able to "keep himself clean and love the people." Later, he entered the capital and was promoted to Deputy Director of the Ministry of Works.
In the 21st year of the Jiajing reign, the emperor, swayed by alchemists' absurd claims, ordered the construction of the "Youguo Kangmin Thunder Hall" west of Taiye Pool. Eager to curry favor, officials spared no expense, building with extravagant luxury and breakneck speed, draining the treasury and exhausting the laborers. Liu Kui, a bold official, resolved to risk his life and remonstrate. Knowing that presenting such a memorial would bring disaster, he first had his family buy a coffin, then submitted his petition. The emperor, enraged, immediately ordered Liu Kui flogged and thrown into prison, where he languished for seven years, enduring torture and repeatedly teetering on the brink of death.
Just released from prison, Liu Kui passed away.
Later, the idiom "Jie Ji Ai Ren" came to describe someone who maintains personal integrity and cares for the people's hardships.
Source: *History of Ming*, "Biography of Liu Kui"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "洁己爱人" came to describe how someone maintains personal integrity and cares for the people's hardships.