One of the CCDI choices, a 300-character treatise by 12th century philosopher Zhu Xi, tells parents to be amiable and children to be devoted; older brothers ought to be friendly while younger brothers should be respectful. Don't harbor grudges. Don't be jealous.

Of the 22 members of the Zhu family who held ranks higher than county chief, none had their reputation tainted by corruption, according to historical sources.

Zhu Yuquan, an education official in east China's Jiangxi Province, is a descendant of Zhu Xi. He described a memorial arch built by three members of the Zhu family in the 14th century.

"When important things, good or bad, happen, a family gathering is held under the arch to examine the events through the lens of the norms in the family instruction. We do this to urge younger relatives to toe the family line under the supervision of us all," he said. "I feel connected to my ancestors by these axioms, which extend our family values back nearly a thousand years."

Zhu Xi's political career only lasted nine years, but in that time he earned a reputation that has lasted until today for seeking justice for common people while refusing to surrender to vested interests.

In Gandong, Zhu Yuquan's hometown, when a new village hall was built in 2015, 80 families had their own maxims painted on the walls. Such wisdom in a public venue can only nurture morals and breed a better society.

"The hall reminds me of the old ancestral hall at home, in a time when everyone respected family instructions as the most basic of values. People should feel shame and guilt when their behavior is considered immoral," he said.