Huang Quanchang (b. 1937), 1980, Hai Rui Leaves Office (Hai Rui ba guan), 4 drawings, ink on paper, 15.7 cm x 22.2 cm (19 x 25 cm external). From a play by Wu Han, with text adapted by Li Dafa.

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Huang Quanchang (b. 1937)
Hai Rui Leaves Office (Hai Rui ba guan)
1980
Ink on paper
15.7 cm x 22.2 cm.
Text adapted by Li Dafa.

Hai Rui, an official of the Ming dynasty, was very famous for his honesty. He was upright by nature and lived a simple and incorruptible life. The story here represents Hai Rui during his tenure as imperial commissioner, when he engaged in a seven month struggle with the retired prime minister Xu Jie and other powerful men.

Xu Jie's son, Xu Ying, taking advantage of his father's power, and in league with corrupt local officials, committed all manner of evil deeds, forcibly occupying the land of the peasants and seizing unwilling women. After Hai Rui investigated the case of the woman Hong Alan, he redressed the grievance by sentencing Xu Ying to death. In order to save his son's life, Xu Jie bribed high officials and eunuchs at the court. They threatened Hai Rui in an effort to force him to change his decision. Hai Rui, however, remained unmoved. He put Xu Ying to death, then resigned from office and retired to his hometown.