Abstract: In the history of cultural development of China, the fame of Yang Shen (1488-1559) and his family lasted for a century. This unusual family notability can be closely attributed to their fine family customs. Observing the four-stress doctrine of Lady Xiong, Yang Shen and all his family members followed the individual-family-country-society self-development path, always prioritizing the self-disciplinary practice in terms of individual and family accomplishment. When disciplining himself, he took “righteousness,” “honesty,” “loyalty” and “benevolence” as the pillars of morality while advocating “industriousness” and “thrift” as common qualities when disciplining his family members. In terms of serving the country and the society, he required that all his family members serving public office be clean and stand principles in matters concerning national interest and people's welfare. Thus being clean officials serving for interest of both the people and the country became a part of his family customs. More than effectively nurturing the core socialist values, fine spiritual and cultural elements contained in customs of Yang Shen and his family can develop the clean working style among the Party's leading cadres. For this reason, they can shed helpful light on the construction of socialist family civilization with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

Key words: Yang Shen, culture of family customs, four-stress doctrine, contemporary value