China Propaganda banknotes during WW2 - Federal Reserve Bank Of China Banknote 1 Yuan (1938 1st Series)

Federal Reserve Bank of China - 1938 (1 Yuan - 1st series), 1938-1940 (1 Yuan - 2nd series) & Hua Hsing Commercial Bank - 1940 (10 Yuan - 2nd series)

Sometimes the Chinese were less subtle. Two Federal Reserve Bank of China notes and 1 Hua Hsing Commercial Bank depict Confucius allegedly making an obscene finger gesture while striking a typical pose with folded hands.This vignette was later revised, so there may be some truth to the story. The note is actually known as "The Vulgar Wiseman" by collectors.

Smith and Matravers say about this vignette:

The “worthy” who appears on the note is making an obscene gesture…This has been widely interpreted as a patriotic gesture of the part of the Chinese engraver to show distaste for the Japanese occupiers of Northeast China. The theory is probably correct but it does not explain the puzzling failure of the Japanese to get the

message.