We often say that "the text is like the person" and "the words are like the person", and those who have poor moral character and misbehavior can always find clues in the words and articles they write. But the facts have proved that this concept is not accurate, Cai Jing, Song Gaozong, Zhao Gou, Qin Hui, Yan Song and others are very good calligraphy, but the character is worse than the other, either cruel loyalty, or servile and reviled by the world.
Therefore, "words are like people" can only reflect the character of the writer, such as "impatient", "free and easy", "calm", etc., but cannot give people accurate character judgment. Compared with the traitorous ministers mentioned above, there is one person who is more famous, and he is He Shen. Influenced by movies and TV series, the image of He Shen played by Wang Gang is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and in the play, He Shen *** brutalizes Zhongliang and curries favor with the emperor, with a "courtier" face, which is both hateful and has a bit of comedy effect.
However, this is far from reality. He Shen in history is a talented and well-read person, he was appreciated by Qianlong at a young age, and he is very efficient in handling official affairs, and he can definitely be called a "genius" because he understands all four languages of Manchu, Chinese, Tibetan and Mongolian. He Shen is indeed *** and even called "the richest man in the Qing Dynasty" by later generations, but he can live in an official residence in a few years, relying on his own strength.
He Shen was very good at casting Qianlong's favor, he knew that the emperor was in his later years to enjoy pleasure and rejoice, so he collected rare treasures to offer, and also learned a good calligraphy. Qianlong was fond of calligraphy and painting, and He Shen often admired the authentic inscriptions in the inner mansion with him. Qianlong's most admired calligrapher was Dong Qichang, while He Shen specialized in learning Dong's penmanship and imitating Qianlong's handwriting.
Therefore, every time he Shenjin dedicates his own works, he will be rewarded by Qianlong, and the two monarchs and ministers have become closer. He Shen does not have many calligraphy, but it can be seen that he has a lot of skills. Judging from the imperial poems, letters, and couplets he transcribed, He Shen mainly studied Liu Gongquan, Zhao Ziang, Dong Qichang and others, and was deeply influenced by the "pavilion style".
As a court literati doctor, He Shen was the same as many imperial calligraphers at that time, and it was difficult to get rid of the "pavilion style" style, such as Dong Huan, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Ruowei, and Wang Jie. He Shen is the best at regular script, its words often converge on the front of the pen, back to the front of the pen and then march in the center, the strokes are straight and full, vigorous and powerful, quite solemn atmosphere.
Every word is restrained and round, not showing the edge, turning out of the square and round, and using it together, the hook is short and crisp, and it does not drag mud and water. The flesh and bones are symmetrical, the ink color is uniform, and the size of the handwriting is relatively consistent. The knot is in the middle of the workmanship, slightly to the right upper side, the left and right structure of the word is generally low on the left and high on the right, retracted, tight, and sparse appropriately.
The word "willow body" has a strict degree of law, neat and tight, but the muscles and bones are explicit, thin and hard, and slightly inferior. There is the dexterity of Zhao and Dong Yun's pen, but there is no charm and beauty of the two. Compared with the square, light and black of the "pavilion body", the words of Heshen obviously have momentum, and the rhyme is even better. In general, the characters of Heshen are dignified and exquisite, atmospheric and rigorous, and they are the representatives of scholar calligraphy.
Some netizens watched He Shen's calligraphy and thought that his calligraphy was very good, and even sighed "I don't believe in words like others anymore", but they must also admit that He Shen's calligraphy level is decent and cannot be compared with top masters such as Cai Jing and Zhao Gou.