The most famous calligraphers in modern Tianjin are Hua Shikui, Yan Xiu, Meng Guanghui and Zhao Yuanli. Among them, Hua Shikui ranked first. On the one hand, Hua's calligraphy attainments are high. On the other hand, Hua used to be a teacher of the Eight Banners official school and a minister who awarded second-class merit in the Qing Dynasty.
Hua Shikui was born in an old salt merchant family. At the age of four, he began to receive enlightenment education at home. Keep practicing calligraphy every day. His father is very strict. Occasionally, if he is a little slack, he will hit him on the head with a hookah. In order to correct his writing posture, his father put a copper coin on his pen. As long as the pen tilts slightly, the copper coin will fall. It is said that Hua was able to put ten copper coins on the pen container later, and he was able to write freely, which shows his skill. As the saying goes, hard work pays off. Hua eventually became a master of calligraphy. After abdicating, Hua left the officialdom and returned to Tianjin to make a living by selling words. It is most worth mentioning to write a plaque for "Tianjin Quanyechang". In the Republic of China 17, Tianjin Quanyechang was completed, and the German comprador Happy Bridge sent people to China to ask for a plaque. According to the practice at that time, anyone who asked for a message at home could negotiate with the cashier to change it, but Hua never saw the guest who asked for it. However, people sent by Happy Bridge walked into Hua's study, briefly explained the size of the "Quanyechang" plaque, and then sent someone to bring 300 foreign currencies and politely said, "Runjin was not a tribute just now." China responded and agreed to it at the moment.
At that time, there was no technology of photocopying, phototypesetting and enlargement. Calligraphers have to write as big as their master's family, like the "Quanyechang" plaque belongs to two books. It is unusual and difficult to write a list. A few days later, Huagang wrote a plaque, and the person who asked for the word sent another 200 cents. He reluctantly told me that the activity was almost delayed because of a moment's negligence, and Mr. Trouble added the word "Tianjin" before the "persuasion field". Hua was very unhappy when he heard this, and ordered his servant to spread out the paper, polish the ink and write the word "Tianjin" with a pen.
Hua Shikui also has two anecdotes worth mentioning. When he took the road of cabinet minister, he and Hanlin Xu Shichang worshipped under the door of Qi Shichang, the minister of the Ministry of Commerce. Qi got a son in his later years and loved him very much. He once asked Hua and Xu to take care of him in the future. 1930, Qi Youzi was poor and came to Tianjin from his hometown for help. Hua appreciated his teacher's feelings, gave him 200 yuan abroad, and went to ask for help himself. But Xu said to China, "You have made a lot of money selling words recently, but I have not made much money selling words. Tell you what, I'll give you half as much as you want. " Afterwards, Hua took this opportunity to satirize Xu Shichang: "You should practice your handwriting well! Practicing calligraphy is better than being the president of the Republic of China! " Because Xu Shichang is the president of the Republic of China.
Although Hua is an old minister of the Qing Dynasty, he is honest. He has a deep personal relationship with Luo Zhenyu, and Luo once advised him to assist Puyi. He said: "The current emperor is the emperor of Manchuria, not the emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He wore a suit, cooperated with the Japanese and betrayed his ancestors. I am the Minister of Qing Dynasty, and I will never betray my predecessor and go with him. " Throughout his life, his human character and distinctive national consciousness are commendable.