Wen Tianxiang (文天祥) is one of the most revered figures in Chinese history. During the final years of the Southern Song dynasty, he fiercely resisted Kublai Khan’s invasion until he was captured. Despite numerous attempts to sway him, he held firm to his principles and was ultimately executed. Wen Tianxiang, like many others who sacrificed personal gain for a greater cause, remains an emblem of noble resistance. What, then, gives a person such unwavering strength and dignity? Mencius referred to this as ‘Ho-yeon-ji-gi’ (浩然之氣), while Wen Tianxiang called it ‘Zhengqi’ (正氣), meaning righteous energy. But what exactly is Ho-yeon-ji-gi?
In Eastern tradition, it is believed that a person’s character is fully embodied in their handwriting, revealing their true nature. In contrast, Western societies have developed graphology, the study of handwriting to uncover deeper personality traits. Graphology starts from the premise that when a person writes, their brain sends messages to the muscles of the hand and arm, forming lines, curves, and dots, which inevitably reflect the writer’s inner world. German graphologist William T. Preyer described handwriting as a “trace of the brain.” Notable figures such as Confucius, Shakespeare, Chekhov, Jung, and Einstein also believed in the connection between handwriting and personality.
Among those who displayed Ho-yeon-ji-gi were independence activists like Ahn Jung-geun. By analyzing their handwriting, we can grasp the essence of their inner strength. After examining the handwriting of more than 700 independence activists, the results are clear. Their writing is powerful and angular, signifying strong energy and willpower. The wide spacing between lines suggests a distaste for causing harm to others, while the narrow spacing between characters indicates strong self-judgment and a heightened sense of self. The frequent formation of characters in perfect squares reveals a person who is upright and principled. The steady pace of their writing shows deliberation and thoughtfulness. Consistency in their script points to trustworthiness, while the clean, unembellished strokes reflect a pure-hearted nature. In essence, Ho-yeon-ji-gi embodies strong will and energy, purity, uprightness, thoughtfulness, reliability, and consideration for others.