Heshen
| Niohuru Heshen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Palace | |
|
In office 4 July 1786 – 10 March 1792 |
|
| Monarch | Qianlong Emperor |
| Preceded by | Liang Guozhi |
| Succeeded by | Wang Jie |
| Minister of Personnel | |
|
In office 4 September 1784 – 16 September 1786 |
|
| Monarch | Qianlong Emperor |
| Preceded by | Wumi Tai |
| Succeeded by | Fuk'anggan |
| Minister of Revenue | |
|
In office 26 April 1780 – 4 September 1784 |
|
| Monarch | Qianlong Emperor |
| Preceded by | Feng Yinglian |
| Succeeded by | Fuk'anggan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Niohuru Shanbao 鈕祜祿·善保 1 July 1750 Beijing, China |
| Died | 22 February 1799 (aged 48) Zhizhai, Beijing, China |
| Spouse(s) | Feng Jiwen Lady Chang, concubine |
| Relations |
Gurun Princess Hexiao (daughter-in-law) Helin (brother) |
| Children |
Fengshen Yinde, 3rd class duke a son three daughters |
| Occupation | Official |
| Noble titles | 1st class baron→3rd class earl→1st class duke |
Heshen (Chinese: 和珅; pinyin: Héshēn; Wade–Giles: Ho2-shen1; Hesen; Manchu: 
; 1750 – February 22, 1799) of the Manchu Niohuru clan, was an official of the Qing dynasty who was favoured by the Qianlong Emperor. Born Shanbao (Shan-pao; 善保), his given name was later changed to Heshen. His courtesy name was Zhizhai (Chih-chai; 致齋). He was a member of the Plain Red Banner, and known as the most corrupt official in Chinese history. Heshen was born as the son of a Manchu military officer and was selected to go to the most privileged school for Manchu aristocratic boys. He lost his mother when he was young and it was said he and his younger brother had a hard life under his stepmother. However, it was reported that Heshen was an excellent student, knowing several languages including Mandarin, Manchu, Mongolian and Tibetan. In 1772, he began work in the Imperial Palace, assigned as an imperial bodyguard and was stationed at the gates to the Forbidden City.
Heshen came to the attention of the Qianlong Emperor when he became a member of the royal guard of honour. On a pleasure trip outside the Forbidden City, Qianlong asked his retinue a question after he had received some bad news about border security. His question cited a sentence from the Analects of Confucius that nobody was able to understand or answer until he suddenly heard Heshen speak the answer with a further quotation from the Analects. Qianlong then tested Heshen with additional profound questions on the Analects and was surprised and delighted when they were all answered correctly - he had found a man of both martial and literary talent. Heshen was immediately promoted to the emperor's personal guard, from which point his career took off and catapulted him into other many important government positions.
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Wikipedia