Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) official Yuan Liaofan was celebrated at a recent temple fair at Liaofan Park in Tianjin's Baodi district, attracting numerous cosplayers to pay homage to the man renowned for his good governance.
Yuan was a significant figure in Baodi, celebrated for his governance philosophy and efforts to enhance the local economy and quality of life.
Two foreign students participated in the cosplay event, Egyptian Ahmed Mohamed Saleh and Venezuelan Andrea Matheus, dressed as students in ancient times. A Chinese student, dressed as Yuan Liaofan (1533-1606), the famed local official from Baodi, presented them with zhuangyuan pens, a traditional award for top students in ancient examinations.
The temple fair, a traditional cultural event held during Spring Festival, provided a unique backdrop for this celebration.
Yuan is best known for his work Liao Fan's Four Lessons, a classic book on self-improvement and moral cultivation.
The influential work, which Yuan wrote for his son, details his experiences and insights on changing one's destiny through virtuous actions and sincere repentance.
Yuan's teachings emphasize that while destiny may seem predetermined, individuals can influence and change their fate through their thoughts, actions and moral behavior.
"Being granted a zhuangyuan pen, we believe we will be lucky in our examinations," said Saleh, who studies at Tianjin Foreign Studies University.
Both Saleh and Matheus were invited to the fair as "tourist ambassadors for Baodi". Matheus said, "Having participated in many cultural events throughout Tianjin, the Baodi fair is quite unique."
Unlike other temple fairs, Liaofan Park Temple Fair focuses on introducing the historical figure of Yuan. The immersive performance, "Liaofan's Blessing Parade", served as the cultural core of the fair, vividly narrating the stories of Baodi.
The fair attracted many visitors from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province and other parts of China, eager to experience the unique local culture.
This year, local businesses stayed open during Spring Festival to cater for the coming visitors.
Mao Jinsong, Party chief of Baodi, said, "This year, the district will boost its tourism by leveraging its unique cultural and historical resources, including Liaofan Park, which opened in June last year."
He expects the district to receive 5 million visitors, generating 700 million yuan ($960,000) in revenue this year.
The district has established research academies and cultural forums on the research of Yuan Liaofan.
Local businesses have registered products such as rice, mineral water and tea under the Yuan Liaofan brand, and Yuan Liaofan coffee is now sold at service areas along major expressways linking Tianjin with Beijing and Harbin in Heilongjiang province.
