Guangfu, Hebei

{{chinese

|pic=File:广平府南门 行摄梓地.jpg |piccap=Southern gate

|title=Former names

|altname=Guangping |t2={{linktext|廣平|府}} |s2={{linktext|广平|府}} |p2=Guǎngpíngfǔ |w2=Kuang-p‘ing Fu{{efn|The name also formerly appeared in French-influenced sources as "Kouang-ping-fou".{{sfnp|De Sesmaisons|2014|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=sJLrCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA575 575]}}}} |l2=Seat of Guangping Prefecture

|altname3=Mingzhou |c3={{linktext|洺州}} |p3=Míngzhōu |w3=Ming-chou |l3=Seat of Ming Prefecture

|altname4=Yongnian |c4={{linktext|永年|城}} |p4=Yǒngniánchéng |w4=Yung-nien Ch‘êng |l4=Yongnian{{nbsp}}City

}}

"Guangfu" is an elision of the town's older name Guangpingfu,{{citation |contribution-url=http://maps.cga.harvard.edu/tgaz/placename/hvd_9509 |contribution=Guangping Fu |publisher=Harvard & Shanghai Universities |location=Cambridge & Shanghai |title=China Historical Geographic Information System |date=2017 |url=https://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~chgis/ }}. referring to its former status as the seat of Guangping ("Expansively Pacified" or "Peaceful") Prefecture under the Ming.{{harvp|Playfair|1879|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=uyYAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA181 181]}}. The name was first borne by the town under the Han.

By the Tang, it was known as Mingzhou{{citation |contribution-url=http://maps.cga.harvard.edu/tgaz/placename?fmt=html&n=%E6%B4%BA%E5%B7%9E&yr=&ftyp=&src= |contribution=洺州 |publisher=Harvard & Shanghai Universities |location=Cambridge & Shanghai |title=China Historical Geographic Information System |date=2017 |url=https://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~chgis/ }}. from its former prefecture, itself named after the nearby Ming River. It has also been known as Yongnian ("Longevity") from the name of its former county{{citation |contribution-url=http://maps.cga.harvard.edu/tgaz/placename/hvd_121441 |contribution=Yongnian Xian |publisher=Harvard & Shanghai Universities |location=Cambridge & Shanghai |title=China Historical Geographic Information System |date=2017 |url=https://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~chgis/ }}. and present district.

Guangfu is located in the middle of Yongnian Marsh in the western reaches of Handan's Yongnian District.

File:广平府南城墙 行摄梓地 2011.jpg-style guard towers overlooking the city]]

File:广平府西北角楼和护城河 行摄梓地.jpg

File:新迁址的杨露禅故居外景 行摄梓地.jpg's former residence]]

File:广平府南城墙 行摄梓地.jpg

The area around Guangfu has been typically marshy since the earliest historical records.{{sfnp|Andersson|1943|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=PmgbAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA40 40]}} Guangfu itself was first settled during the Spring and Autumn period around the 6th{{nbsp}}century{{nbsp}}BC.{{citation |contribution-url=http://www.travelchina.gov.cn/sitefiles/gjly_en/html/meijing/2179.shtml |contribution=Guangfu Ancient City |title=China: Beyond Your Imagination |url=http://www.travelchina.gov.cn/en/index/index.shtml |publisher=China National Tourism Administration |access-date=9 Nov 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109082129/http://www.travelchina.gov.cn/en/index/index.shtml |archive-date=9 November 2017 |url-status=dead }}. It made up part of Jin during the Zhou, and part of Zhao during the Warring States period. Under the Qin, it was organized as part of Handan Commandery.

During the fall of the Sui, it served as the capital of Dou Jiande's short-lived "Xia Principality"{{sfnp|Fitzgerald|1933|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0mo3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA25 25]}} after he captured it in AD{{nbsp}}619.{{sfnp|Fitzgerald|1933|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0mo3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA70 70]}} At the time, the city lay on the principal road running from points south of the Yellow River northeast to Youzhou (now within Beijing) and Korea.{{harvp|Fitzgerald|1933|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0mo3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA99 99]}}. When Dou captured Li Shentong ({{lang|zh|李神通}}), the Prince of Huai'an, the Tang scion was held in Guangfu's prison.{{sfnp|Fitzgerald|1933|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0mo3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA97 97]}} When Dou was captured at the 621 Battle of Hulao, a few hundred of his cavalry escaped to his capital, looted its treasury, and then yielded the town to the victorious Tang.{{sfnp|Fitzgerald|1933|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0mo3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA88 88–9]}} After Dou was executed in Chang'an, his cavalry officer Liu Heita again rose in rebellion, defeating the Tang near Guangfu in late 621 with Turkic assistance. He then occupied the city and made it his capital,{{sfnp|Fitzgerald|1933|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0mo3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA98 98]}} proclaiming his realm the "Principality of Handong". Li Shimin—the future Emperor Taizong—defeated him by erecting a dam across the nearby Ming River and then bursting it when it was able to flood most of the Handong army.{{sfnp|Fitzgerald|1933|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0mo3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA102 102]}} Liu was able to return to the field with more Turkic help but again defeated. He was executed in Guangping's marketplace in the first month of 623.{{sfnp|Fitzgerald|1933|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0mo3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA105 105]}}

Guangfu's present city walls began as earthen ramparts during the Tang (7th–9th{{nbsp}}centuries) and were built up with masonry under the Yuan (13th–14th{{nbsp}}centuries) and Ming (14th–17th{{nbsp}}centuries).{{citation |last=Xie |first=Xiaoguang |author-mask=Xie Xiaoguang |contribution-url=http://english.cri.cn/6566/2010/12/08/902s609087.htm |contribution=Guangfu: An Ancient Town with New Life |title=English Service |url=http://english.cri.cn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117150606/http://english.cri.cn/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 17, 2006 |publisher=China Radio International |location=Beijing |date=8 Dec 2010 }}.

During the 19th century, under the Qing, it was the home to Yang Luchan and Wu Yuxiang, the founders of Yang and Wu-style tai chi, two of the largest schools of tai chi in the world. Horace William Houlding's South Chihli Mission opened a Protestant church in the town in 1905.{{sfnp|Tiedemann|2009|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=iHeTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT641 641]}} It was overseen in its early years by Katharine Ewald.{{sfnp|D. & C.|1909|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=f5VEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA994 994]}}

The {{convert|1.5|sqkm|abbr=on|sp=us}} historical area within the city walls{{citation |last=Liu |first=Xiang |author-mask=Liu Xiang |contribution-url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/specials/hebei20120814.pdf |contribution=Guangfu: 2,600 Years Old, Birthplace of Tai Chi |date=14 Aug 2012 |publisher=China Daily Information Co |location=Beijing |title=China Daily |url=http://www.chinadaily.com/ |access-date=12 November 2017 |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428125755/http://www.chinadaily.com/ |url-status=dead }}. has been refurbished since China's opening up, with current construction mimicking the town's appearance under the Ming. Yang and Wu's former homes have been converted into public museums honoring their lives and schools of tai chi.{{citation |last=Sapozhnikov |first=Rem |date=May 2014 |contribution-url=https://www.tiwy.com/pais/china/2014/handan/guangfu-ancient-city/eng.phtml |contribution=Guangfu Ancient Town |title=Tiwy |url=http://www.tiwy.com/eng.phtml }}. The town was named a AAAAA tourist attraction by China's National Tourism Administration in 2017.{{citation |contribution-url=http://www.cnta.gov.cn/was5/web/search?channelid=242887 |contribution=5A级景区 |title=Official site |url=http://www.cnta.gov.cn |publisher=China National Tourism Administration |location=Beijing |date=7 Nov 2017 |access-date=2017-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905085808/http://www.cnta.gov.cn/ |archive-date=2008-09-05 |url-status=dead }}. {{in lang|zh}}

The CCTV drama Guangfu Tai Chi ({{lang|zh|《广府太极传奇》}}, Guǎngfǔ Tàijí Chuánqí) was filmed on location in the city in 2007{{citation |contribution=《广府太极传奇》开机 曹荣教黄圣依玩太极拳 |contribution-url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/m/2007-08-27/11061691178.shtml |title=新浪娱乐 |publisher=Sina |location=Shanghai |date=27 August 2007 }}. {{in lang|zh}} and aired in 2010.{{citation |contribution=《广府太极传奇》登央视 黄圣依不知周星驰分手 |contribution-url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/v/m/2010-07-23/19143027663.shtml |title=新浪娱乐 |url=http://ent.sina.com.cn |publisher=Sina |location=Shanghai |date=23 July 2010 }}. {{in lang|zh}}

• AAAAA Tourist Attractions of China

{{noteslist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

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• {{citation |last=Playfair |first=George Macdonald Home |title=The Cities and Towns of China |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyYAAAAAQAAJ |location=Hong Kong |publisher=Noronha & Co |date=1879 }}.
• {{citation |last=Tiedemann |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHeTDAAAQBAJ |title=Reference Guide to Christian Missionary Societies in China from the Sixteenth to the Twentieth Century |publisher=Routledge |location=Abingdon |date=2009 |first=Rolf Gerhard |isbn = 9781315497310}}.

{{wikicommons}}

• [http://www.liveprojects.org/2013/guangfutures/#panel-1 GuangFutures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219044031/http://www.liveprojects.org/2013/guangfutures/#panel-1 |date=2018-12-19 }} by the University of Sheffield's School of Architecture
• [http://beautifulplaces4you.com/Hebei.php Photographs of Guangfu Ancient City] at Beautiful Places 4 You

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Category:Handan

Category:Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Hebei

Category:AAAAA-rated tourist attractions

Category:Populated places established in the 1st millennium BC

Category:Township-level divisions of Hebei