Linzi Historical District Calls on the World's Designers to Submit Their Designs for a "Rebranding" of Chinese Historical Figure Jiang Ziya

          Linzi, a well-known historical district within the city limits of in China's Shandong province, was also the capital of the ancient Qi state. The Qi state was one of the most powerful states during the Chinese history. Linzi is the birthplace of the Qi culture as well as of a number of Chinese historical celebrities including Jiang Ziya, Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong. It is well documented that Jiang Ziya is the founder of the Qi culture.
          How to keep the general public engaged with the story and image of Jiang Ziya, who, for all intents and purposes, is conceptually inseparable from his birthplace of Linzi, is a challenge for the "keepers of the flame" who have to deal with online trends that can shift direction in the blink of an eye. Using a more accessible internet-based approach to spreading the story of Jiang Ziya and promoting Qi culture, is seen as an effective method for promoting traditional Chinese culture while enhancing general awareness of Linzi as one of the most famous historic and cultural districts in China.
          In this era of mass entertainment, developing a "brand" that is an authentic representation of Jiang Ziya and the Qi culture that he stands for, yet one that has proper intellectual property rights protection, is a proven method that can serve as a catalyst for the district's strong economic growth and enhanced competitiveness. To cite an example as a case study, Kumamon in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture has developed a intellectual property protected "brand" that has developed its own fan base in social media outlets around the world, making it the largest contributor to the community's local economic growth.
          Linzi is calling on designers everywhere to submit a design representative of Jiang Ziya, as part of its efforts to raise the awareness of Linzi as a destination for anyone interested in Chinese culture, while, at the same time, showcasing the quintessence of the Qi culture, especially Tai Gong Liu Tao, a well-known book on the art of war. Linzi aims to create a more accessible image of Jiang Ziya via a variety of campaigns and promotional events to further promote Qi culture.