China Santa Claus: how Qing dynasty military figure ‘cutified’ into ‘Father Christmas’

The once-feared Qing dynasty military commander, Oboi, is being transformed into a charming figure by young people in China, becoming a local version of Father Christmas.\nA recent video circulating on mainland social media showcased Oboi, portrayed by an actor, as Santa Claus at a tourist resort in Zhanjiang, in southern China’s Guangdong province.\nThe resort was adorned with traditional Christmas decorations including artificial snowflakes, Santa hats, and festive gift boxes, which contributed to a lively holiday atmosphere.\nDressed in a Qing dynasty (1644–1912) official’s uniform, Oboi sported a red umbrella-shaped hat, a thick white beard, and white eyebrows.\nHe was seen sitting in a sleigh, pulled by two wooden reindeer, soaring through the air while waving and greeting visitors below.\n\nA tourist who filmed the video remarked: “I thought I was seeing things. China has its own Santa. This is hilarious!”\nA resort staff member informed Jimu News that the character’s look was inspired by the classic Hong Kong comedy Royal Tramp.\n“Oboi resembles Santa Claus. We aim to bring joy to tourists,” the staff member added.\nBesides sharing red hats and white beards, Oboi and his Western counterpart are both viewed as symbols of the “super grandfather.”\nAccording to legend, Santa Claus possesses magical abilities that allow him to traverse the globe in a single night, delivering gifts to well-behaved children.\n\nIn Chinese history, Oboi is seen as the epitome of power in the East, second only to the emperor.\nBorn into a family of generals, Oboi was a skilled warrior renowned for his horsemanship and archery. He led victorious campaigns that bolstered the Qing dynasty, earning him the title of “First Warrior.”\nSubsequently, he was appointed one of the Four Regents, wielding military power.\nDuring Emperor Kangxi’s reign, Oboi eliminated rivals and consolidated authority, taking control of decisions previously shared by the Four Regents.\n\nHowever, his rising influence became a threat to imperial power, leading to the emperor’s dismissal of him on charges of rebellion.\nDuring his trial, Oboi displayed the battle scars he had earned while serving the Qing dynasty, which spared him from execution and resulted in a life sentence. He spent his final years in prison until his death.\nSome historians view Oboi’s life as a blend of loyalty and tyranny. Yet today, spurred by the influence of youth and the rise of internet culture, the once-feared figure is being reimagined as endearing.\nOne netizen noted the phonetic similarity of Oboi’s name to “all buy,” perfectly aligning with the Christmas shopping frenzy.\nOn a mainland online shopping platform, Oboi’s official uniform and hat set is being sold for 150 yuan (US$20) as a “Christmas costume,” with over 1,000 units sold.\n\nNetizens have taken creativity further, using AI technology to remix the Christmas classic Jingle Bells and weave Oboi’s narrative into the lyrics.\nOboi has emerged as a new pop culture icon in China, with related videos surpassing 1 billion views on Douyin.\nOne online observer commented: “Historical figures are being revitalised by modern creativity. Oboi has made this Christmas feel approachable and lovable for the Chinese populace.”\nHowever, not everyone is welcoming this trend.\nOne individual cautioned: “This could foster misconceptions about real history...”\n