The 38-year-old Beijing high school history teacher evoked public attention in late 2008, when his lecture videos were uploaded and spread on the internet. His humorous and sharp teaching style won him huge internet popularity and the title "Most Awesome History Teacher in History". In 2009 Mr. Yuan was invited as a speaker at Lecture Room (Bai Jia Jiang Tan) of CCTV, one of the most viewed TV shows in China, which features series of keynotes on Chinese history, literature and traditional culture. Prior to Yuan, this show had already popularized a few star scholars. Yuan's lectures 'Epic of the Song Dynasties' (Liang Song Feng Yun) renewed record audience ratings again with vividly told stories of history, with insightful research and interesting delivery. By the end of 2009, Yuan turned himself from an ordinary high school teacher to a well-known commentator, most welcomed speaker and best-selling author. No other high school teacher has gained as much sensation as he received in China, a country where liberal arts doesn’t gain much attention. "Calling me the Most Awesome Teacher, however, is a total exaggeration," Yuan himself responded humbly.
In early 2010 Yuan was involved into some political disputes. His comments about Mao, videotaped earlier as part of his class, was circulated on the internet and led to "punishment" by his school, though more of a gesture than real punishment, and some public pressure. This incident added to him another identity: a political dissident.
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