Actor Chu Long Guang passed away on 2/8 at the age of 86. His funeral took place in Beijing, China on 6/8. Several members of the "Journey to the West" cast and crew attended to pay their respects, including Luu Tieu Linh Dong (who played Sun Wukong) who delivered a eulogy on behalf of the production team.
Luu Tieu Linh Dong recalled his last encounter with Chu in 4/2023 at an arts seminar. Chu was having difficulty walking, and Linh Dong helped him up the steps. Chu jokingly remarked, "Well, well, the Monkey King is helping the Buddha today."
Luu Tieu Linh Dong remembers Chu as kind, optimistic, and humorous, a personality that bridged the age gap between him and his younger colleagues.
Cinematographer Vuong Sung Thu, husband of director Duong Khiet, referred to Chu as a "comrade-in-arms," having shared many ups and downs together. They were not just colleagues but close, long-time friends who supported each other through personal and professional challenges.
Other members of the "Journey to the West" team also attended the funeral, including Vuong Ba Chieu (who played the White Dragon Horse), Truong Thanh (Princess Wan Sheng), and Vu Hong (the on-set secretary, who later married Luu Tieu Linh Dong).
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Luu Tieu Linh Dong and his wife, Vu Hong, pay their respects to Chu Long Guang. Photo: Weibo |
In her book, "Asking the Way," director Duong Khiet stated that the actor playing the Buddha had to exude an aura of "absolute solemnity and divinity." She interviewed 15 people, but none met her criteria.
Makeup artist Vuong Hy Chung assisted Duong Khiet in her search. He encountered Chu Long Guang at the film studio and asked if he would be interested in portraying a deity in "Journey to the West." Vuong Hy Chung applied plaster to Chu's face, attached prosthetic ears, and added a vermillion mark to his forehead before consulting with Duong Khiet.
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Chu Long Guang and director Duong Khiet. Photo: Mtime |
Upon meeting Chu, Duong Khiet initially hesitated, finding his features "somewhat fierce" and lacking the necessary benevolence. However, during the audition, Chu donned a saffron robe and delivered the line, "Sun Wukong, you are still within my palm." Everyone was captivated by his commanding presence, "dignified without anger."
During filming, Chu Long Guang endured a two-hour makeup process each day, with 48 rubber accessory pieces applied to his head. On one occasion, people near the set knelt before him, mistaking him for the actual Buddha.
In an interview with Ifeng, Chu described playing the Buddha as a precious life experience. He expressed his greatest joy as an actor was seeing his character remembered by the audience. Besides "Journey to the West," he also appeared in "Wulin Gaiden," "Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West," and "New Legend of Madame White Snake." His final role was as the Buddha in "The Legend of Huineng," released in 2024. He remained lucid in his later years and occasionally gave lectures and performed.
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Chu Long Guang. Photo: Mtime |
Filming for "Journey to the West" began in 1982, with the complete series first airing in 1986. Vuong Sung Thu served as cinematographer, working with the main cast: Luu Tieu Linh Dong, Ma Duc Hoa, Tri Trong Thuy, and Tu Thieu Hoa. Despite challenging transportation and logistics, the crew filmed in various remote locations, including the Flaming Mountains in Xinjiang, the deep forests of Jilin, the waterfalls of Jiuzhaigou, and mountainside temples in Shanxi province. The series became a hit across Asia and holds the record for the most rebroadcasts in China.
Nhu Anh (via Mtime)
