Thousands of viewers shared a video of the artist interacting with fans at a reading culture promotion event in Shenyang in mid-March across fan pages and social media. He held the Ruyi staff prop, mimicking the character Sun Wukong from the television series filmed in 1982. As Luc Tieu Linh Dong twirled the staff, organizers played the show’s theme music and Sun Wukong’s iconic lines.
Many viewers found the familiar movements exciting and emotional when watched live. Fans wrote on Weibo: "After nearly half a century, he is still number one in performing Sun Wukong", "His hand movements are still flexible and agile", "Seeing Luc Tieu Linh Dong brings back childhood memories".
According to Sina, the 1982 "Tay du ky" series set a record for being replayed the most in Trung Quoc, over 4,000 times. Duong Kiet directed the work, which follows Tang Tang and his disciples Sun Wukong, Tru Bat Gioi, Sa Tang, and Bach Long Ma as they battle demons, overcome challenges, and seek Buddhist scriptures. Luc Tieu Linh Dong believes the master and disciples are like five fingers, each different in length and function, but when clenched, they form a fist, symbolizing determination and strength.
With rudimentary special effects, Luc Tieu Linh Dong wore protective gear to film fire scenes for visual impact. During the shooting of the episode "Phong chuc Bit ma on", the actor fell, broke a bone, and fainted on the spot.
On screen, the monkey flew and leaped with agility and ease, but in reality, Luc Tieu Linh Dong faced life-threatening danger while filming at Hoang Quoc Thu, Quy Chau province. During an aerial scene, the actor accidentally fell, fortunately snagging his leg on a vine, preventing him from hitting his head on the ground.
The artist, whose real name is Truong Kim Lai, was born in 1959 in Thuong Hai into a family with an artistic tradition. At 23 years old, he joined the "Tay du ky" film crew, and since then, his career has been intertwined with the image of Sun Wukong. In 1994, he established a film production company, releasing cultural products. The company’s logo features the actor’s portrayal of Sun Wukong.
 |
Luc Tieu Linh Dong in "Tay du ky". Photo: Weibo |
The artist believes in "doing one job for a lifetime and doing it as best as possible". In recent years, he has written books and lectured in schools on "monkey opera" to promote traditional culture and help "awaken" cultural roots in young people.
In late 2023, Forbes Trung Quoc magazine selected Luc Tieu Linh Dong as one of 100 individuals for the Outstanding Craftsman award. This award celebrates the spirit of meticulous dedication to creating an exquisite product, emphasizing detail and perfection, while both continuing tradition and expressing modern aesthetic concepts. Awardees work in fields such as art, baking, tea, and wine.
Nhu Anh
