When 'Monkey King' shared memories of Jodhpur…

Beijing, October 18 (IANS). My recent trip to Jiyuan City in Henan Province of China was very special for me. The ‘Monkey King Gathering’ held here not only set a new Guinness World Record, but also gave me the opportunity to get to know the character that is China’s cultural identity, ‘Sun Wukhong’, up close. At this event, I also had the opportunity to meet and meet with the internationally famous actor and martial artist Jiang Chunlai (Liu Xiaolingtong). He is famous not only in China but all over the world for his films and charismatic style. The focus of our conversation was his famous character “Sun Wukhong” (Monkey King), a character who is a hero of Chinese literature and has gained worldwide recognition today. During the conversation, Jiang Chunlai explained that Sun Wukhong is not just a movie character to him, “The Monkey King is the soul of Chinese culture. It inspires us to give courage, rebel and stand up for justice.” There was a glow on his face and determination in his voice as he shared this experience, proving that Monkey King is very close to his heart. According to him, playing the Monkey King was not easy. “Sometimes this character is mischievous, sometimes angry and sometimes very sensitive. Living it requires energy and alertness at every moment.” “Sun Wukhong has both energy and mischief. Sometimes he looks rebellious, sometimes funny, and sometimes very intense. It is a great challenge for an actor to bring all these colors together.” During the conversation, he also shared his memories of India. Referring to Jodhpur in Rajasthan, he said, “The scorching sun and scorching weather there made shooting difficult, but the warmth of the people there and the grandeur of the royal forts made one forget all the fatigue. Even today that experience is vivid in my memories.” When I listened to him, I felt proud that my country’s soil also left such a deep impression on a world star. When I asked him to give a message to the Indian audience, he said, “Both India and China have their roots in very ancient civilizations. Our stories, our heroes and our ideals connect us. I want the Indian audience to think of Sun Wukhong not only as a Chinese hero, but as a universal icon who conveys the message of courage and freedom.” This meeting with Jiang Chenlai was for me the experience of a bridge between two great civilizations. After meeting ‘Monkey King’, I realized that stories really transcend borders, and perhaps this is the true power of art and culture: ‘connecting people and bringing hearts closer’. (Courtesy- China Media Group, Beijing) –IANS DKP/