Chinese film emperor Zhu Yilong recently trended on Weibo due to suspicions of playing a Japanese taiko drum on the Great Wall. The incident stemmed from a drum performance during his participation in the lululemon Great Wall yoga event, with some netizens claiming the drum used resembled a Japanese taiko, sparking controversy. As of now, neither the brand nor the artist's studio has responded. Meanwhile, some fans have clarified on Zhu Yilong’s Weibo supertopic that the drum used at the event was actually a Tang dynasty Jie drum.
On May 30, Zhu Yilong participated in lululemon's Yoga Carnival at the Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall in Beijing as a brand ambassador and collaborated with a drum ensemble for a drum performance. The brand stated this segment was to “sound the grand Chinese drum.” However, after footage from the event circulated, several percussion professionals and netizens pointed out that the drum’s form (barrel-shaped body, red crosswise rope lashing, tilted stand), playing technique, and cultural attributes were consistent with Japanese taiko, showing significant differences from traditional Chinese grand drums.
After the incident, some netizens highlighted that the drum ensemble in question had previously won the Wenhua Award (China’s highest national-level government award for professional stage arts) for recreating Tang dynasty Jie drums and Jiegu drums, and had also been covered by CCTV. As such, some believe that the drum used might be a replica of a lost ancient drum, rather than a Japanese taiko.
However, other netizens pointed out that the Jie drum technique had already declined and become lost by the Song dynasty, and that Japan is currently the only country where the jiegu is still played. In addition, Japan has an instrument explicitly called the jiegu. Some netizens also noted that the dimensions of the Jie drum used at the event differ from the traditional Jie drum, and instead closely resemble the Japanese taiko.
Chinese media reports indicate that Zhu Yilong still has two major unreleased films, "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" and "Empty Gun." For an actor whose reputation is built on solid acting and a positive public image, it can take years to build up accolades for a work, but public image can be damaged in an instant. It is hoped that the parties involved will soon break their silence and respond to public concerns with sincerity and professionalism, clarifying the facts and responsibilities.
Source: HK01