Zhu Longguang (; 1 September 1939–2 August 2025) was a Chinese actor and television director. He was best known for his role as militia leader Gao Chuanbao in the 1965 film Tunnel Warfare and for his portrayal of the Tathagata Buddha in the 1986 television series Journey to the West.

Early life and education Zhu Longguang was born in Xi'an, Shaanxi. Zhu graduated from the performance department of the Lanzhou Art Academy in 1962.

Career After graduating from high school, Zhu Longguang entered the performance department of the Lanzhou Art Academy, from which he graduated in 1962. During his studies, he was mistakenly diagnosed with tuberculosis by the school clinic and took a leave of absence to return to Xi'an. After examinations at seven hospitals, the diagnosis was confirmed to be incorrect. While recuperating at home, the Baoji Municipal Drama Troupe was staging the play Conquering the Dragon and Tiger, and Zhu was introduced to the production and cast as the male lead. The role earned him first prize in the National Young Actors Competition.

In 1961, Zhu was transferred to the Engineering Corps Cultural Troupe of the Central Military Commission, where he served as an actor, troupe leader, and director.

In 1965, Zhu appeared in the film Tunnel Warfare. After the Engineering Corps Cultural Troupe was assigned to participate in the adaptation of the film, he was selected by the director to play the protagonist Gao Chuanbao. He subsequently joined the production team and traveled to Ranzhuang, Qingyuan County, Hebei Province, for filming. After its release, Zhu’s portrayal of the militia leader Gao Chuanbao became widely known across China.

During the Cultural Revolution, in 1969, Zhu was demobilized from the military and assigned to work as a machinist at the Dongfeng Instrument Factory in Xi'an due to being considered "ideologically contaminated and insufficiently reformed". He was later transferred to the factory's propaganda department. About one year later, during a military industrial arts performance, his self-written and performed piece Gear Problem attracted the attention of cultural officials in Shaanxi Province. He was subsequently transferred to the Shaanxi People's Art Theatre, where he worked in admissions and teaching. In this role, he served as an examiner and admitted students including Li Qi.

Zhu gained national recognition in 1965 through his role as Gao Chuanbao in Tunnel Warfare. In the 1980s, director Yang Jie cast him as the Tathagata Buddha in the 1986 adaptation of Journey to the West. His performance became one of the most recognizable portrayals of the character in Chinese television.

Zhu later worked as a director for stage plays and television productions, including Rolling Yellow River (1980) and The Source (1982). He also served as vice-dean and senior advisor at the Oriental Film and Television College.

Death Zhu died in Beijing on 2 August 2025, at the age of 85. His death was widely reported in Chinese media, and tributes were made by colleagues and co-stars, including Liu Xiao Ling Tong.

Cultural impact and legacy Zhu Longguang's portrayal of Tathagata Buddha (如来佛祖) in the 1986 television adaptation of Journey to the West is widely regarded as the most iconic depiction of the Buddha in Chinese popular culture. His broad facial features, combined with the production's heavy makeup and costuming, significantly shaped the modern visual representation of the Buddha in China. Over time, his likeness became closely conflated with the deity itself.

Due to the massive international syndication of the 1986 series across Asia, Zhu's television appearance became a default visual reference for many Buddhist artisans. According to a reported anecdote, Zhu, who was a practicing Buddhist, traveled to Thailand on vacation years after the series aired. He visited a local Thai temple to purchase a traditional Buddha amulet (佛牌) as a religious souvenir. Upon examining the amulets, he was surprised to discover that the local craftsmen had not carved a traditional Southeast Asian depiction of the Buddha. Instead, the amulet was explicitly modeled after his own face from the television show.

Following his death on August 2, 2025, at the age of 86, the Chinese internet saw an outpouring of tributes from fans and former co-stars. Figures including Liu Xiao Ling Tong mourned the passing of the "eternal Tathagata Buddha."

Selected filmography Actor Tunnel Warfare (1965) – Gao Chuanbao Journey to the West (1986) – Tathagata My Own Swordsman (2006) Wu Cheng'en and Journey to the West (2010)

Director Rolling Yellow River (1980) The Source (1982)

References