Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is under fire, for its latest video advertisement depicting an old Taoist surrounded by his apprentices excitedly holding a chicken burger and claiming it as a masterpiece. Some cultural experts are criticizing KFC for dishonoring Chinese history, the China Business Post reported Thursday.In this still picture taken from the KFC commercial, an old Taoist and his followers enjoy KFC chicken burgers.
The backdrop and the old Taoist’ s clothing simulate a scene from the movie Seven Swords.
Originally written by Liang Yusheng, Seven Swords is a work of fiction based on actual historical events and is highly regarded among the Chinese community.In fact, it’s not the first time that the fast food chain has imitated scenes from Seven Swords in its television advertisements.
Yin Cheng’an, a leading Taoist in the Beijing Baiyun Taoist Temple, said that the old Taoist Fu Qingzhu in the fiction Seven Swords is a real historical figure, and that it is ridiculous to have Fu recommend chicken burgers because he and most Taoists are vegetarian and the faith dictates killing animals is wrong.
Fu was a national hero who defended ethnic groups from invasion in central China during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. How Fu is portrayed in the commercial is deemed unacceptable not only by the Taoist community but also many Chinese.
No comments yet.