Local Chinese music expert Mimi Jong e-mailed her justly amazed discovery that the new DreamWorks animated film, "Kung Fu Panda" actually uses a traditional Chinese instrument, the erhu, and a world-renowned performer, Karen Han.

I don't think, judging from the previews, that even the film's martial arts can claim the same amount of authenticity. P-G movie editor Barbara Vancheri only gave it only two-and-one-half stars in her review.

In either case, just think how far Hollywood has come from the days of Charlie Chan, where if the casting of a Swedish man as the famed Chinese detective doesn't completely knock you over, the use of the pentatonic scale to signify all things "Chinese" (or even Asian) in countless films and cartoons will finish the job.

Here is some of the soundtrack featuring this beautiful instrument. The music is by Hans Zimmer And John Powell:

First Published: June 20, 2008, 3:45 p.m.