Tao Hong - Old Warrior Clown Face

Old Warrior Clown Face

Clown Face is also called three-flower face or little flower face. Caricature is used to produce comical effects. A distinctive feature is a white patch painted over the nose ridge, which may be square, round, triangular, or diamond-shaped, depending on the role. The way the eyes, brows, nose, mouth, and facial expressions are depicted also differs. Many very different roles use clown makeup; detestable rogues and lovable children; misers and philanthropists; corrupt officials and upright judges; emperors, kings, officers, down to standard bearers, mule drivers, and news vendors. Thus there are many kinds of clowns---warrior clowns, civilian clowns, old clowns, wicked clowns, buffoons.

Tao Hong with an old warrior-clown face stars in "The Fight in a Melon Garden," adapted from a legend of the Five Dynasties. Zheng En, an oil vendor, steals some melons from a garden owned by a man called Tao Hong. When caught, he refuses to admit his guilt and puts up a stiff fight, The garden owner is so impressed by his strength and courage that, instead of turning him over to the authorities, he marries him to his daughter.