China actor gains renewed fame after fellow star’s warlord role mocked for flawless make-up

Taiwanese-American actor Peter Ho has gained renewed fame in mainland China for a warlord role he played 14 years ago, after another actor was mocked for playing a similar role with flawless makeup in a new drama.Chinese actor Zhang Linghe was widely mocked as the “foundation general”, after a video clip of him playing a warlord in the recent romance costume drama Pursuit of Jade went viral.The video was reportedly made by Zhang’s fans to promote their idol, but received public ridicule, as the warlord that Zhang plays, a fictional character, looks glamorous with perfect makeup after fighting a fierce battle.Some mocked Zhang’s general’s femininity, joking that the general “would demand retreat because he looks cakey”.Actor Zhang Linghe, above, has been mocked for his flawless make-up in battle scenes. Photo: HandoutEven the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-affiliated Jun Zhengping Studio denounced Zhang’s image, commenting that “men do not need to be masculine, but soldiers must be masculine.”Zhang’s role renewed the debates regarding feminine pretty boys in Chinese showbusiness, which were heated nearly a decade ago.A group of Chinese male stars that gained fame in K-pop idol groups had returned to China since 2014, and led the trend of feminine looking “little fresh meats”, a slang term used to describe handsome young men.Controversy surrounding such aesthetics intensified in 2018, when the mainland state media criticised it as “sissy” and “pathological”.Taiwanese-American actor Peter Ho, above, has gained renewed fame in China for playing warlord Xiang Yu in a 2012 drama. Photo: HandoutHowever, such comments were questioned by some who found it sexist, believing that a person’s character or appearance should not be defined by their gender.As in Zhang’s case, the majority agreed with the official criticism.Some people said they were uncomfortable because Zhang’s portrayal was illogical and “does not respect soldiers and historical facts”.Some found the widespread criticism confusing as Pursuit of Jade is an idol drama and it is common for male characters to wear make-up in such dramas.Further ReadingOther online observers explained that it was because Zhang’s fans tagged real historical heroes in their promotional posts, such as Xiang Yu, Huo Qubing, and drew attention of history and military lovers.The controversy took an unexpected turn when the Taiwanese-American actor Peter Ho was thrust into the limelight with his portrayal of Xiang Yu, the late Qin dynasty (221-206BC) warlord known as the ‘Hegemon-King of Western Chu’, in the 2012 drama The Legend of Chu and Han.Zhang Linghe, left, and Peter Ho, right, cut remarkably different figures while playing their roles. Photo: HandoutHo’s bloodstained face and damaged armor following a big fight were compared to Zhang’s flawless makeup. Some became attracted to Ho’s performance, dug into his career and became fans of the 50-year-old actor.Ho was born in the United States to Hong Kong parents, and grew up in Taiwan and Canada.He worked on many part-time jobs as a teenager, having sold kitchen knives, washed dishes at restaurants, made milk tea, because his parents wanted to train his independence and stopped financing his studies when he was 15.Ho studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design, before debuting as a model. He then shortly pursued singing career and started shining after becoming an actor.He starred in many classic TV dramas in the 2000s, such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Wind and Cloud, Jade Goddess of Mercy and Butterfly Lovers.He was famous for his sunshine boy roles in many romance dramas and was also categorised as a “cream boy”, a term that describes handsome young men.Ho’s renewed fame brought him half a million followers on social media in two weeks, and several s. He was also invited to endorse a team dressed as Xiang Yu in the popular Jiangsu Football City League.Speaking of his performance as Xiang Yu 14 years ago, Ho humorously remarked that got the hero part because of an underwear .The above painting depicts a bloody battle in ancient China. Photo: HandoutSkinny Ho worked out to appear fit in the advert, carried on the fitness habits, and got more masculine roles as a result.Ho’s photo album shot in southwestern China’s Yunnan province, which used to cost less than 10 yuan (US$1.5), also became a good seller, with its price rising two or three-fold.Ho, as an art major graduate, took the album’s photographer as his master.A decade later, the photographer, Fu Jun, posted that Ho helped buy anti-cancer drugs from abroad, which were extremely difficult to get in China, for his wife.Speaking of the public’s comparison of him and Zhang, Ho said: “They are two different types of dramas, and cannot be compared.” His comment was widely praised as “clever”.