History of Clowns

Multicultural Clowns Stressing multicultural awareness is a trend in education today.  If you are involved in clown education, you can fit this trend.  Most cultures have had their clown characters.  Being part of so many cultures indicates that clowns meet basic cultural needs.

Court Fools The first known clown was a pygmy presiding as a court fool at the court of Pharaoh Dadkeri-Assi during Egypt's Fifth Dynasty.   In 1818 B.C., one of China's rulers, neglecting ancient religious rites, filled his court with clowns.  His successors restored the rites, but also kept the clowns.   One of China's Jesters, Yu Sze, is remembered as a national hero because he saved the lives of thousands of laborers when he kidded the Emperor Shih Huang-Ti out of having the enemy side of the Great Wall whitewashed in 300 B.C.

Other Asian Clowns Clowns played an important role in the religions lives of Asian societies.  In India, Sanskrit Dramas based on the epic stories "Mahabharata" and "Ramayan" began about 100 A.D.  Most of the dialogue was in the Sanskrit language spoken only by gods, kings, ministers, generals, and sages.  Viduska, a clown who was the hero's servant and confidant, spoke Prakrit, the language of the general population.  He interpreted the action for the audience.   When the kingdom of Pagan, in Burma, was destroyed by a Civil War in 1257 A.D., the scholars and writers fled into the countryside, and inspired the country folk to hold pageants representing the life of Buddha.  The roles of the royal attendants were transformed into clown characters called Lu-byet (frivolous men).

		Native American Clowns The clowns of Native American cultures also played a religious role.  In some tribes, a religious ceremony can't begin until the clowns have made everybody laugh because they believe laughter lowers their defenses making them more open to learning.  The actions of some of the clowns would be considered obscene by the WASP culture, but they were part of the clown's function for insuring fertility for the tribe’s crops and women.     In one ceremony, men of the tribe impersonate animals while wearing robes.  Children hide inside the robes.  Clowns grab the children, and try to run away with them.  Other members of the tribe chase after the clown and try to rescue the children.  The clowns let some of the children be rescued, but escape with others.  The children represent the spirits of the animals the tribe will be hunting during the year.  The ones the clowns escape with represent those animals that will give up their lives so the tribe can live.  The children who are rescued represent the animals that will get away to insure that the species will live to provide food in future years. The Native American clowns frequently had a teaching function.  They taught children the proper way to perform the tribe's ceremonies.  They also taught people to follow the tribe’s social rules by satirizing the people who broke them.

		Names Of Clowns Clowns have been called many different names, and their appearance has varied, but their actions and functions have been similar.  Here are some of the names that have been used for clowns throughout history and around the world.   Auguste Badin (Medieval France) Bobo (Spain c. 1500's) Buffoon Cabotin (Italy c. 1500's) Cascadeur (France) Charlie (European Tramp) Chou (China) Claune (France 1800's) Columbine (Commedia Del Arte & English Pantomime Female Clown) Contrary (Plains Native American Tribes) Excentrique (France, Solo Clown) Fool Franceschina (Commedia Del Arte Female Clown)   Gleeman (England, Medieval) Gleemaden (England, Medieval Female Clown) Gracioso (Spain, c. late 1500's) Grotesque (France, acrobatic clown, 1820-1850) Hano (Native American) Hanswurst (Germany & Austria c. 1700) Harlequin (Commedia Del Arte & English Pantomime) Harlequina (Commedia Del Arte Female Clown) Jack Pudding (England, 1600's) Jester Joey Jongleur (Europe ninth century) Koshare (Native American) Kartala (Bali) Koyemsi (Hopi Native American Tribe) Merry Andrew (England 1600 & 1700's) Minnesinger (German 1100-1400) Minstrel (Europe Medieval, also America 1800 & 1900) Narr (Germany c. 1600) Newekwe (Zuni Native American Tribe) Nibhatkin (Burma) Pagliacci (Italy) Pantalone (Commedia Del Arte & English Pantomime) Pedrolino ((Commedia Del Arte)  Pensar (Bali) Pickle Herring (Holland & Germany, 1600 & 1700's) Pierrot (France) Rizhii (Russia 1800's) Semar (Java) Skomorokhi (Russia c. 1000) Smeraldina (Commedia Del Arte Female Clown)  Tramp (America) Trickster (Mythology of many cultures) Troubadour (France, medieval) Vidusaka (India) Vita (India) Wayang Orang (Indonesia) Whiteface Zany (Italy)   This article was written by Bruce "Charlie" Johnson

		Bruce "Charlie" Johnson is an internationally recognized family entertainer, clown historian, instructor, author and artist.  He has created his own unique performance style combining magic, juggling, plate spinning, trick cartoons, pantomime, audience interaction, and clowning.  He is particularly known for his rapport with audiences of all ages.