The invention discloses a face-recognition-based network video monitoring device and a monitoring recognition method. The face-recognition-based network video monitoring device comprises a central processing unit, a audio/video signal processing module, a storage module, a clock module, a power supply module, an alarm module, an acquisition photographing module, a snap-shot photographing module, a network communication module and an infrared light source module. The acquisition photographing module is used for acquiring video data to obtain real-time video monitored images and detect a face image target in accordance with a snap-shot requirement. The snap-shot photographing module is used for performs snap-shot on the target, which is detected by the acquisition photographing module and is in accordance with the snap-shot requirement, to obtain a face image of the target and transmit the face image for carrying out targeted postprocessing. The network communication module is used for transmitting the acquired video data and the snap-shot face image to a network. The monitoring recognition method comprises the steps of: carrying out real-time figure comparison on the face image and a face image database of the storage module, or transmitting the face image to a client side to carry out figure search comparison on the face image and the face database of a figure server, and feeding back a comparison result in an alarm manner. According to the invention, the application occasions of video monitoring equipment are expanded, and the security of the application occasions is increased.