Luo Cheng

Luo Cheng, Suyling Liu (China) – Exquisite Art

Luo Cheng, one of the 18 Warriors of the Sui-Tang Period, are 18 legendary and fictional heroes living in Sui Dynasty and early Tang Dynasty. The concept of 18 Warriors was first mentioned in the classic historical novel Shuo Tang. The ranking of those 18 warriors was based on their skills in martial arts and their physical strength. Some of them somehow have historical archetypes, such as Qin Shubao and Shan Xiongxin, while others are created by authors of folk stories such as Luo Cheng and Yuwen Chengdu.

Luo’s family had unique skills and tactics in using a spear; similarly, Qin’s family had special skills in using Jian (a type of prism-shaped weapon, generally a sword and short stick). One day, they decided to teach each other their unique skills in private. Luo said that he would lead all he knew to Qin; otherwise, he would die under arrows. Qin told Luo that he would also teach all he knew, or a heavy object would kill him. Ironically, Luo Cheng kept his last and the best spear tactic, the Huimaqiang (Make a fake retreat and then suddenly stab back at the enemy when they are approaching from behind). At the same time, Qin Shubao kept his last and the best Jian tactic, the Shashoujian (Also make a fake retreat. When the enemy attacks from the back, Qin would reach out to the Jian on his right hand back to ward off the enemy’s weapon and suddenly turn around and beat the enemy with another Jian on his left hand). They thought no one knew. However, Luo Cheng was finally killed by arrows in a battle.