Qin Shubao, Brave and Fierce Warrior of the Tang Dynasty

Qin Shubao, also known as Qin Qiong was a fierce warrior of Tang Dynasty. He was renowned as one of the 24 heroes establishing Tang Dynasty.

Serving initially as a young soldier of Sui dynasty, Qin Shubao came to the attention of his military general with his fierceness in the battles and integrity in his service. He was soon promoted as a commander of a small squad.

Qin Shubao, the brave and fierce warrior of the Tang Dynasty

The army he served was once confronted by a five times larger rebellious forces. To win the battle, the military general decided to set a trap with a false retreat, and then have a small elite team launch a fierce surprise attack to the enemy’s base when the major rebel troops were lured out to chase. Facing the critical and dangerous task of leading the elite team, Qin Shubao was one of the only two volunteers who stood out.

The plan worked when Qin Shubao’s team took over the base and set fire to it after a bloody and fierce fighting. The rebellious force suffered a fatal defeat when they tried to pull back to rescue their base, and Qin shubao made his bravery well-known and was promoted to a higher commander.

Qin Shubao then joined the army of Tang and served as the favourite military spearhead of Prince Li Shimin who later became the Emperor of Taizong of Tang dynasty. It is said once when the prince was taunted Qin Shubao raced himself into a large enemy troop out of fury, and the enemy was so scared of him that they made the way for him to reach their military general whom was then slaughtered by Qin Shubao.

Another famous story about Qin Shubao was supernatural. It is said when the emperor Taizong was haunted by the ghosts of the war. Qin Shubao together with another fierce warrior volunteered to guard the palace gates at nights to scare the ghosts away. It seems working and later the emperor ordered the painter to make the portraits of them to guard the palace gates. Gradually, common people followed the same practice, and their portraits were regarded as guardian gods for households until nowadays.

Qin Shubao fell seriously sick sooner after appointed as military general in chief. He calmly accepted his fate and said, “I spent my whole life in military service fighting over 200 battles. How could I not to be sick with so many injuries on my body.”

Emperor Taizong commissioned a statue of him on horse as recognition of his outstanding military feats.