Xiang Chong, nicknamed the “Eight-Armed Nezha,” is a Liangshan hero in Water Margin. Together with Li Gun, he follows Fan Rui at Mount Mangdang and is known for a distinctive infantry style involving shields and thrown blades.
When the Mount Mangdang forces come into conflict with Liangshan, Xiang Chong and Li Gun fight using unusual formations and specialized weapons. Gongsun Sheng eventually breaks their defenses with Daoist arts, and Fan Rui, Xiang Chong, and Li Gun are brought into the Liangshan brotherhood.
After joining Liangshan, Xiang Chong and Li Gun continue to appear as a fighting pair. Advancing behind their shields, they are particularly suited to aggressive infantry actions and often operate alongside powerful close-combat warriors such as Li Kui.
Following the imperial amnesty, Xiang Chong takes part in Liangshan’s later campaigns and is eventually killed during the war against Fang La. His partnership with Li Gun and his shield-and-blade fighting style give him a particularly recognizable place among Liangshan’s infantry heroes.
