The Hidden Mirror Man, whose real name is Luo Bi, is a fictional character from Huang Junxiong’s glove puppet theater. Known for his role as the formidable war deity of Miaojiang, he is characterized by his unrestrained arrogance and stands as the ultimate villain opposing the Confucian hero Shih Yen-wen. His striking image is defined by his mysterious, masked appearance, a result of a magical mirror that grants him invisibility, hence his moniker, “Hidden Mirror Man.”

A master of cunning strategy, the Hidden Mirror Man is famous for his chilling catchphrases: “Those who follow me will live; those who oppose me will die” and “The warmth and coldness of human feelings are hard to recall; how many heartaches remain.” He has long concealed his face behind a mask and is recognized alongside Shih Yen-wen in the “Famous Figures of the Jiazi Era” as one of the “World’s Top Masters.”

The Hidden Mirror Man’s hatred for Shih Yen-wen runs deep, but he soon learns of the truth that he is Shih Yen-wen’s long-lost twin brother. Manipulated by the Western Sword School, this secret is eventually exposed, leading to a series of assassination attempts and a profound shift in his mindset. As Shih Yen-wen suffers severe injury and falls unconscious, the Hidden Mirror Man steps into his brother’s role, striving to lead and stabilize the Central Plains.

Years of misunderstanding had set the brothers against each other, with the Hidden Mirror Man believing he must eliminate Shih Yen-wen, harboring long-standing grievances. However, the revelation of their blood bond exposes the cruel twists of fate that have shaped their lives. Despite the constraints of destiny, both brothers chose their paths, and their story takes on a new dimension.

No longer enemies but blood relatives, their relationship evolves beyond the simple dichotomy of good versus evil. The Hidden Mirror Man transforms from a symbol of malevolence into a more nuanced character. Shih Yen-wen, grappling with the rise and fall of the Central Plains, now faces personal sacrifice and emotional turmoil, driven by unavoidable pain rather than just noble ideals.

Their lives intertwine in a complex narrative that transcends the classic struggle between good and evil, revealing the deeper contradictions and tensions of human existence.

References:

Fandom, Inc. (n.d.-b). 藏鏡人. 布袋戲資料庫. https://palmardrama.fandom.com/zh/wiki/%E8%97%8F%E9%8F%A1%E4%BA%BA

藏镜人 – 金光资料馆. (n.d.). https://jinguang.huijiwiki.com/wiki/藏镜人

心得金光人物帖#2 萬惡罪魁藏鏡人 介紹 @布袋戲文化綜合討論區 哈啦板 – 巴哈姆特. (n.d.-a). https://forum.gamer.com.tw/C.php?bsn=867&snA=76052