Zhu Gui
Encyclopedia
Zhu Gui is a fictional character in the Water Margin
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
of Chinese literature
. He ranks 92nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 56th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Dry Land Alligator".
to plunder and rob for a living after he made a great loss. He is one of the earliest pioneers of Liangshan, together with Wang Lun, Du Qian
and Song Wan
. He is extremely versatile and blends into all kinds of situations well, making him an ideal candidate for a spy or scout. He is nicknamed "Dry Land Alligator".
goes to join the outlaw band at Liangshan with a recommendation letter from Chai Jin
. He takes a break in a tavern run by Zhu Gui near Liangshan. Zhu Gui recognises him and sends him to Liangshan without hesitation. The selfish Wang Lun refuses to allow Lin Chong to join the band and he tries to send Lin away with precious gifts. Wang Lun eventually agrees to let Lin Chong join the band after constant persuasion from his deputies, but Lin has to fulfill a requirement to join Liangshan first; kill someone and present the victim's head to him within three days.
Lin Chong lies in ambush on a deserted road, waiting to attack and kill unwary travellers. On the third day, Yang Zhi passes by and Lin Chong attempts to kill him and take his head. However, Yang Zhi proves to be a powerful opponent and neither of them is able to defeat his opponent after several rounds of fighting. Wang Lun and his men arrive and stop the fight. Wang Lun agrees to let Lin Chong join the band and he invites Yang Zhi to join as well. However, Yang Zhi senses Wang Lun's insincerity and declines the offer.
and his six friends flee to Liangshan for refuge after robbing the convoy of birthday gifts, Wang Lun tries to send them away again with precious gifts. Lin Chong is furious with Wang Lun and Wu Yong
seizes the opportunity to instigate Lin to kill Wang. Chao Gai then becomes the new chief of Liangshan and he recruits Wang Lun's former deputies, including Zhu Gui.
On another occasion, Li Kui goes home to fetch his mother to Liangshan. Song Jiang
is worried that Li Kui's fiery temper might bring trouble for him so he asks Zhu Gui to watch over Li secretly. As Song Jiang expected, Li Kui does run into some trouble and he is captured in a trap set by Squire Cao. The constable Li Yun leads some soldiers to escort Li Kui to the county office. Zhu Gui and his younger brother, Zhu Fu
, serve the soldiers food and wine spiked with drugs and knock them out. Li Kui is rescued and he kills the soldiers. Zhu Gui and his brother also succeed in persuading Li Yun to join Liangshan as well.
invaders and rebel forces. He falls ill after the battle of Hangzhou
during the Fang La
campaign and dies of illness eventually on the verge of victory over Fang La. Zhu Gui is posthumously granted the title of "Righteous Gentleman of Integrity" (義節郎) by the emperor in recognition of his contributions.
Water Margin
Water Margin , also known as Outlaws of the Marsh, All Men Are Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang, is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.Attributed to Shi Nai'an and written in vernacular Chinese, the story, set in the Song Dynasty,...
, one of the Four Great Classical Novels
Four Great Classical Novels
The Four Great Classical Novels, or the Four Major Classical Novels of Chinese literature, are the four novels commonly regarded by scholars to be the greatest and most influential of pre-modern Chinese fiction. Dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties, they are well known to most Chinese readers...
of Chinese literature
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
. He ranks 92nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 56th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Dry Land Alligator".
Background
The Water Margin describes Zhu Gui as a tall and big man with a cheekbones like fists and a yellow beard. He was initially a trader and he decided to join the outlaws at Liangshan MarshMount Liang
Mount Liang is a mountain in Liangshan County, Shandong province, China which rises to 197.9 m above sea level. It is well known as the stronghold of the 108 legendary Song Dynasty heroes of the classic Chinese novel Water Margin...
to plunder and rob for a living after he made a great loss. He is one of the earliest pioneers of Liangshan, together with Wang Lun, Du Qian
Du Qian
Du Qian is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 83rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 47th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Touching the Sky".-Background:...
and Song Wan
Song Wan
Song Wan is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 82nd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 46th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Giant in the Clouds".-Background:...
. He is extremely versatile and blends into all kinds of situations well, making him an ideal candidate for a spy or scout. He is nicknamed "Dry Land Alligator".
First appearance
Lin ChongLin Chong
Lin Chong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 6th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Panther Head"...
goes to join the outlaw band at Liangshan with a recommendation letter from Chai Jin
Chai Jin
Chai Jin is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 10th of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Little Whirlwind"...
. He takes a break in a tavern run by Zhu Gui near Liangshan. Zhu Gui recognises him and sends him to Liangshan without hesitation. The selfish Wang Lun refuses to allow Lin Chong to join the band and he tries to send Lin away with precious gifts. Wang Lun eventually agrees to let Lin Chong join the band after constant persuasion from his deputies, but Lin has to fulfill a requirement to join Liangshan first; kill someone and present the victim's head to him within three days.
Lin Chong lies in ambush on a deserted road, waiting to attack and kill unwary travellers. On the third day, Yang Zhi passes by and Lin Chong attempts to kill him and take his head. However, Yang Zhi proves to be a powerful opponent and neither of them is able to defeat his opponent after several rounds of fighting. Wang Lun and his men arrive and stop the fight. Wang Lun agrees to let Lin Chong join the band and he invites Yang Zhi to join as well. However, Yang Zhi senses Wang Lun's insincerity and declines the offer.
At Liangshan
When Chao GaiChao Gai
Chao Gai is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He is widely considered as the founding father of the Liangshan outlaws' cause to serve the nation and deliver justice on behalf of Heaven...
and his six friends flee to Liangshan for refuge after robbing the convoy of birthday gifts, Wang Lun tries to send them away again with precious gifts. Lin Chong is furious with Wang Lun and Wu Yong
Wu Yong
Wu Yong is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 3rd of the 36 Heavenly Spirits of the 108 Liangshan heroes and is nicknamed "Resourceful Star".-Background:...
seizes the opportunity to instigate Lin to kill Wang. Chao Gai then becomes the new chief of Liangshan and he recruits Wang Lun's former deputies, including Zhu Gui.
On another occasion, Li Kui goes home to fetch his mother to Liangshan. Song Jiang
Song Jiang
Song Jiang was the leader of a group of outlaws who lived during the Song Dynasty. The outlaws were active in the present-day provinces of Shandong and Henan before their eventual surrender to the government. Song Jiang is also featured as a character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great...
is worried that Li Kui's fiery temper might bring trouble for him so he asks Zhu Gui to watch over Li secretly. As Song Jiang expected, Li Kui does run into some trouble and he is captured in a trap set by Squire Cao. The constable Li Yun leads some soldiers to escort Li Kui to the county office. Zhu Gui and his younger brother, Zhu Fu
Zhu Fu
Zhu Fu is a fictional character in the Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 93rd of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 57th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Smiling Tiger".-Background:...
, serve the soldiers food and wine spiked with drugs and knock them out. Li Kui is rescued and he kills the soldiers. Zhu Gui and his brother also succeed in persuading Li Yun to join Liangshan as well.
Campaigns and death
Zhu Gui becomes one of the scout leaders of Liangshan after the Grand Assembly and stationed in the tavern south of Liangshan. He is tasked with making preparations to receive the imperial envoy from the emperor, who grants the outlaws amnesty. Subsequently, he follows the heroes on their campaigns against the LiaoLiao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
invaders and rebel forces. He falls ill after the battle of Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
during the Fang La
Fang La
Fang La was a rebel leader who lived during the Song Dynasty. He is also featured as one of the antagonists and nemesis of the 108 Liangshan heroes in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.-Biography:...
campaign and dies of illness eventually on the verge of victory over Fang La. Zhu Gui is posthumously granted the title of "Righteous Gentleman of Integrity" (義節郎) by the emperor in recognition of his contributions.