Shan Tinggui, nicknamed the “Sacred Water General,” is a Liangshan hero in Water Margin who begins as a government commander stationed at Lingzhou. He serves alongside Wei Dingguo and is sent to oppose Liangshan.
Shan Tinggui is associated with water-based martial imagery, while Wei Dingguo is associated with fire. Together they form a distinctive paired group of officers whose contrasting titles give them a memorable identity.
After fighting Liangshan, Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo are eventually defeated. Through the efforts of figures such as Guan Sheng, the two are persuaded to join Liangshan and become part of the brotherhood they were originally ordered to fight.
After joining Liangshan, Shan Tinggui takes part in later campaigns. Following the imperial amnesty, he continues through the wars that follow and is eventually killed during the campaign against Fang La. His strongest narrative identity remains his pairing with Wei Dingguo as the contrasting “Water” and “Fire” generals.
