Gu Dasao, nicknamed the “Female Tiger,” is one of Liangshan’s female heroes in Water Margin. Together with her husband Sun Xin, she operates an inn in Dengzhou and is known for a bold temperament, physical courage, and a willingness to act decisively.
When the brothers Xie Zhen and Xie Bao are framed and imprisoned after a dispute surrounding a hunted tiger, Gu Dasao immediately becomes involved in their rescue. She brings together Sun Xin, Sun Li, and other relatives and allies to organize an attack on the prison.
The rescue places the Dengzhou group in direct conflict with the authorities, and they ultimately make their way to Liangshan. Gu Dasao joins the brotherhood and becomes one of its notable female members alongside Sun Erniang and Hu Sanniang.
After the imperial amnesty, Gu Dasao accompanies the Liangshan forces through their campaigns and survives the devastating wars that follow. Her story is defined by decisiveness, fierce loyalty to family, and her central role in bringing the Dengzhou group into Liangshan.
