Shuizi was born in Tan Yun Lane, Xinguan, Lanzhou in the 10th year of Guangxu (1884). Although he was born in Lanzhou, due to the limitation of his native place, Shuizi had to take the county exam in Yuzhong County where his uncle settled when he was 18 years old. Later, he became a city student (attached student), which is what we usually call a "scholar", the result of the second county exam, the first official exam and the first university exam. Shortly thereafter, Shuizi was elected to Gansu University of Arts and Sciences by virtue of his "scholar" status and provincial examination recommendation. In the summer of Xuantongyuan (1909), Chen Zengyou, the envoy of Gansu Province, presided over the official student selection examination, and Shuizi took the examination again, and was finally admitted to Shi Jing Law and Politics School with excellent results.

Shuizi studied in Beijing for four years, which was also the most turbulent political situation in China. Shuizi and our country experienced a great fission from thought to spirit. Back in his hometown of Lanzhou, Shuizi's identity has changed into an educator, and later he was recognized as a famous scholar, poet and calligrapher in modern times because of his own achievements. Shuizi calligraphy is good at cursive script, elegant and smart, and swings into the atmosphere.

During the Republic of China, Shuizi served as the principal of Gansu Provincial No.1 Middle School, the county magistrate of Didao County (now Lintao), the acting secretary-general of Gansu Province, the director of the preparatory office for Gansu autonomy, the director of the Education Department of Gansu Province, the director of Qinghai Examination Institute in Ningxia, Gansu Province, the secretary-general of the Anhui Provincial Government, and the member of the Central Examination Institute. After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), he served as a member of Northwest Military and Political Committee, the first standing committee member of China People's Political Consultative Conference and the first deputy director of Gansu Province.

Mr. Shuizi has eight children, namely: Professor of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Director of Lanzhou University Library and Doctoral Supervisor Shui Tiantong; Shui, a professor of Foreign Languages Department of Lanzhou University, the first and second directors of China Russian Teaching Research Association, the deputy editor of Russian-Soviet Literature magazine, and the president of Gansu Foreign Literature Association. Shui Tianhao, professor of Xi Institute of Physical Education, majoring in political economy; Shui Tianchang (female), director of history department of Northwest Normal University, vice president of Gansu Institute of Literature and History; Shui Tianzhong, researcher of Chinese Academy of Art, executive director of China Oil Painting Society, vice president of China National Painting Academy, member of National Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee; Shui Tianda, the second director of Gansu TV Station, is a member of China Television Artists Association; Shui Tianguang (female), a teacher of Lintao No.4 Middle School in Gansu Province, was persecuted to death during the Cultural Revolution. Shui Tianxing, senior engineer of Chengdu Locomotive Works, technical director and senior consultant of Beijing World Standard Certification Center.

The famous host Shui Junyi is the third son of Shui.