Du Wei

Historical Record

Du Wei, styled Guofu, was a native of Fu County in Zitong. In his youth he studied under the renowned Guanghan scholar Ren An ^c:5729. During Liu Zhang's rule of Yi Province, Du Wei was summoned to serve as a Department Attendant. However, he soon resigned his office on the grounds of illness ^c:5729. After Liu Bei (the First Sovereign) pacified Yi Province, Du Wei chose a reclusive way of life, often claiming to be deaf and shutting his door, having no dealings with the outside world ^c:5729.

It was not until the second year of Jianxing of Shu Han (224 CE), when Chancellor Zhuge Liang concurrently held the post of Governor of Yi Province and, in selecting talent, placed special emphasis on recruiting senior officials of high repute, that Qin Mi was appointed Aide, Wu Liang made Merit Officer, and Du Wei chosen as Registrar ^c:5730. Faced with this appointment, Du Wei firmly declined, unwilling to take office. Yet Zhuge Liang did not give up on that account, but insisted on summoning him to the office. After Du Wei was summoned to the office by compulsion, Zhuge Liang received him in person. In the interview Du Wei once again stated his wish to decline. Since Du Wei claimed he could not hear what people said, Zhuge Liang deliberately communicated with him in writing at his seat ^c:5730. This shows Zhuge Liang's respect for Du Wei and his eager thirst for talent: even faced with Du Wei's excuses and physical infirmity, he still insisted on bringing him into his administration.

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives no independent literary portrayal of Du Wei. In the available material, Du Wei does not appear in any chapter of the novel, and so his image, episodes, dialogue, or psychological depiction in the novel are all unattested in history. The novel's omission of Du Wei means that his character trait of "keeping quietly to himself in seclusion and avoiding the world on the pretext of illness," as well as his interactions with Zhuge Liang, were never rendered or adapted through literary means. Therefore, Du Wei's presence in Romance of the Three Kingdoms is zero, and his historical deeds were not incorporated into the novel's narrative framework. This stands in sharp contrast to certain figures who, though obscure in history, were given important roles in the novel, and highlights the novel's emphases in selecting characters and constructing plot.

Key Relationships

* Ren An (student_of): In his youth Du Wei studied under the renowned Guanghan scholar Ren An and received his instruction ^c:5729. This teacher-student relationship was an important part of Du Wei's early educational background and may have had a profound influence on the formation of his learning and character.
* Liu Zhang's faction (serves): During Liu Zhang's rule of Yi Province, Du Wei was summoned to serve as a Department Attendant ^c:5729. However, he soon resigned on the grounds of illness, showing his inclination not to remain long in officialdom. This brief stint reflects Du Wei's cautious attitude toward serving in office in a troubled age.
* Shu Han (serves): After Liu Bei pacified Yi Province, Du Wei chose a way of life of shutting his door and avoiding the world on the pretext of illness. Not until the second year of Jianxing, when Zhuge Liang held the post of Governor of Yi Province, was Du Wei chosen as Registrar; although he firmly declined, he was ultimately summoned into the administration by Zhuge Liang ^c:5730. This shows the Shu Han regime's recognition of Du Wei's ability and its thirst for worthy men, and also reflects how Du Wei in the end could not entirely escape the fate of entering public service.

Iconic Scenes

* Avoiding the world on the pretext of illness, shutting his door: After Liu Bei pacified Yi Province, Du Wei chose a way of life cut off from the world, often claiming to be deaf and tightly shutting his door, having no contact with the outside ^c:5729. This conduct vividly displays his character trait of "keeping quietly to himself in seclusion and avoiding the world on the pretext of illness," a passive resistance to the troubled age and a means of self-protection.
* Zhuge Liang's recruitment by letter: In the second year of Jianxing, Zhuge Liang, in selecting talent, chose Du Wei as Registrar. Although Du Wei firmly declined, Zhuge Liang still insisted on summoning him. When receiving Du Wei, since Du Wei claimed to be deaf, Zhuge Liang deliberately communicated with him in writing at his seat ^c:5730. This scene not only highlights Zhuge Liang's broad-mindedness in his thirst for worthy men and his respect for talent, but also vividly depicts Du Wei's distinctive way of trying to evade office on the grounds of "not hearing people speak." Zhuge Liang's use of writing in place of speech both accommodated Du Wei's "ailment" and served as a clever means of persuasion and retention, ultimately prompting Du Wei to take office.