Du Shu

Historical Record

Du Shu, styled Wubo, was the son of Du Ji. In his youth, Du Shu and Li Feng of Fengyi were friends of their fathers' generation and were close from boyhood. However, upon reaching adulthood, Li Feng cultivated his reputation and conduct to seek worldly esteem, while Du Shu held to an unconventional, straightforward disposition, his way differing from Li Feng's. Li Feng thereby became famous for a time, and many gentlemen of the capital lobbied on his behalf, while those in power sometimes thought his reputation exceeded his substance. By contrast, Du Shu was regarded as a man of unrecognized talent, and Li Feng accordingly treated him coolly. Du Shu took it as it came, not deliberately catering to the fashions of the day. When Li Feng entered court in a prominent office, Du Shu still remained at ease at home.

Emperor Ming, mindful that Du Shu was the son of a great minister, promoted him to Cavalier Attendant Gentleman, and after several months transferred him to fill the post of Gentleman of the Yellow Gate^[1]. Du Shu was sincere and substantial by nature, given to no embellishment, and had no prominent reputation in his youth. Yet after entering the court, he never sought to form connections or solicit patronage, devoting himself wholly to the public interest. Whenever there were gains or failings in state affairs, Du Shu was often able to invoke the guiding principles and speak rightly, and was therefore greatly valued by the Attendant Officer Xin Pi and others.

At that time, the high ministers and those below held a great deliberation on the merits and faults of court policy. Du Shu proposed: "The Inspectors of old upheld and proclaimed the Six Articles, were renowned for purity and quiet, and were noted for their authority. Now they need not be made to command troops, so that they may devote themselves wholly to civil affairs."^[2] Not long after, the General Who Guards the North, Lü Zhao, also concurrently held the post of Inspector of Jizhou, and Du Shu submitted a memorial setting forth his views on this matter.

In the second year of Ganlu (257 CE), a man of Hedong named Yue Xiang, then over ninety years old, submitted a memorial to the court extolling the surviving achievements of Du Ji. The court was moved by his words and decreed that Du Shu's son Du Yu be enfeoffed as Marquis of Fengle Pavilion, with a fief of one hundred households^[3]. This act was not only an affirmation of Du Ji's achievements but also reflected, indirectly, the standing and influence of the Du family at the juncture of Wei and Jin.

In the Novel

(No novel material)

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei (serves): Du Shu held posts such as Cavalier Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate in the Cao Wei regime, was valued by Emperor Ming, and offered advice on court policy^[1].
* Lian Zhao (enemy_of): The sources record that Du Shu submitted a memorial regarding the matter of the General Who Guards the North, Lü Zhao, concurrently holding the post of Inspector of Jizhou, indicating a divergence of political views between him and Lü Zhao—Lü Zhao being the Lian Zhao mentioned in the material^[2].
* Du Yu (parent_of): Du Shu was the father of Du Yu. In the second year of Ganlu, Du Yu was enfeoffed as Marquis of Fengle Pavilion with a fief of one hundred households on account of the achievements of his grandfather Du Ji^[3].

Iconic Scenes

* Speaking bluntly on court policy, forming no connections or solicitations: During his time as Cavalier Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, Du Shu was sincere and substantial, given to no embellishment, and never sought to form connections or solicit patronage. Whenever there were gains or failings in court policy, he was always able to invoke the guiding principles and speak rightly, and was therefore valued by the Attendant Officer Xin Pi and others^[1]. This embodies his character traits of "forthright in discussion" and "forming no connections or solicitations."
* Remonstrating on the functions of the Inspectors: In one great deliberation of the high ministers, Du Shu proposed: "The Inspectors of old upheld and proclaimed the Six Articles, were renowned for purity and quiet, and noted for their authority; now they need not be made to command troops, so that they may devote themselves wholly to civil affairs."^[2] This scene displays his profound reflection on governing the state and his independent, unconstrained judgment, and also reflects, indirectly, his candor of "not guarding against trouble in his thoughts."
* Father and son in succession, honor continued: In the second year of Ganlu, on account of Du Ji's surviving achievements, the court decreed that Du Shu's son Du Yu be enfeoffed as Marquis of Fengle Pavilion^[3]. This event was not only a recognition of the Du family's merit but also symbolized that the family's honor was carried on through Du Shu's son; although Du Shu himself has no clear record of enfeoffment in the sources, the enfeoffment of his son on account of his grandfather's merit reflects, from the side, the standing of the Du household.