RAssessment: living in quiet seclusion, he came close to the integrity of Boyi and the Four GreybeardsShu 12 §102Shu 12 §2
NNo direct recordCh. 91 §40
Du Wei 杜微
| Occupation | RScholar · Grandee Remonstrant NOfficial · Master of Writing | Faction | Shu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Shu |
| Born | Native place | Guanghan Commandery Fu County | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R10 |
Profile
Du Wei, courtesy name Guofu, was a man of Fu County in Zitong Commandery. In his youth he studied under Ren An of Guanghan, and Liu Zhang summoned him as an Attendant Officer, but he left office because of illness. When the First Sovereign, Liu Bei, pacified Shu, he constantly claimed to be deaf, kept his gate closed and did not come out. Records, Shu 12 §2
In the 2nd year of Jianxing (224) the Chancellor Zhuge Liang, who concurrently held the post of Governor of Yi Province, made him his Registrar and had him brought in a litter. Zhuge Liang twice wrote letters to keep him, and in the end appointed him Grandee Remonstrant, going along with his wishes. Records, Shu 12 §3 · 5 · 7
In his assessment, Chen Shou said that he cultivated himself, lived in quiet seclusion and was not employed by his age, coming close to the integrity of Boyi and the Four Greybeards. In the Romance he appears once, in Chapter 91, where he is named as a Master of Writing among the officials whom Zhuge Liang leaves behind to govern the affairs of Shu when he sets out on the northern campaign. Records, Shu 12 §102Romance, Ch. 91 §40
In the Records
Du Wei, courtesy name Guofu, was a man of Fu County in Zitong Commandery. In his youth he studied under Ren An of Guanghan. Liu Zhang summoned him as an Attendant Officer, but he left office because of illness. When the First Sovereign, Liu Bei, pacified Shu, Du Wei constantly claimed to be deaf, kept his gate closed and did not come out. Records, Shu 12 §2
In the 2nd year of Jianxing (224), when the Chancellor Zhuge Liang concurrently took the post of Governor of Yi Province, he carefully chose and welcomed men of long-standing virtue, making Qin Mi Attendant Officer Mounted Escort, Wu Liang Officer of Merit and Du Wei Registrar. When Du Wei firmly declined, he was brought in a litter. When Zhuge Liang received him, Du Wei explained his circumstances himself and declined. Records, Shu 12 §3
Because Du Wei said he could not hear what others said, Zhuge Liang wrote him a letter there at his seat. He wrote that, having heard of Du Wei's virtuous conduct, he had long yearned for him as if thirsty and hungry, but since the clear and the muddy flow apart he had had no occasion to call on him; and that Wang Yuantai, Li Boren and others constantly praised Du Wei's lofty aims, so that though they had never met he felt like an old friend. Records, Shu 12 §3
The letter went on to say that, his virtue slight and his responsibility heavy, he was anxious at having been put in charge of the province, and that the sovereign at court was only eighteen this year, benevolent and intelligent by nature, loving virtue and humbling himself before scholars. The people of the realm longed for the house of Han, and he wished, together with Du Wei, to follow Heaven and accord with the people in assisting this enlightened ruler; but Du Wei, believing that the wise and the foolish do not make plans together, had cut himself off and would not bend. Records, Shu 12 §4
When Du Wei pleaded old age and illness and asked to go home, Zhuge Liang wrote again in reply. Cao Pi had usurped the throne and murdered his sovereign to make himself emperor, which was like a clay dragon or a straw dog that has only a name; now Cao Pi was heading for Wu and Chu and imposing heavy corvée, so if they closed the borders for a while, devoted themselves to farming, nurtured the people and repaired their armor and weapons, waiting for him to suffer a setback before attacking, the realm could be pacified without the soldiers fighting or the people toiling. Records, Shu 12 §5
Zhuge Liang ended the letter: 'You need only aid the times with your virtue; I will not charge you with military affairs, so why are you so anxious to leave?' Chen Shou wrote that Zhuge Liang's respect for Du Wei was like this. Zhuge Liang appointed him Grandee Remonstrant, going along with his wishes. Records, Shu 12 §6–7
Chen Shou's main text does not record when or how Du Wei died. In the assessment at the end of Records of Shu 12, Chen Shou said that Du Wei cultivated himself, lived in quiet seclusion and was not employed by his age, coming close to the integrity of Boyi and the Four Greybeards. Records, Shu 12 §1–7 · 102
In the Romance
In Chapter 91 of the Romance, when Kongming (Zhuge Liang), back from pacifying the south, submits a memorial and prepares to set out on a northern campaign, the Grand Historian Qiao Zhou tries to stop him by citing the heavenly signs, but Kongming does not heed him. Kongming leaves Guo Youzhi, Dong Yun, Fei Yi and others to take overall charge of palace affairs, makes Du Qiong Grandee Remonstrant and Du Wei and Yang Hong Masters of Writing, and has more than a hundred civil and military officials inside and outside the court govern the affairs of Shu together. The day of departure is set as the bingyin day of the 3rd month, spring, of the 5th year of Jianxing (227). Romance, Ch. 91 §39–40 · 43
This one passage is the only place in the Romance where Du Wei's name appears, and neither his courtesy name and origin nor his claiming to be deaf is depicted. Romance, Ch. 91 §40
Where the Romance differs
Office: In Chapter 91 of the Romance, Du Wei becomes a Master of Writing together with Yang Hong. In the Biography of Du Wei in the Records, Zhuge Liang made him Registrar and then appointed him Grandee Remonstrant, and there is no record of his becoming a Master of Writing. Romance, Ch. 91 §40Records, Shu 12 §3 · 7
Time of appointment: The Romance depicts Du Wei's appointment as coming just before the northern campaign set out in the spring of the 5th year of Jianxing. In the Records, Zhuge Liang brought him in when he concurrently took the post of Governor of Yi Province in the 2nd year of Jianxing (224). Romance, Ch. 91 §40 · 43Records, Shu 12 §3
Zhuge Liang's letters: In the Records, Zhuge Liang writes a letter on the spot to Du Wei, who claims to be deaf, and holds him back with another letter when he wishes to go home. The Romance has neither Du Wei's claim of deafness nor Zhuge Liang's two letters. Records, Shu 12 §3–6Romance, Ch. 91 §40
Those chosen with him: In the Records, when Du Wei became Registrar, Qin Mi was chosen as Attendant Officer Mounted Escort and Wu Liang as Officer of Merit at the same time. The Master of Writing named alongside Du Wei in Chapter 91 of the Romance is Yang Hong. Records, Shu 12 §3Romance, Ch. 91 §40
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total489 / 1000Rank 278 of 996 · Top 28%Romance total398 / 1000Rank 529 of 1,113 · Top 48%
Romance adaptation index−91Romance total − Records total
- LEA3131±0
- STR3131±0
- INT4542−3
- POL4045+5
- CHA6240−22
- VIR8248−34
- ADP6240−22
- SCH5845−13
- DIP3838±0
- DIS4038−2
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RZhuge Liang had him brought in a litter, and many notables praised his lofty aimsShu 12 §3Shu 12 §4
NNo direct recordCh. 91 §40
RAvoided office by claiming deafness and became Grandee Remonstrant as he wishedShu 12 §2Shu 12 §7
NNo direct recordCh. 91 §40
RStudied under Ren An in his youth; the assessment places him with the scholarsShu 12 §2
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as a civil officialCh. 91 §40
6 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — estimated from the letter saying he would not be charged with military affairsShu 12 §6
NNo direct recordCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — estimated from his being a reclusive scholarShu 12 §2
NNo direct recordCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — estimated from his conduct as a scholarShu 12 §2
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as Master of WritingCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — estimated from his appointments as Registrar and Grandee RemonstrantShu 12 §3Shu 12 §7
NNo direct record — estimated from his appointment as Master of WritingCh. 91 §40
RNo direct record — only his refusals are recordedShu 12 §3
NNo direct recordCh. 91 §40
RNo direct recordShu 12 §2
NNo direct recordCh. 91 §40
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Shu · Records · Records vol. 42 「以秦宓為別駕，五梁為功曹，微為主簿」