Ruan Wu 阮武
| Occupation | ROfficial · Administrator of Qinghe | Faction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | R | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Chenliu Commandery | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R4 |
Profile
Ruan Wu was a man of Chenliu who served as Administrator of Qinghe. He has no biography of his own in the Records and appears once each in the biographies of Du Shu and Lu Yu. His courtesy name is not given in Chen Shou's main text. Records, Wei 16 §74Records, Wei 22 §99
Summoned back from his post as Administrator of Qinghe, he went with Du Shu to the Minister of Justice to submit themselves to interrogation, and at that time he told Du Shu that he had talent but no use for it and urged him to think deeply and form a school of his own. Later, when Lu Yu, who had become Minister of Personnel, recommended a successor at the emperor's command, Ruan Wu was recommended together with Sun Yong, but the emperor appointed Sun Yong. Records, Wei 16 §74Records, Wei 22 §98–99
Chen Shou's main text does not record his later posts or his death. He does not appear in the Romance. Records, Wei 16 §74Records, Wei 22 §99
In the Records
Du Shu, after eight years at court, went out to become Administrator of Hongnong, a few years later was transferred to be Chancellor of the State of Zhao, and left office because of illness. Records, Wei 16 §70–71
When Du Shu returned from Zhao Commandery, Ruan Wu of Chenliu had also been summoned back from his post as Administrator of Qinghe, and the two went together to the Minister of Justice to submit themselves to interrogation. Records, Wei 16 §74
Ruan Wu said to Du Shu, 'Looking at you, your talent and character are such that you could follow the public way, yet you do not hold to it strictly; your capacity and ability are such that you could fill high office, yet you do not seek it in a compliant manner; your talent and learning are such that you could write about past and present, yet your purpose is not single. This is what is called having talent but no use for it. Now that you have come upon a time of leisure, try thinking deeply and forming a school of your own.' Records, Wei 16 §74
Later, while Du Shu was Inspector of You Province, he was impeached by Cheng Xi, General Who Conquers the North, handed over to the Minister of Justice and sentenced to death, but because his father Du Ji had drowned while diligently doing his duty, he was spared death, made a commoner and banished to Zhangwu Commandery. That year was the 1st year of Jiaping (249). At Zhangwu Du Shu at last wrote the Essays on the Substance of Government (Tilun) in eight chapters, and also wrote the Discourse on Cultivating One's Nature in one chapter. Records, Wei 16 §72–73 · 75
According to the biography of Lu Yu, Lu Yu entered the court as Palace Attendant in the 2nd year of Qinglong (234), and during his three years in that post he often raised objections and disputed matters. When he was made Minister of Personnel by edict, the emperor had Lu Yu choose his own successor, saying, 'Only someone like you will do.' Records, Wei 22 §97–99
When Lu Yu recommended the Attendant-in-Ordinary Zheng Chong, the emperor said, 'Wenhe I already know myself. Recommend someone else I have not yet heard of.' Lu Yu then recommended Ruan Wu and Sun Yong, and the emperor appointed Sun Yong. Chen Shou's main text does not mention what became of Ruan Wu afterwards. Records, Wei 22 §99
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
This person does not appear in the Romance, so only the Records score (Chen Shou’s main text) is given.
- LEA33
- STR31
- INT55
- POL52
- CHA40
- VIR45
- ADP40
- SCH48
- DIP50
- DIS66
Evidence by ability
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Administrator of QingheWei 16 §74
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Administrator of QingheWei 16 §74
RPointed out Du Shu's talents and weaknesses one by oneWei 16 §74
RServed as Administrator of Qinghe, and Lu Yu recommended him as his successorWei 16 §74Wei 22 §99
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Administrator of QingheWei 16 §74
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Administrator of QingheWei 16 §74
RNo direct record — estimated from his career as Administrator of QingheWei 16 §74
RNo direct record — estimated from his urging Du Shu to writeWei 16 §74
RAssessed Du Shu's talents and told him he could set down the past and presentWei 16 §74Wei 16 §75
RSaw through Du Shu as having talent but no use for it, and urged him to writeWei 16 §74Wei 16 §75
Records 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.