| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 杜微, 杜微, Dù Wēi |
| Nickname | Guofu (国辅, Quốc Phụ); Shu recluse-scholar |
| Other name | Đỗ Vi |
| Courtesy name | 国辅, 國輔, Guó Fǔ, Guo Fu, tự Quốc Phụ |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Fu County, Zitong commandery (east of present-day Mianyang, Sichuan) |
| Death Reason | Retired to seclusion after accepting nominal office (historical tradition) |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Shu Han |
| Battles |
|
Biography & Historical Record
Du Wei (杜微, Đỗ Vi), courtesy name Guofu (国辅, tự Quốc Phụ), was a renowned Shu Han recluse-scholar from Zitong who repeatedly refused office under Liu Zhang and Liu Bei by claiming illness and deafness. Chen Shou devotes a full anecdote in Sanguozhi vol. 42 (Shu 12) to Zhuge Liang’s persistent recruitment of Du Wei in 224 AD: the Chancellor sent a carriage, welcomed him in person, and even wrote notes because he believed Du Wei could not hear — only for Du Wei to decline again on grounds of age before accepting the nominal post of Counsellor Remonstrant (谏议大夫) and retiring to seclusion.
In the novel, Du Wei appears on the Chengdu civil roster left behind when Zhuge Liang marches north in Chapter 91 — appointed Master of Writing (尚书) alongside Yang Hong — embodying the theme of recruiting old virtue while the army departs. He is a historical figure, not a fictional invention.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 91 (Zhuge Liang Presents a Memorial Before His Expedition; The Lord of Shu Mourns Guan Yu and Zhang Fei): Before marching to Hanzhong, Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng) organizes the capital government. He appoints Du Wei (杜微, Đỗ Vi), styled Guofu (国辅, Quốc Phụ), and Yang Hong (杨洪, Dương Hồng) as Masters of Writing (尚书), while Guo Youzhi, Dong Yun, and Fei Yi serve as Palace Attendants. Du Wei thus remains in Chengdu as part of the civil administration — contrasted with expedition staff officers like Du Qi and Du Yi who march north.
Du Wei (杜微) — Historical & Literary Timeline
c. 190s AD
Student of Ren An
Studied under the polymath Ren An (任安) in Guanghan; adopted the recluse ethos of his teacher and refused Liu Zhang’s offer of an Assistant Officer post by claiming illness.
214 AD
Refuses Liu Bei
After Liu Bei seized Yi Province, Du Wei claimed deafness and stayed home — the origin of Zhuge Liang’s later written notes to him.
224 AD
Zhuge Liang’s recruitment
Zhuge Liang appointed him Registrar (主簿), sent a carriage, welcomed him personally, and wrote notes arguing that virtuous men must assist the Han restoration; Du Wei finally accepted Counsellor Remonstrant and retired.
Chapter 91
Master of Writing at Chengdu
Named 尚书 on the capital roster left when Zhuge Liang departs for the northern expedition — a literary echo of his historical role as elder scholar-statesman.
For detailed historical records, explore Du Wei on Wikipedia and Sanguozhi vol. 42.
Key Relationships
Family
- No spouse or children prominently recorded in Sanguozhi or the novel.
Friends
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng): Chancellor who repeatedly sought Du Wei’s service and admired his integrity.
- Ren An (任安, Nhâm An): Teacher under whom Du Wei studied; model of the Han recluse-scholar.
- Qin Mi (秦宓, Tần Mật) and Wu Liang (五梁, Ngũ Lương): Fellow Yi Province scholars Zhuge Liang recruited alongside Du Wei in 224 AD.
- Yang Hong (杨洪, Dương Hồng): Co-appointed Master of Writing with Du Wei in Chapter 91.
Enemies
- Cao Pi (曹丕, Tào Phi): Zhuge Liang’s letters to Du Wei denounced Cao Pi’s usurpation — Du Wei was politically expected to oppose Wei, not serve it.
Other
- Liu Zhang (刘璋, Lưu Chương): Former Yi governor whose recruitment Du Wei refused.
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): Also failed to recruit Du Wei before Zhuge Liang succeeded nominally.
- Du Qi (杜祺, Đỗ Kỳ) and Du Yi (杜义, Đỗ Nghĩa): Different Du officers on the Chapter 91 expedition roster — not the recluse Du Wei.
In Novel
Chapter 91
- Du Wei (杜微, Đỗ Vi), styled Guofu (国辅, Quốc Phụ): Appointed Master of Writing (尚书) with Yang Hong on the Chengdu civil roster when Zhuge Liang organizes the government before the northern expedition — remains in the capital, not on the marching army list.
In History (Sanguozhi anecdote)
Year: 224 AD
- Du Wei (杜微, Đỗ Vi): Zhuge Liang wrote that a virtuous man should assist the young Liu Shan and restore the Han; when Du Wei still sought to return home, Zhuge Liang replied that he need not bear military duties — only "assist the age with virtue" (但当以德辅时) — and appointed him Counsellor Remonstrant.
In History
Summary
- Du Wei (杜微, Đỗ Vi), styled Guofu, was a Zitong recluse who studied under Ren An, refused Liu Zhang and Liu Bei, and was finally recruited by Zhuge Liang as Counsellor Remonstrant circa 224 AD.
Year: c. 214 AD
- Claimed deafness to avoid serving Liu Bei after the conquest of Yi Province.
Year: 224 AD
- Zhuge Liang sent a carriage, welcomed him in person, exchanged written arguments about the Han restoration and Cao Pi's usurpation, and appointed him Counsellor Remonstrant; Du Wei retired on grounds of age.
Historical Record
- Sanguozhi, vol. 42 (Shu 12) — full biography with Zhuge Liang's two letters quoted by Chen Shou.
- Pei Songzhi annotations preserve additional commentary on Du Wei's refusal and Zhuge Liang's respect for him.
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