The Du clan traces its ancestry to Du Zhou (d. 94 BC), who served as a censor in the Western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu of Han, and his son Du Yannian, who also served as a chief censor and shifted the clan's base to Duling (in modern-day Xi'an).[1] After this, however, the Du family appears not to have been deeply involved in politics during the Eastern Han.
The Du family regained prominence in government during the late Han period with Du Ji, who came to the attention of Cao Cao via Xun Yu and became a renowned governor of Hedong Commandery (modern day southern Shanxi). His son, Du Shu, also became a regional governor, and Du Shu's son Du Yu became the chief commander of the conquest of Wu by Jin.[1]
In the wake of the Disaster of Yongjia, when the Western Jin capital at Luoyang was sacked, the Du clan generally did not embark on the southern migration to the Eastern Jin that was undertaken by many other prominent clans, instead choosing to remain in northern China and to serve the succeeding non-Chinese regimes.[2] They retained their prominence even during the tumultuous period of the Five Barbarians, and are reported as filling important military and political posts after moving east into Later Zhao.[2]
An exception to the trend of remaining north was Du Yi (杜乂), who achieved fame as an elegant gentleman in the Eastern Jin court, but died without issue.[2]
During the Tang dynasty, members of the Du clan played an important role in both governance and culture. The Tongdian, an encyclopedic account of governmental institutions through to the An–Shi Rebellion, was compiled by Du You.[3] Many military governors(jiedushi) during the Tang dynasty were part of the Du clan. Such examples include Du Shenquan, Du Rangneng and Du Hong.
