Background

Dou Wei was from Fufeng Commandery (扶風, roughly modern Baoji, Shaanxi). His father Dou Chi (竇熾) served as a high-level official for both Northern Zhou and Sui and was a hereditary noble. Dou Wei was considered quiet and studious in his youth, much unlike his brothers and cousins who, as nobles, were far more interested in military matters. The Sui official Li Delin knew of his talent and recommended him as a junior official at the Palace Library, but while it was regular for junior officials there to be promoted regularly, Dou was not promoted, and remained at his post for more than a decade, during which he studied the archives and became even more knowledgeable than before.

During the Sui dynasty

Dou later served as a scribe for Yang Xiu the Prince of Shu, a son of Sui's founding emperor Emperor Wen, but when he saw that Yang Xiu was engaging in improper behavior, he resigned, and subsequently when Emperor Wen discovered Yang Xiu's improper deeds in 602 and subsequently deposed him, many of Yang Xiu's subordinates were punished, but Dou escaped punishment. In 608, during the reign of Emperor Wen's son Emperor Yang, he became a senior official at the legislative bureau (內史省, Neishi Sheng), but as he often pointed out problems with Emperor Yang's governance, he offended Emperor Yang and was demoted to be the director of civil service matters (考功郎中, Kaogong Langzhong), and subsequently was removed from governmental office altogether.

In 617, the general Li Yuan the Duke of Tang rebelled and captured the capital Chang'an, declaring Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You the Prince of Dai emperor (as Emperor Gong). Li Yuan's deceased wife Duchess Dou was a niece of Dou Wei's, and Li Yuan, who retained power as regent, retained Dou on staff. At that time, the government was in a state of flux, and with Dou being knowledgeable with ceremonies and governmental organization, Li Yuan entrusted to him the task of reorganizing the government as well as preparing the ceremonies to have Yang You yield the throne to Li Yuan. Li Yuan compared him to the Han Dynasty official Shusun Tong (叔孫通), who organized the ceremonies for Emperor Gao of Han.

During the Tang dynasty

In spring 618, Emperor Yang was killed during a coup at Jiangdu (江都, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) led by the general Yuwen Huaji, and when the news reached Chang'an, Li Yuan had Yang You yield the throne to him, establishing Tang Dynasty as its Emperor Gaozu. He made Dou Wei the head of the legislative bureau (內史令, Neishi Ling), considered one of the posts for a chancellor. Dou became ill later that month and died. Emperor Gaozu posthumously created him the Duke of Yan'an.

生平

竇威的父親竇熾是北周上柱國，在隋朝擔任太傅，太穆皇后是竇威堂兄弟的女兒。竇威性格深沉有才識度量，博覽群書，他的家族世代都是功臣勛貴，各位兄弟都崇尚武藝，而竇威專心研習文史，專一自守。哥哥們都嘲笑竇威，稱他是「書癡」。隋朝內史令李德林主持科舉，竇威參加秀才考試，考中甲等，任秘書郎。任期結束後竇威應該升職，卻堅持原職不願調動，在秘書省十多年，學業更加增進廣博。當時竇威的哥哥們都因為軍功獲得顯要的官職，交往結識豪門權貴，賓客盈門，而竇威僅僅是閒散的官職。竇威的哥哥們對他說：「過去孔子積累學問成為聖人，還是在他的時代很狼狽，飄泊失意，你效法此道，又想追求什麼？功名地位不通達，真是活該。」竇威笑而不答。過了很久，蜀王楊秀徵召竇威出任記室，因為楊秀行事大多不守法，竇威自稱患病回到故鄉。楊秀被廢黜後，王府的官吏大多獲罪，只是竇威因為先見之明而獲得保全。大業四年（608年），竇威屢次升任內史舍人，多次陳述朝政得失違背隋煬帝的旨意，竇威夫人是蕭皇后的姐姐，因此改任考功郎中，後來被定罪免官，返回京城。

大業十三年（617年），李淵進入關中，徵召竇威補任大丞相府司錄參軍。當時天下混亂，五禮荒廢，竇威博學多識，很熟悉舊日的禮儀，朝章國典都是他制定的，禪讓繼位的文書也大多參與起草。李淵經常對裴寂說：「叔孫通也不能超過竇威。」武德元年六月甲戌（618年6月28日），竇威出任內史令。竇威奏議時儀態文雅，多引用歷史為比喻，唐高祖很親近看重他，有時將竇威引入臥室，常常促膝而談。唐高祖曾經對竇威說：「昔日北周有八柱國的顯貴，我與您家都曾任此職。如今我已是天子，您是內史令，根本相同末節差異，竟這樣不平等。」竇威害怕，叩頭拜謝說：「臣家過去在漢朝，四次成為外戚，到了北魏有三個皇后，陛下成為皇帝，我家又有皇后。臣因為姻戚的關係在中書省任職，自認為很慚愧，早晚謹慎害怕。」唐高祖笑著說：「您是以三朝皇后家族的身份向我誇耀吧！近來見到關東人和崔、盧結婚的，尚且自我誇耀，您家世代是皇帝的親戚，不也是很高貴嗎！」

竇威臥病在床後，唐高祖親自去探望。武德元年六月辛丑（618年7月25日），竇威去世，竇威個性簡潔樸素，家中不經營產業，沒有多餘的財物，遺囑簡單安葬。唐高祖為之哭的很傷心，贈予竇威尚書右僕射、同州刺史，追封延安郡公，謚號靖。竇威下葬的日子，唐高祖詔令太子李建成以及百官一起出動送葬。竇威有文集十卷。

其他

竇威曾拜入王通門下，接受王通的教導。

墓碑

竇威墓碑位于萬年縣，于志寧撰寫，武德九年立碑。

家庭

夫人

• 蘭陵蕭氏，梁明帝蕭巋之女，蕭皇后姐姐

兄弟姐妹

• 竇茂，隋朝鄧國公

• 竇恭，北周柱國、亳州刺史、酂國公

• 竇覽

• 竇深，隋朝開府儀同三司、蔚州刺史、綏安縣開國公

• 竇嶷，隋朝使持節、蔡州諸軍事、蔡州刺史、上柱國、廣武郡公

• 竇誼

• 竇含生，嫁北周趙國公宇文招，封趙國公夫人

子女

• 竇惲，唐朝岐州刺史、延安郡公