Dou Chi was Grand Tutor of the Sui Dynasty. During the reigns of Emperors Wen and Yang, warfare raged across north and south, and noble youths all took martial training as the fashion. Among Dou Chi's sons, only Dou Wei favored literature and history; his brothers mocked him, calling him "bookworm."
The imperial advisor Li Delin held Dou Wei in high regard and, after an examination, recommended him for the position of Imperial Secretary, overseeing the royal library and archives. Dou Wei remained in this role for a decade, immersing himself in the vast collection of texts and greatly advancing his scholarship.
Emperor Wen's fourth son, Yang Xiu, was enfeoffed as the Prince of Shu and petitioned to have Dou Wei join him in Shu to assist with governance. In his spare time from official duties, Dou Wei would sit alone in his study, quietly reading. Yang Xiu lived extravagantly and broke the law, with many officials seizing the opportunity to amass great wealth. Later, Emperor Wen deposed Yang Xiu, and many of his staff were implicated and sentenced, yet Dou Wei remained untouched, returning safely to the capital, Daxing.
When his brothers saw Dou Wei, they first congratulated him on keeping his integrity and avoiding prison, but then sneered, "The Prince of Shu's mansion is a mountain of gold and silver. You were by his side day and night—even if you were aloof, you should have brought back at least eighty or a hundred thousand to enjoy. How could anyone serve as an official a thousand li away and return empty-handed?"
Dou Wei replied, "I have no particular attachment to Shu; I only brought back a few cases of maps and books."
After the Chen Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties fell to Emperor Yang of Sui's army, the Dou brothers, who had served in the campaign, were all promoted and returned home laden with gold and treasure. Their mansions were daily crowded with guests seeking favor. But Dou Wei's gate saw few carriages or visitors, presenting a shabby contrast. In the same capital city, people distinguished between the "Wealthy Dou Mansion" and the "Humble Dou Mansion."
His second brother said to Dou Wei, "When it comes to studying, no one achieved more than Confucius the Sage. Yet even he, after mastering all knowledge to become a sage, spent his life in hardship. The Confucian books you read will never let you surpass him, so you'll only end up suffering. What's the point of living if not for wealth and glory? While we brothers still hold power and influence, let us help you rise—but you must first throw away those tattered old books!"
Dou Wei smiled but did not reply. His second brother said in disappointment, "Born to be poor—there's just no helping you!"
After the Tang Dynasty overthrew the Sui, Dou Wei, renowned for his mastery of classical texts, was summoned by Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan to the Grand Chancellor’s office to help draft the new dynasty’s laws and court protocols.
When Dou Wei fell ill, Li Yuan personally visited him. After Dou Wei's death, the court granted him the posthumous title "Duke Jing" to honor his disdain for fame and wealth and his noble character. "Guests Fill the Gate" describes a constant stream of visitors.
Source: *Old Book of Tang*, "Biography of Dou Wei"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "宾客盈门" came to describe how a constant stream of visitors fills one's gate.