Dòu Cháng 竇常 (749–825)
Zì Zhōngxíng 中行. Native of Fúfēng Pínglíng 扶風平陵 (modern Xiányáng, Shǎnxī). Eldest of the celebrated Dòu brothers — Cháng 常, Móu 牟, Qún 群, Xiáng 庠, Gǒng 鞏 — known collectively as the Wǔ Dòu 五竇 and the focus of the Dòu shì liánzhū jí 竇氏聯珠集 KR4h0018 compiled by Chǔ Cángyán 褚藏言. Jìnshì of Dàlì 14 (779), in the same cohort as Xī Zhì 奚陟 and Dúgū Shòu 獨孤授. After his elder kinsman Bāo Jí died he avoided public service for a decade, then ten more years of retreat at Guǎnglíng Liǔyáng xī; he eventually re-entered the Jiédùshǐ office of the Huáinán circuit and held positions including xiélǜ láng, jiānchá yùshǐ lǐxíng, diànzhōng shì yùshǐ (with fēi yúdài), shuǐbù yuánwàiláng, and prefect of Lǎngzhōu, Gùlíng, Xúnyáng and Líntián successively. He retired as Guózǐ jìjiǔ zhìshì and died in Bǎolì 1 (825), aged 77. Posthumously made Yuèzhōu dūdū and, under Wǔzōng (Huìchāng 1, 841), Tàizǐ shǎobǎo. His prose collection was 18 juǎn with a preface by Chǔ Cángyán of West-jiāng. CBDB has no firm entry; the dates are anchored by Chǔ Cángyán’s preface to the joint family anthology.