In 214, after the warlord Liu Bei seized control of Yi Province from Liu Zhang, he appointed Du Qiong as an Assistant Officer in the Consultation Bureau (議曹從事) of his administration. Following the end of the Eastern Han dynasty in 220, Du Qiong cited works of divination to urge Liu Bei to declare himself emperor, which Liu Bei did in 221 and established the state of Shu Han of the Three Kingdoms period. After Liu Bei died in 223, Du Qiong continued serving under Liu Bei's son and successor, Liu Shan. During Liu Shan's reign ( 223–263), Du Qiong held a number of positions, including Counsellor Remonstrant (諫議大夫), Left General of the Household (左中郎將), Minister Herald (大鴻臚) and Minister of Ceremonies (太常). When Zhuge Liang, the Imperial Chancellor of Shu, died in 234, Liu Shan ordered Du Qiong to bring an imperial edict of mourning to Zhuge Liang's tomb and read it out.