Zhou Tai
Zhou Tai | |
---|---|
A Qing dynasty portrait of Zhou Tai | |
General of Sun Quan | |
Born | (Unknown) |
Died | c. 223[1][2] |
Names | |
Traditional Chinese | 周泰 |
Simplified Chinese | 周泰 |
Pinyin | ZhÅu TÃ i |
Wade–Giles | Chou T'ai |
Courtesy name | Youping (Chinese: 幼平; pinyin: YòupÃng; Wade–Giles: You-ping) |
Zhou Tai (died c. 223),[1][2] courtesy name Youping, was a military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan in the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period. He previously served under Sun Ce, Sun Quan's elder brother and predecessor.
Service under Sun Ce
Zhou Tai was from Xiacai County (下蔡縣), Jiujiang Commandery (ä¹æ±Ÿéƒ¡), which is in present-day Fengtai County, Huainan, Anhui. Around the early 190s, he and Jiang Qin came to serve Sun Ce, who was on a series of conquests in the Jiangdong region. Zhou Tai was faithful and polite. He also made contributions by fighting in various battles under Sun Ce's banner. When Sun Ce occupied Kuaiji Commandery (present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang) after the commandery's Administrator, Wang Lang, surrendered to him, he appointed Zhou Tai as a "Major of Separate Command" (別部å¸é¦¬) and put him in command of some troops.[3]
Saving Sun Quan
Sun Ce's younger brother, Sun Quan, favoured Zhou Tai so he requested for Zhou to be transferred to his unit. Once, when Sun Ce was away on a campaign against some bandits who had emerged in the six counties of Kuaiji, Sun Quan was left in Xuancheng County (宣城縣) with less than 1,000 men. Out of negligence, Sun Quan did not set up defence posts, so when thousands of bandits suddenly attacked Xuancheng, he attempted to flee. However, by then, Sun Quan had already been surrounded by the bandits, who attacked him and slashed at his saddle, causing much panic among his men. Only Zhou Tai, with his spirits roused, rushed to protect Sun Quan, emboldening those near him and making them able to fight again. When the bandits finally dispersed, Zhou Tai had sustained 12 deep wounds all over his body and he took a long time to recover. If Zhou Tai was not there on that day, Sun Quan would have surely perished. Zhou Tai's act of bravery was greatly appreciated by Sun Ce, who appointed him as the Chief (長) of Chungu County (春穀縣).[4]
Campaign against Liu Xun
In 199, Zhou Tai followed Sun Ce to attack Liu Xun at Wan County (皖縣; in present-day Anhui) and Huang Zu at Jiangxia Commandery (江å¤éƒ¡; commandery capital in present-day Yunmeng County, Xiaogan, Hubei). When he returned from the campaigns, he passed by Yuzhang Commandery (è±«ç« éƒ¡) and was appointed as the Chief (é•·) of Yichun County (宜春縣). The residents in the counties under his governorship provided him with the necessary funding and supplies for his troops.[5]
Service under Sun Quan
Sun Ce was assassinated in 200 CE while he was out on a hunting expedition and was succeeded by Sun Quan. In 208, Zhou Tai participated in the Battle of Jiangxia against Huang Zu. Later that year, Zhou Tai fought at the Battle of Red Cliffs under the command of Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu, and the allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei scored a major victory over Cao Cao's forces. Zhou Tai was also involved in the Battle of Jiangling, a follow-up to Red Cliffs, and Sun Quan's forces defeated Cao Cao's general Cao Ren and captured Nan Commandery (å—郡; around present-day Jingzhou, Hubei). After the battles, Zhou Tai was ordered to garrison at Cen County (岑縣).[6]
Battle of Ruxu
In 217, Cao Cao launched another attack on Sun Quan, leading to the Battle of Ruxu. Zhou Tai participated in the defence of Ruxu, and Sun Quan's forces succeeded in driving back the invaders. After Cao Cao's retreat, Zhou Tai was appointed as "General Who Pacifies the Caitiffs" (平虜將è») and was ordered to remain behind to guard Ruxu. At the time, Zhu Ran and Xu Sheng were also stationed at Ruxu and were Zhou Tai's subordinates, but they were reluctant to submit to Zhou's command. Sun Quan made a special trip to Ruxu and he threw a party for all the military officers there. Sun Quan personally served wine to Zhou Tai and asked him to undress. He pointed at every scar on Zhou Tai's body and asked Zhou about it, whereupon Zhou would relate stories of the battles he fought in. At the end, Sun Quan told Zhou Tai to put on his clothes and they revelled through the night. The following day, Sun Quan instructed a herald to grant Zhou Tai his imperial parasol.[7]
The Jiang Biao Zhuan (江表傳) further described this incident as follows:
Sun Quan held [Zhou Tai's] arm and tears crossed his face. He called Zhou Tai by his courtesy name, saying, "Youping, you've fought like bears and tigers for me and my brother. You were willing to lay down your life and you've sustained wounds all over your body. [The scars] appear as though they have been etched into your skin. How can I not treat you like a brother, and not grant you any military appointments? You've rendered meritorious service to Wu, and I'll stand by you whether in honour or shame, and I'll share joy and sorrow with you. Youping, be merry. Don't be disheartened by the fact that you come from a humble background." Sun Quan then bestowed an imperial silk parasol of blue veils upon Zhou Tai. After all was over, he asked Zhou Tai to lead him out of Ruxu, with the sounds of drums and horns in the background.[8]
Zhu Ran, Xu Sheng and the other officers were impressed with Zhou Tai and they submitted to his command.[9]
Jing Province campaign
In 219, Sun Quan sent his general Lü Meng to invade and seize Liu Bei's territories in Jing Province, which were defended by Guan Yu. After the success of the invasion, Sun Quan planned to attack Liu Bei in Shu (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) so he appointed Zhou Tai as the Administrator (太守) of Hanzhong Commandery even though Hanzhong was still under Liu Bei's control then. He also appointed Zhou Tai as "General of Roused Valour" (奮å¨å°‡è») and awarded him the title "Marquis of Lingyang" (陵陽侯).[10]
Death
Zhou Tai died sometime during the Huangwu era (222-229) in Sun Quan's reign.[11] His year of death was not specified, but the Australian sinologist Rafe de Crespigny estimated it to be around 223.[2]
Descendants
Zhou Tai's son, Zhou Shao (周邵), was appointed as a Cavalry Commandant (騎都尉) and commanded some troops. He fought in the Battle of Ruxu of 222–223 against the Wei general Cao Ren and made contributions in battle. Later in 228, he participated in the Battle of Shiting under Lu Xun's command, which saw a victory for Wu forces over the Wei army led by Cao Xiu. Zhou Shao was promoted to Major-General (裨將è») for his achievement. He died in 230 and was succeeded by his younger brother, Zhou Cheng (周承), who inherited his military appointment and their father's marquis title.[12]
Modern references
Zhou Tai appears as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series.
See also
- List of people of the Three Kingdoms
- List of Dynasty Warriors characters
References
- 1 2 The Sanguozhi stated that Zhou Tai died sometime during the Huangwu era (222-229) in the reign of Sun Quan. (黃æ¦ä¸å’。)
- 1 2 3 de Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A biographical dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23–220 AD). Brill. p. 1148. ISBN 978-90-04-15605-0.
- ↑ (周泰å—幼平,ä¹æ±Ÿä¸‹è”¡äººä¹Ÿã€‚ ... 與蔣欽隨å«ç–為左å³ï¼Œæœäº‹æ敬,數戰有功。ç–入會稽,署別部å¸é¦¬ï¼ŒæŽˆå…µã€‚) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
- ↑ (權愛其為人,請以自給。ç–討å…縣山賊,權ä½å®£åŸŽï¼Œä½¿å£«è‡ªè¡žï¼Œä¸èƒ½åƒäººï¼Œæ„尚忽略,ä¸æ²»åœè½ï¼Œè€Œå±±è³Šæ•¸åƒäººå’至。權始得上馬,而賊鋒刃已交於左å³ï¼Œæˆ–æ–«ä¸é¦¬éžŒï¼Œè¡†èŽ«èƒ½è‡ªå®šã€‚惟泰奮激,投身衞權,膽氣å€äººï¼Œå·¦å³ç”±æ³°ä¸¦èƒ½å°±æˆ°ã€‚賊旣解散,身被å二創,良乆乃蘇。是日無泰,權幾å±æ®†ã€‚ç–深德之,補春穀長。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
- ↑ (後從攻皖,åŠè¨Žæ±Ÿå¤ï¼Œé‚„éŽè±«ç« ,復補宜春長,所在皆食其å¾è³¦ã€‚) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
- ↑ (從討黃祖有功。後與周瑜ã€ç¨‹æ™®æ‹’曹公於赤å£ï¼Œæ”»æ›¹ä»æ–¼å—郡。èŠå·žå¹³å®šï¼Œå°‡å…µå±¯å²‘。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
- ↑ (æ›¹å…¬å‡ºæ¿¡é ˆï¼Œæ³°å¾©èµ´æ“Šï¼Œæ›¹å…¬é€€ï¼Œç•™ç£æ¿¡é ˆï¼Œæ‹œå¹³è™œå°‡è»ã€‚時朱然ã€å¾ç››ç‰çš†åœ¨æ‰€éƒ¨ï¼Œä¸¦ä¸ä¼ä¹Ÿï¼Œæ¬Šç‰¹ç‚ºæ¡ˆè¡Œè‡³æ¿¡é ˆé„”ï¼Œå› æœƒè«¸å°‡ï¼Œå¤§ç‚ºé…£æ¨‚ã€‚æ¬Šè‡ªè¡Œé…’åˆ°æ³°å‰ï¼Œå‘½æ³°è§£è¡£ï¼Œæ¬Šæ‰‹è‡ªæŒ‡å…¶å‰µç—•ï¼Œå•ä»¥æ‰€èµ·ã€‚泰輒記昔戰鬬處以å°ï¼Œç•¢ï¼Œä½¿å¾©æœï¼Œæ¡è®Œæ¥µå¤œã€‚其明日,é£ä½¿è€…授以御蓋。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
- ↑ (æ±Ÿè¡¨å‚³æ›°ï¼šæ¬ŠæŠŠå…¶è‡‚ï¼Œå› æµæ¶•äº¤é€£ï¼Œå—之曰:「幼平,å¿ç‚ºå¤å…„弟戰如熊虎,ä¸æƒœè»€å‘½ï¼Œè¢«å‰µæ•¸å,膚如刻畫,å¤äº¦ä½•å¿ƒä¸å¾…å¿ä»¥éª¨è‚‰ä¹‹æ©ï¼Œå§”å¿ä»¥å…µé¦¬ä¹‹é‡ä¹Žï¼å¿å³ä¹‹åŠŸè‡£ï¼Œå¤ç•¶èˆ‡å¿åŒæ¦®è¾±ï¼Œç‰ä¼‘戚。幼平æ„快為之,勿以寒門自退也。ã€å³å‹‘以己常所用御幘é’縑蓋賜之。å罷,ä½é§•ï¼Œä½¿æ³°ä»¥å…µé¦¬å°Žå¾žå‡ºï¼Œé³´é¼“角作鼓å¹ã€‚) Jiang Biao Zhuan annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 55.
- ↑ (於是盛ç‰ä¹ƒä¼ã€‚) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
- ↑ (å¾Œæ¬Šç ´é—œç¾½ï¼Œæ¬²é€²åœ–èœ€ï¼Œæ‹œæ³°æ¼¢ä¸å¤ªå®ˆã€å¥®å¨å°‡è»ï¼Œå°é™µé™½ä¾¯ã€‚) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
- ↑ (黃æ¦ä¸å’。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
- ↑ (åé‚µä»¥é¨Žéƒ½å°‰é ˜å…µã€‚æ›¹ä»å‡ºæ¿¡é ˆï¼Œæˆ°æœ‰åŠŸï¼Œåˆå¾žæ”»ç ´æ›¹ä¼‘,進ä½è£¨å°‡è»ï¼Œé»ƒé¾äºŒå¹´å’ã€‚å¼Ÿæ‰¿é ˜å…µè¥²ä¾¯ã€‚) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
- Chen, Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
- Pei, Songzhi. Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).
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