Zhou Yu 周㬂

For the commander of Wu, see Zhou Yu 周瑜.

Zhou Yu
T. Chinese	周㬂
Pinyin	Zhōu Yǔ
Wade-Giles	Chou Yü
Style Name	Rénmíng 仁明 Jên-ming
Personal information
Place of birth	Kuaiji commandery in Yang province
Cause of death	killed by Xu Gong.
Place of death	Kuaiji commandery in Yang province
Literary appearance(s)	• HHS: 73 • SGZ: Wu 1
Battle information
Affiliation(s)	• Guandong Coalition • Yuan Shao
Title(s)	Inspector of Yu province
Participation(s)	• Campaign against Dong Zhuo • Battle of Yangcheng

Zhou Yu 周㬂 was an officer of Yuan Shao 袁紹 and younger brother of Zhou Ang 周昂 and Zhou Xing 周昕. In 191 A.D. he attacked Sun Jian's camp at Yangcheng. Some historians, such as Sima Guang, believe it was Zhou Ang who attacked Sun Jian, while the History of the Later Han says it was Zhou Xing. Rafe de Crespigny and Wu lu believe it was Zhou Yu, based on his military career.

Biography

In 189 A.D. Zhou Yu raised 2.000 men to serve Cao Cao in the alliance against Dong Zhuo. He then transferred to Yuan Shao.

When the Guandong Coalition was falling apart, Yuan Shao sent the Kuaiji commandery native Zhou Yu to attack Sun Jian, officer under Yuan Shu 袁術. Zhou Yu, who had just been appointed as Inspector of Yu province, attacked Sun Jian and defeated him and took over his camp.

Sun Jian counterattacked and defeated Zhou Yu in multiple skirmishes, who then fled. During the battle Gongsun Yue 公孫越, who reinforced Sun Jian, was hit by a stray arrow and died.

Notes

• Historians aren't convinced it was Zhou Yu who fought Sun Jian. The History of the Later Han says it was Zhou Xing, while Zizhi tongjian says it was Zhou Ang. Based on Zhou Yu's career, Wu lu and Rafe de Crespigny seem to agree it was Zhou Yu.

Sources

• Chen Shou 陳壽 (233–297). Sanguo zhi 三國志 “Records of the Three Kingdoms”, with official commentary compiled by Pei Songzhi 裴松之 (372-451).
• de Crespigny, Rafe. A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23 - 220 AD). Leiden: BRILL, 2007.
• Fan Ye 范曄 (398–445). Hou Han shu 後漢書 “History of the Later Han”.
• Sima Guang 司馬光 (1019–1086). Zizhi tongjian 資治通鑒 “Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government”.