生平

战功显赫

兴平二年（195年），周泰与同乡九江郡人蒋钦，追随孙策左右，渡江与刘繇交战，所向皆破，数有战功。

建安元年（196年），周泰跟随孙策先后击破吴郡严白虎、会稽王朗等势力，孙策平定会稽后，孙策自领会稽太守，任命周泰为别部司马，并授予其军队。此时孙策的二弟孙权非常喜欢周泰的为人与勇猛，于是向兄长孙策请求，让周泰跟随自己，于是周泰就长年伴随守护孙权左右。

忠勇世稀

建安二年（197年），后来袁术拉拢丹杨、宣城、泾县、陵阳、始安、黟、歙等县山贼头目祖郎，作乱当地，孙策讨伐泾县陵阳的山贼祖郎时，留孙权、周泰及数百人的兵卒在宣城防守，但是守军，军无斗志士气低落，而且宣城尚未做好防护工事，就遭到响应袁术煽动的山越首领潘临，率领数千山越前来攻击宣城，其他士卒都因为山越突袭而一片慌乱，唯独周泰处变不惊、临危不惧，勇于保护孙权，左右士卒见周泰异常冷静、勇猛果敢、身先士卒也受到周泰的激昂而振奋兵心，士气大振，也迅速安定下来与山越战斗，山越被击败后。孙策征伐祖郎班师后，发现周泰有十二处刀伤，伤势十分严重，经过很久的疗养才痊愈，孙权在周泰的保护之下得以幸免，孙策赞赏周泰奋勇的战绩保护孙权，让他出任春谷县长。

建安四年（199年），袁术死后，其部将刘勋占据庐江皖城，袁术的长史杨弘、大将军张勋，意图率领袁术残部投奔以前身在袁术帐下的孙策，不料被庐江太守刘勋拦截阻击，全体被俘虏，孙策率军前来攻击刘勋，周泰随从袭击皖城，占领了卢江郡后。孙策西讨黄祖时，后又于江夏沙羡县大破黄祖。周泰一直随孙策打到豫章，被任命为宜春县长。

奋烈陈敌

建安八年（203年），周泰随孙权西讨黄祖，立下战功，但未能攻破城池，而后方领地又有山越作乱，不得已而退兵。

建安十二年（207年），孙权又征黄祖，周泰随从征讨，数有战功，虏其人民而还。

建安十三年（208年），跟随孙权征伐江夏太守黄祖参与江夏之战。同年冬季，又在周瑜、程普、鲁肃指挥下参与赤壁之战击退曹操后，周瑜、鲁肃、吕蒙、甘宁等人随即乘胜追击，进军荆州攻击镇守南郡的曹仁，继而展开了南郡争夺战。之后屯兵驻守岑。

御盖恩泽

建安二十二年（217年），曹操率兵再次攻打濡须口，把前线正在筑城的孙权逼退，周泰进行反击，把曹操军击退。之后，周泰留守濡须口领濡须督，任平虏将军。当时孙权学友朱然和徐盛被安排在周泰统领，二人不服于在寒门出身的周泰之下，孙权藉此到濡须坞(濡须口重要据点)摆宴设席犒赏诸将，在酒宴之间命令周泰脱下战袍，露出赤裸全是伤痕的上身，逐一指著他身上每条伤疤，问周泰因为什么而得；周泰则逐一说出每条伤疤是因哪场战役而得，孙权并赏赐给周泰自己常用的御帻青缣盖，并鸣吹号角鼓乐，朱然、徐盛等将对周泰敬服。

建安二十四年（219年），关羽北伐攻打荆州北部曹军重镇襄阳、樊城等地，而爆发了襄樊之战，曹操遣使致书孙权，邀请孙权攻打关羽，孙权有意收回荆州，同意曹操的邀请；后来关羽对吴国湘水边境湘县侵略而且抢夺军需粮食，孙权遂派吕蒙、陆逊、蒋钦、周泰、朱然、虞翻等人白衣渡江击败关羽收复荆州。孙权故意向刘备示好，希望藉此解除刘备戒心，另一方则作好对蜀应战的准备，而拜封周泰为汉中太守，升奋威将军，封陵阳侯。黄武初年逝世（据其子曾参战第三次濡须口之战）。

家庭

子

• 周邵，骑都尉领兵，在对抗曹魏的战争有功，官至裨将军。黄龙二年（230年）卒。

• 周承，周邵弟，领兵，袭陵阳侯爵位。

评价

• 孙权：「幼平，卿为孤兄弟战如熊虎，不惜躯命，被创数十，肤如刻画，孤亦何心不待卿以骨肉之恩，委卿以兵马之重乎！卿吴之功臣，孤当与卿同荣辱，等休戚。幼平意快为之，勿以寒门自退也。」

• 陈寿：「凡此诸将，皆江表之虎臣，孙氏之所厚待也。」《三国志·吴书十评》

• 陆机：「甘宁、凌统、程普、贺齐、朱桓、朱然之徒奋其威，韩当、潘璋、黄盖、蒋钦、周泰之属宣其力。」

• 孙元晏：「名与诸公又不同，金疮痕在满身中。不将御盖宣恩泽，谁信将军别有功。」

• 罗贯中：「三番救主出重围，忠勇如公世所稀。遍体疮痍犹痛饮，血痕残酒满征衣。」

• 李贽：「东吴周泰不减魏之许褚、蜀之赵云也。壮哉丈夫！可用可用！不独救权，且再救徐盛，益不可及矣！而仲谋报之，亦可谓一知己矣。」

艺术形象

三国演义

在《三国演义》中，跟正史差不多，但是多与韩当配合上阵。周泰与蒋钦原为活跃于长江一带的江贼，孙策脱离袁术下江东自立门户时，和周瑜等人先后率众投靠。曾参与赤壁之战，自己拿著大刀盾牌和擅使长枪的韩当及擅使弓的蒋钦在三江口进行水战，在岸上与韩当联手击败文聘。随后周瑜到南郡，曹洪与韩当大战三十回合，曹洪诈败而走；曹仁亲自交锋，周泰上前单挑，曹仁战十馀合也诈败而逃。在第一次濡须口之战周泰和韩当联手大战许褚不分胜负，下半场战斗急转直下，孙权军被曹操军大败，周泰冲入曹操军包围网救走孙权，之后发现徐盛不见，再次返回冲入曹操军包围网把徐盛救走。在酒筵上诸将不服周泰；孙权命周泰脱下衣服展示为自己抵挡的战绩，并让周泰每一伤疤赏喝一碗酒，众将惭愧并敬服；并在日后的夷陵之战中二十馀合杀掉沙摩柯。

影视作品

• 中国中央电视台电视剧《三国演义》（1994年）：由尹伟、张莹饰演周泰。

• 台湾华视电视剧《三国英雄传之关公》（1996年）：由李祖兴饰演周泰。

• 中国电视剧《三国》（2010年）：由侯杰饰演周泰。

• 中国电视剧《大军师司马懿之军师联盟》（2017年）：由李海鹰饰演周泰。

漫画游戏

• 真三国无双系列 / 无双OROCHI系列（光荣公司开发，石川英郎配音）

• 《苍天航路》（王欣太）

• 《火凤燎原》（陈某）

Service under Sun Ce

Zhou Tai was from Xiacai County (下蔡县), Jiujiang Commandery (九江郡), which is present-day Fengtai County, 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 (别部司马) and put him in command of some troops.

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 (宣城县; present-day Xuancheng, Anhui) 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 (长) of Chungu County (春谷县; northwest of present-day Fanchang County, Anhui).

Campaign against Liu Xun

In 199, Zhou Tai followed Sun Ce to attack Liu Xun at Wan County (皖县; present-day Qianshan County, Anhui) and Huang Zu at Jiangxia Commandery (江夏郡; commandery capital in present-day Xinzhou District, Wuhan, Hubei). When he returned from the campaigns, he passed by Yuzhang Commandery (豫章郡) and was appointed as the Chief (长) of Yichun County (宜春县; present-day Yichun, Jiangxi). The residents in the counties under his governorship provided him with the necessary funding and supplies for his troops.

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 (南郡; around present-day Jingzhou, Hubei). After the battles, Zhou Tai was ordered to garrison at Cen County (岑县).

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 General Who Pacifies Barbarians (平虏将军) 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.

The Jiang Biao Zhuan (江表传) further described this incident as follows:

Zhu Ran, Xu Sheng and the other officers were impressed with Zhou Tai and they submitted to his command.

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 Vehement Might (奋威将军) and awarded him the title "Marquis of Lingyang" (陵阳侯).

Death

Zhou Tai died sometime during the Huangwu era (222–229) in Sun Quan's reign. His year of death was not specified, but the Australian sinologist Rafe de Crespigny estimated it to be around 223.

Descendants

Zhou Tai's son, Zhou Shao (周邵), was appointed as a Cavalry Commandant (骑都尉) 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 (裨将军) 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.

In popular culture

Zhou Tai appears as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series.