生平

高官世家

周瑜出身名門之後，盧江周氏家族曾經多代人出任朝廷要職之位，從高祖父周榮由於通曉經典而得到推薦，得司徒袁安闢為府僚。袁紹和袁術的高祖父袁安多次和他談論當世大事，他見解獨到，能提出不同尋常的觀點，袁安很賞識、器重他。從曾祖父周興，在漢安帝時任尚書郎。從祖父周景，少以廉潔能幹見稱，初被察為孝廉，闢公府。後為豫州刺史，李膺、荀緄等為從事，更遷至尚書令，登為太尉。從叔周忠先後出任大司農、光祿大夫，父親周異曾任洛陽令。

總角之交

初平元年（190年），孫堅出兵加入討伐董卓聯軍，他家裡人則從壽春遷至舒縣。《江表傳》記載，周瑜聽說了與其同年孫策的名氣，因此前往壽春拜訪，兩人一見如故，獨相友善，周瑜遂建議孫策帶家人移居舒縣。周瑜甚至提供自家南側大宅給孫策一家人，同時拜謁孫策母親，二人情如兄弟，共同生活起居。等到周瑜叔父周尚就任丹楊太守時，周瑜也一起跟隨。

興平二年（195年），孫策喪父後，多年依附在袁術手下打拚，終於下定決心起兵發展，正要入吳時，書信報知周瑜，周瑜立刻率領五百人起兵響應，孫策高興地說：「我得到你，事可成了。」隨後幫助孫策攻克橫江（今安徽和縣東南長江北岸）、當利（今安徽和縣東當利水入江處）、秣陵（今南京江寧秣陵關）打敗笮融、薛禮，轉而攻占湖熟（今南京江寧湖熟街道）、江乘(今江蘇省南京市棲霞區)、曲阿（今江蘇丹陽），將劉繇趕走，發展極快。

後來孫策親自進攻山越，對周瑜說道：「我以這班士兵奪取吳郡會稽郡、平定山越已足夠，你先回去鎮守丹楊。」周瑜遂回師丹楊。不久，袁術派其弟袁胤代替周瑜從父周尚為丹楊太守，周瑜隨叔父周尚還軍回壽春。袁術發現周瑜有才識和能力，想招攬周瑜為己用，但周瑜看出袁術並無成就，且不會用人，託辭請求回居巢出任縣長，袁術答應了周瑜請求之後，周瑜卻尋機從居巢東渡長江到了江東，回到孫策身邊。周瑜在做居巢縣長結識了魯肅，認為他非同尋常，就主動與他結交，兩人建立瞭如同春秋時子產和季札那樣密不可分的朋友關係。

建安三年（198年），孫策親自迎接摯友周瑜，並任命他為建威中郎將，發二千兵為周瑜部曲，賜軍馬五十匹，為其建造屋舍，餽贈賞賜無人能及。孫策當著眾將面前下令道：「周公瑾才華傑出，與我是從少相識的好朋友，有兄弟的情義。就像之前在丹楊，就是他徵召人手及船隻糧草才能成就大事，若要計算他的功勞，這些也未足夠報答啊。」，周瑜的年齡僅比孫策小一個月。

負圖之託

廬江一帶，鄉民向來敬服於周瑜的恩德信義，周瑜身在舒城練兵，出備牛渚，後再領春穀長。不久，孫策發兵攻荊州，以周瑜為中護軍，領江夏太守（當時江夏還在黃祖手上並不是孫軍領下），攻克皖，兩人將橋公的兩位女兒佔為己有，孫策對周瑜笑說：「橋公的兩個女兒雖然流離，但得我們二人作為夫婿，亦夠她們高興了。」兩人關係更進一步。後再進逼尋陽，大破劉勳，第二年年初討江夏，又回兵平定豫章（今江西南昌）、廬陵（今江西吉安）。周瑜留下來鎮守巴丘。

建安五年（200年），孫策遇刺身亡，臨終前將權力交給弟弟孫權。周瑜奔喪還吳，以中護軍的身分，與長史張昭一起輔佐孫權，共同掌管軍政大事。當時孫權繼承兄長孫策的官職只是會稽太守、將軍，賓客禮節都很簡從，唯獨周瑜用君臣的禮節表達對剛繼承基業孫權的支持，並確立上下君臣禮儀。

英雋異才

建安七年（202年），曹操擊敗了河北的袁紹，兵威強盛，要求孫權送子質到曹營。孫權與周瑜及其母商議，當時張昭、秦松等人猶豫不決，唯獨周瑜卻堅決反對，他認為：「昔日戰國時期的楚國初時被封於荊山的側面，只有不滿百里的土地，後來繼嗣賢能，廣開國境，建立基石於郢，遂據荊、揚二州，至到南海，傳承家業、延續國祚有九百多年。現今將軍（孫權）繼承父（孫堅）、兄（孫策）餘下基業，兼有六郡之地，賢才輩出，齊聚江東，兵多將廣，糧草富足，將士用命，採山裡的銅鑄成錢幣，取海水煮成食鹽，江東境內富饒，人心不會思亂，乘船在水上舉帆，朝早出發黃昏便到，士風勁勇，所向無敵，又有何急切要送人質？人質一旦入朝，不得不與曹氏建立關係，與其建立關係，則有召命便不得不往，會被制伏於人。最多隻不過做一個諸侯，僕從十多人，車數輛，馬數匹，又豈可和在南面稱孤相同？現在不如不派遣人質，慢慢觀看其變動。若曹氏能率兵來統一天下，將軍（孫權）再臣服於他也未遲。若是策劃暴亂，士兵猶如火燒，不息兵而自我消滅。將軍（孫權）韜勇抗威，等待天命，何以要送出人質？」孫權之母吳夫人支持周瑜的決定，並說：「周瑜所議決實對。周瑜與孫策為同年，只小一個月而已，我視他為自己的兒子，你要以事兄之禮對待他。」最後，孫權也沒有送人質給曹操。

建安十一年（206年），周瑜督孫瑜等討伐麻、保兩處賊兵，俘虜萬多人，後還守官亭。後來江夏太守黃祖遣將鄧龍領數千人進柴桑，周瑜追討擊，生擒鄧龍。

建安十三年（208年）春，孫權討伐江夏，周瑜為前部大督。

雅量高致

建安十三年（208年）秋，曹操率軍南征，劉琮率眾降曹，佔領荊州，曹操得其步軍水軍數十萬，大軍壓境之際，將士皆為恐慌，曹操向孫權進逼。孫權打算與曹操一戰，然而孫權的眾臣下面分裂成主戰、主和兩派。魯肅勸孫權召回在鄱陽的周瑜，周瑜回到孫權身邊。孫權召開軍議詢問臣下計策，文臣為首的張昭首先向孫權說：「曹操是豺狼虎豹，挾持天子以征戰四方，動輒以朝廷的名義來發布命令。今天我們如果進行抗拒，就更顯得名不正而言不順。況且將軍可以抵抗曹操的，是依靠長江天塹。現在，曹操佔有荊州的土地，劉表所訓練的水軍，包括數以千計的蒙衝戰船，已由曹操接管，曹操計全部船隻沿長江而下，再加上步兵，水陸並進。這樣，長江天險已由曹操與我們共有，而雙方勢力的眾寡並不能相提並論。因此，依我們的愚見，最好是迎接曹操，投降朝廷。」周瑜反駁張昭議論：「不然。曹操託名漢相，實屬漢賊。主公以神武雄才，倚仗父孫堅兄孫策所創基業，虎據江東，地方千里，兵精糧足，正當橫行天下，除賊扶漢。現今曹操前來送死，豈可不戰自降反而去迎曹？」周瑜並向孫權分析曹操與孫權兩軍的勝敗關鍵，指出：第一「北方未定，西涼關西仍有馬騰、韓遂為後患。」；第二「北方人慣習陸戰不習水戰，水土不服，捨馬鞍而乘舟船。」；第三「現今入冬，天氣盛寒，曹軍兵缺衣物，馬缺草料。」；第四「曹軍長途跋涉，且遠涉江湖早已疲憊不堪，麾下士卒皆無法適應水土多變，而會多生疾病。」。既而進步分析了曹軍的實際力量，指出來自中原的曹軍不過十五六萬，而且所得劉表新降的七八萬人，人心並不向曹」。周瑜請求主公孫權給予精兵三萬人，進屯夏口，為主公破曹。孫權當眾說：「曹操欲廢漢朝自立已久，所懼怕的袁紹、袁術、呂布、劉表與我而已。如今其他群雄皆滅，唯獨我尚存，我與曹操勢不兩立，周瑜正當請兵出擊破曹，與我的意見相同，真是上天將周瑜授予我呀。」在與魯肅周瑜意見一致後，增加許多信心，堅定抗曹決心，孫權拔劍砍掉桌子一角，說：「再有言降曹者，如同此案！」孫權命周瑜為左都督(大都督)，程普為右都督(副都督)，魯肅為贊軍校尉與劉備結盟，共破曹軍，藉此壓制主和派。然而程普並不服於周瑜之下，程普數以長年跟隨孫氏及年長的資格不聽從調度，周瑜始終以屈己待人的態度來回應程普。程普最終敬佩信服周瑜的胸襟氣量，對軍中友人說與：「與周公瑾交往，就如同飲醇厚的美酒一樣，不知不覺就沉醉了。」

赤壁之戰前，曹操知道周瑜年少俊美有才略，而蔣幹的故鄉九江郡與周瑜的故鄉廬江郡相鄰，於是派蔣幹去見周瑜，希望能勸說周瑜離開孫權前來效力自己。

周瑜接見蔣幹，說：「子翼你費盡心思，長途跋涉過江前來，是為曹氏做說客嗎？」蔣幹說：「我和你的故鄉同屬一州，大家分開後很久不見，我在遠方聽聞你的大名，因此前來敘舊，順道來看望你高雅的風採，但你卻說我是來當說客，豈不是在猜疑我欺騙你嗎？」周瑜說：「我曲藝雖然比不上夔和師曠，但聽賞你的弦音樂曲，也足以了解你曲中之意了。」之後周瑜請蔣幹入內一同進食。三日後周瑜邀請蔣幹參觀軍營，宴飲時還請侍者展示服飾珍玩，並向蔣幹說：「堂堂男子立身處世，遇到了解自己的主公，表面有著君臣之間的恩義，裏面卻更有連著兄弟般手足的情誼，不僅聽從自己的意見和計策，還和自己一起同生共死榮辱與共，即使蘇秦、張儀再生，酈食其再出現，尚且無言以對，又怎會是你這年輕人可以說得動呢？」蔣幹只是一直笑著，始終沒有說話，回去後向曹操稱讚周瑜情致高雅，並非單憑言辭就能挑撥離間江東孫氏兄弟與周瑜的關係，即是勸其放棄招降的念頭。

孫曹兩軍在赤壁兩軍遇上，曹操軍因有疾病，又不習水性，初戰便敗退，曹操引軍至江北。周瑜便與劉備軍在南岸設營，相方對峙。周瑜部將黃蓋建議用火計將曹軍打敗，周瑜認為可行，命黃蓋詐降。曹操果然中計，船艦全被燒燬，曹操北還南郡。

進兵南郡

建安十四年（209年），周瑜與程普乘勝追擊，發兵南郡，與曹營大將曹仁隔江對持。周瑜派遣先鋒甘寧攻打夷陵，曹仁也分兵圍攻。甘寧向周瑜告急，周瑜採納呂蒙的計策，留凌統防守本營，自己就與呂蒙前往解救甘寧，甘寧之圍解決後，即引到北岸。周瑜親自率軍進攻，但右脅被流矢所傷，傷勢嚴重，引軍撤退。曹仁聞得周瑜傷得不能起來，親自督軍到周瑜陣前，周瑜乃起身行至軍營前激厲士氣，曹仁見狀便撤退。前後約一年時間，南郡終於被攻克。孫權別拜周瑜為偏將軍，領南郡太守。以下雋、漢昌、劉陽、州陵為奉邑，屯據江陵。同時周瑜上書：「劉備素有梟雄之姿，而關羽、張飛也有熊虎之勇，他們不會甘願寄人籬下久為人下者。我建議軟禁劉備，將劉備留在東吳，提供錦衣美食、音樂歌女，企圖軟化劉備志向，將關羽張飛二人，各置一方不讓他們見面，而將其帶上戰場參與戰事，大事可定。而如今要借荊州給他們立足，聚集他們三人，都在戰場，這恐怕是放龍入海，恐非掌中物、池中魚了。」但孫權以曹操仍在北方，應該結交各路英雄，又恐怕劉備難以控制，不採納周瑜的計策。

天下二分

建安十五年（210年），周瑜提出征伐西蜀的方案，即天下二分之計：因當時劉璋闇弱無斷，常被張魯攻掠，而曹操新敗，未能恢復元氣。可趁此時機攻討劉璋而吞併張魯，再與西涼之馬超結援，然後再出兵襄陽。如此，反攻北方即可成事。孫權答允，但就在趕回駐地江陵途中身染重疾，不久死於巴丘，時年三十六歲。孫權親自穿上素服，左右皆感動。

婚姻爭議

有關小喬是否是周瑜的正室，一方觀點認為小喬至少並非周瑜元配（周瑜娶小喬該年已快25歲），且三國志中使用「瑜納小喬」，因此有人推斷小喬只是妾。另外，小喬與周瑜成婚是在孫策攻破皖城，二喬淪為女戰俘之背景下，雙方地位並不相符。之後，小喬等被擄獲之人一起被送回吳郡，周瑜則繼續敗劉勳，然後討江夏，後留下來鎮守巴丘，對比之下，這場婚禮發生在兩場戰爭之前，似乎未免草率了。

持有小喬是正妻的觀點則認為，古代成親之用語有許多，更因朝代不同而有些差異，因此並不能由此斷定小喬是妾。古代女子及笄才可結縭，也許兩人有年齡差距，亦有可能是根據《禮記》載，「男子二十而冠，始學禮，三十始有室，始理男事，女子十五始笄，二十三而嫁。」之說法影響，才導致此種情況。而且小喬之事跡記載于《周瑜傳》中，亦佐證小喬對周瑜而言是重要人物。

特徵

• 周瑜年少時有才學，相貌堂堂。為人恢廓大度，虛懷若谷，以謙服人，吳軍中眾人皆與他為友。唯程普因為較其年長卻位居其下，心中不服，於是數次侮辱周瑜，然而周瑜每次容忍，程普逐漸對周瑜改觀，道：「與周公瑾交，如飲醇醪，不覺自醉。」（與周公瑾交往，就如同飲醇厚的美酒一樣，不知不覺就沉醉了。）

• 周瑜與孫策是總角好友，孫策起兵時，周瑜就立刻響應孫策的行動並贊助給予軍資及兵力。周瑜脫離袁術後，孫策親迎周瑜，並當著眾將面前下令說：「周公瑾才華傑出，與我是從少相識的好朋友，有兄弟的情義。就像之前在丹楊，就是他徵召人手及船隻糧草才能成就大事，若要計算他的功勞，這些也未足夠報答啊。」到後來周瑜隨孫策攻打盧江皖城時，俘虜了橋公二女，孫策與周瑜結為連襟兄弟。

• 孫權雖然視周瑜為兄長，一年到頭經常贈與他百件衣服，其他人的待遇不能和他比。但是周瑜從來不因此居功自傲，對孫權敬慎服事，完全按照君臣之禮來對待，對孫家忠心不二。曹操在赤壁之戰前，曾經派遣同窗名士少時學友蔣幹遊說周瑜來投降，但是遭到周瑜嚴詞拒絕。

• 周瑜為人十分親切，揚州百姓都用對一般男子的稱呼稱周瑜為周郎。周瑜精通音律，即使酒過三巡，如果音樂有誤，他亦必然知道，並且回頭一望，所以當時的人都說：「曲有誤，周郎顧。」而後世亦將嗜好音樂戲劇者和舉止稱為「周郎顧」或「周郎顧曲」。

• 周瑜與魯肅是摯友。周瑜任居巢縣長時，聞魯肅之名，帶數百人來拜訪，請他資助一些糧食。當時，魯肅家裡有兩個圓形大糧倉，每倉裝有三千斛米，周瑜剛說出借糧之意，魯肅毫不猶豫，立即手指其中一倉，贈給了他。經此一事，周瑜確信魯肅是與眾不同的人物，主動與他相交，兩人建立了牢不可破的朋友關係。

• 周瑜有識君之才，為袁術做事時看出他不會有什麼成就而棄其而去。而孫權掌管江東不久就認定能「終構帝基」而傾心服侍。所以孫權稱讚周瑜王佐之資，登基稱帝時對著眾臣說：「我若沒有周瑜，我不可能當皇帝。」亦歸功周瑜。

家庭

從高祖父

• 周榮，在漢章帝、漢和帝二帝時任尚書令。由於通曉經典而得到推薦，被召為楚郡太守袁安的司徒。袁安多次和他談論當世大事，他見解獨到，往往能提出不同尋常的觀點，袁安很賞識、器重他。

從曾祖父

• 周興，在漢安帝時任尚書郎。

從祖父

• 周景，少以廉潔能幹見稱，初被察為孝廉，闢公府。後為豫州刺史，李膺、荀緄等為從事，更遷至尚書令，登為太尉。

父親

• 周異，為洛陽令。

叔伯

• 周尚，周瑜的堂叔，官至丹陽太守。

• 周忠，周瑜的堂叔，周景之子，官至太尉。

妻妾

• 小喬，橋公次女，大喬之妹，生得國色天香。

子女

• 周循，周瑜長子，妻為孫魯班，官拜騎都尉，有周瑜之風，早卒。

• 周胤，周瑜次子，初為興業都尉，妻為孫家宗女，屯於公安，封都鄉侯。後因罪徙廬陵郡，病死。

• 周妃，周瑜之女，嫁給太子孫登。一說名作周徹。

侄子

• 周峻，周瑜兄之子，因周瑜功，任為偏將軍，領吏士千人。

侄孫

• 周護，周峻之子。周峻死後全琮推薦他為將，但孫權認為周護人品低劣，沒有任用。

後人

• 周本，五代十國時期楊吳將領。

• 據說，《愛蓮說》的作者周敦頤據說是周瑜的29代後裔，而魯迅則是周瑜的61代後裔。

評價

• 陳壽評曰：「曹公乘漢相之資，挾天子而掃群桀，新盪荊城，仗威東夏，於時議者莫不疑貳。周瑜、魯肅建獨斷之明，出眾人之表，實奇才也。」；「瑜少精意於音樂。」

• 孫策：「周公瑾英雋異才，與孤有總角之好，骨肉之分。」；「吾得卿，諧也。」

• 吳夫人：「公瑾議是也。公瑾與伯符同年，小一月耳，我視之如子也，汝其兄事之。」

• 程普：「與周公瑾交，若飲醇醪，不覺自醉。」（《三國志·吳書·周瑜魯肅呂蒙傳第九》）

• 蔣幹：「雅量高致，非言辭所閒。」

• 曹操：「赤壁之役，值有疾病，孤燒船自退，橫使周瑜虛獲此名。」

• 劉備：「公瑾文武籌略，萬人之英，顧其器量廣大，恐不久為人臣耳。」

• 王朗：「周公瑾，江淮之傑，攘臂而為其將。」

• 呂蒙：「昔周瑜、程普為左右部督，共攻江陵，雖事決于瑜，普自恃久將，且俱是督，遂共不睦，幾敗國事。」

• 韋昭：「善談論，能屬文辭，思度弘遠，有過人之明。周瑜之後，肅為之冠。」

• 孫權：「公瑾有王佐之資，今忽短命，孤何賴哉！」、「孤非周公瑾，不帝矣。」、「昔走曹操，拓有荊州，皆是公瑾，常不忘之。初聞峻亡，仍欲用護，聞護性行危險，用之適為作禍，故便止之。孤念公瑾，豈有已乎？」、「腹心舊勳，與孤協事，公瑾有之，誠所不忘。昔胤年少，初無功勞，橫受精兵，爵以侯將，蓋念公瑾以及於胤也。而胤恃此，酗淫自恣，前後告喻，曾無悛改。孤於公瑾，義猶二君，樂胤成就，豈有已哉？迫胤罪惡，未宜便還，且欲苦之，使自知耳。今二君勤勤援引漢高河山之誓，孤用恧然。雖德非其疇，猶欲庶幾，事亦如爾，故未順旨。以公瑾之子，而二君在中間，苟使能改，亦何患乎！」、「此天以君授孤也。」

• 孫權與陸遜論周瑜、魯肅、呂蒙：「公瑾雄烈，膽略兼人，遂破孟德，開拓荊州，邈焉難繼，君今繼之。」

• 諸葛瑾、步騭上疏孫權：「故將軍周瑜子胤，昔蒙粉飾，受封為將，不能養之以福，思立功效，至縱情慾，招速罪闢。臣竊以瑜昔見寵任，入作心膂，出為爪牙，銜命出征，身當矢石，盡節用命，視死如歸，故能摧曹操於烏林，走曹仁於郢都，揚國威德，華夏是震，蠢爾蠻荊，莫不賓服，雖周之方叔，漢之信、布，誠無以尚也。夫折衝扞難之臣，自古帝王莫不貴重，故漢高帝封爵之誓曰『使黃河如帶，太山如礪，國以永存，爰及苗裔』；申以丹書，重以盟詛，藏於宗廟，傳於無窮，欲使功臣之後，世世相踵，非徒子孫，乃關苗裔，報德明功，勤勤懇懇，如此之至，欲以勸戒後人，用命之臣，死而無悔也。況於瑜身沒未久，而其子胤降為匹夫，益可悼傷。竊惟陛下欽明稽古，隆於興繼，為胤歸訴，乞餘罪，還兵復爵，使失旦之雞，復得一鳴，抱罪之臣，展其後效。」

• 虞溥《江表傳》：「年少有美才。」

• 陸機：「飭法修師，則威德翕赫。賓禮名賢，而張公為之雄；交御豪俊，而周瑜為之傑。彼二君子皆弘敏而多奇，雅達而聰哲，故同方者以類附，等契者以氣集，江東蓋多士矣。」 「周瑜、陸公、魯肅、呂蒙之疇入為腹心，出作股肱。」

• 習鑿齒《周魯通諸葛論》：客問曰：「周瑜、魯肅，何人也？」主人曰：「小人也。」客曰：「周瑜奇孫策於總角，定大計於一面，摧魏武百勝之鋒，開孫氏偏王之業，威震天下，名馳四海。魯肅一見，孫權建東帝之略，子謂之小人，何也？」主人曰：「此乃真所以為小人也。夫君子之道，故將竭其真忠直，佐扶帝室，尊主寧時，遠崇名教。若乃力不能合，事與志違，躬耕南畝，遁跡當年，何由盡臣禮于孫氏，于漢室已亡之日耶！……（《太平御覽•卷四百四十七•人事部八十八》）

• 袁宏《三國名臣頌》：「公瑾卓爾，逸志不群，總角料主，則素契於伯符；晚節曜奇，則三分於赤壁。惜其齡促，志未可量。」又詩贊：「公瑾英達，朗心獨見。披草求君，定交一面。桓桓魏武，外託霸跡。志掩衡霍，恃戰忘敵。卓卓若人，曜奇赤壁。三光參分，宇宙暫隔。」

• 嚴從：「周瑜、魯肅，咸起諸生，鶚視烏林，鷹揚赤壁。然肅為布衣，當襄漢之際，標賣田宅，分財結士，以求人傑：此其志不小也。公瑾推第於孫策，子敬輟粟於周郎：咸有異於人者也。」

• 李白：「二龍爭戰決雌雄，赤壁樓船掃地空。烈火初張照雲海，周瑜曾此破曹公。」

• 胡曾：「烈火西楚魏帝旗，周郎開國虎爭時。交兵不假揮長劍，已破英雄百萬師。」

• 孫元晏：「會獵書來舉國驚，只應周魯不教迎。曹公一戰奔波後，赤壁功傳萬古名。」

• 李端：「鳴箏金粟柱，素手玉房前。欲得周郎顧，時時誤拂弦。」

• 李九齡：「有國由來在得賢，莫言興廢是循環。武侯星落周瑜死，平蜀降吳似等閒。」

• 梁肅：「昔漢綱既解，當塗方熾，利兵南浮，江漢失險。公瑾嘗用寡制眾，挫強為弱，燎火一舉，樓船灰飛。遂乃張吳之臂，壯蜀之趾。」

• 杜牧：「周有齊太公，秦有王翦，兩漢有韓信、趙充國、耿恭、虞詡、段熲，魏有司馬懿，吳有周瑜，蜀有諸葛武侯，晉有羊祜、杜公元凱，梁有韋睿，元魏有崔浩，周有韋孝寬，隋有楊素，國朝有李靖、李勣、裴行儉、郭元振。如此人者，當此一時，其所出計畫，皆考古校今，奇秘長遠，策先定於內，功後成於外。」

• 北宋大文豪蘇軾的《念奴嬌‧赤壁懷古》節錄：「大江東去，浪淘盡。千古風流人物。故壘西邊，人道是，三國周郎赤壁。亂石穿空，驚濤拍岸，捲起千堆雪。江山如畫，一時多少豪傑！遙想公瑾當年，小喬初嫁了，雄姿英發，羽扇綸巾，談笑間，檣櫓灰飛煙滅。故國神遊，多情應笑我，早生華髮。人生如夢，一樽還酹江月。」

• 蘇轍：「至于長洲之濱，故城之墟，曹孟德、孫仲謀之所睥睨，周瑜、陸遜之所騁騖，其流風遺蹟，亦足以稱快世俗。」

• 歐陽澈：「使富國強兵，內無動揺，民安如故，有如大夫種之能；轉輸供饋，外無勞民擾攘之役，有如范蠡之知；臨機果斷，折衝千里，有如周瑜之勇；度長慮逺，收功于必成，有如趙充國之守。嚴細柳之軍，有如周亞夫者；奔項羽之營，有如樊噲者；孜孜奉國，知無不為，有如房玄齡者；兼資文武，出將入相，有如李靖者，則雖愚夫愚婦亦知其可以必勝矣。」

• 宋代歐陽修、宋祁等撰寫的《新唐書‧卷十五‧志第五‧禮樂五‧吉禮五》中提到，唐代時禮儀使顏真卿曾經向皇室建議，追封古代名將六十四人，並為他們設廟享奠，當中就包括「吳偏將軍南郡太守周瑜」。同時代被列入廟享名單的只有關羽、張飛、張遼、呂蒙、陸遜、鄧艾、陸抗而已。

• 同樣，元代脫脫等撰寫的《宋史‧卷一零五‧志第五十八‧禮八‧吉禮八》提及宋代宣和五年時，皇室依照唐代慣例，為古代名將設廟，七十二位名將中亦包括周瑜。

• 宋詞人戴復古的《滿江紅‧赤壁懷古》節錄：「想當時、周郎年少，氣吞區宇。萬騎臨江貔虎噪，千艘列炬魚龍怒。卷長波、一鼓困曹瞞，今如許。」

• 林光朝：「當時稱之為長才無或異辭者，吳有周瑜、魯肅、呂蒙、陸遜，蜀有諸葛孔明，是皆一方雋才也。」

• 陳淵：「當時人物如周瑜輩，蓋百世之士，若其它智勇紛出，莫可悉數。」

• 陳亮：「嗚呼！使周公瑾而在，其智必及乎此矣。吾觀其決謀以破曹操，拓荊州，因欲進取巴蜀，結援馬超以斷操之右臂，而還據襄陽以蹙之，此非識大略者不能為也。使斯人不死，當為操之大患，不幸其志未遂而天奪之矣。孫權之稱號也，顧群臣曰：『周公瑾不在，孤不帝矣。』彼亦知呂蒙之徒止足以保據一方，而天下之奇才必也公瑾乎。」；「昔吳起與田文論功，至主少國疑，大臣未親，百姓未附之際，吳起屈焉。桓王屬大皇于張昭，更以周瑜遺之，後瑜馳驅于顛危之際，昭遂廢不用。何哉？江東雖定而國輕矣。餘論次其行事，使善觀國者有考焉。」

• 洪邁：「說者謂天無大風，黃蓋不進計，周瑜未必勝。此不善觀人者也。方孫權問計于周瑜，瑜已言操冒行四患『將軍擒之，宜在今日』」；「劉備見瑜，恨其兵少，瑜曰：『此自足用，豫州但觀瑜破之。正使無火攻之說，其必有以制服矣。」；「孫吳奄有江左，亢衡中州，固本于策、權之雄略，然一時英傑，如周瑜、魯肅、呂蒙、陸遜四人者，真所謂社稷心膂，與國為存亡之臣也。」

• 范成大：「年少曾將社稷扶，三分獨數一周瑜。世間豪傑英雄士，江左風流美丈夫。功跡巍巍齊北斗，聲名烈烈震東吳。青春年紀歸黃壤，提起教人轉嘆籲。」

• 謝採伯：「孫策、周瑜拔皖城，納二喬，皆國色，是以師婚也。英銳豪俊之氣，固足辦事。畢竟有所溺，則智昏，智昏則防慮疏。策為許貢客箭傷頰，創甚，年二十六卒。瑜為流矢中右協，年三十六卒。」 「孫權運籌於內，劉備、諸葛亮、周瑜、關侯等，合謀並智，方拒得曹操，敗之於赤壁，亦未為竒政縁。」

• 蕭常：「周瑜從攻橫江當利及東渡擊枺陵，則知在江北。或曰：此功為大，每以語簡而忽之，遂令烏林之役獨傳。」「瑜、肅建拒操之議，孫權違眾用之，卒成大功。然瑜昧于遠圖，不能乘勝佐昭烈以定中原，乃欲越荊取蜀，而（呂）蒙又複襲關羽以取荊州，使曹氏為不討之賊，可與言知哉？」

• 錢時：「江左之勢定于赤壁之一戰。操破荊州乗勝東下號八十萬，向微公瑾決此大計，六郡之眾寧足恃乎？論者遂謂此為公瑾功第一。」

• 劉祁：「已而諸豪割據，士大夫各欲擇主立功名，如荀攸、賈詡、程昱、郭嘉、諸葛亮、龐統、魯肅、周瑜之徒，爭以智能自效。」

• 王義山：「某仰惟某官學通六藝，忠貫三精，其謀略則荀攸、賈詡之密，其經濟則周瑜、魯肅之英，其吟嘯則謝安、庾亮之雅，其牧御則羊祜、陸遜之仁。」

• 胡三省：「此數語所謂相時而動也。然瑜之言不悖大義，魯肅、呂蒙輩不及也。」

• 孫承恩：「矯矯公瑾，實吳良臣，雄姿英發，籌策邁倫，老瞞長驅，志無江表，一戰蹙之，功莫與紹。」

• 晏璧：「當曹操伐吳，威震寰宇，群臣爭議迎降，瑜獨定大計，度操部水軍百萬，遠渉江湖，不習水土，必生疾病，願得精兵三萬破之，以片言決興王之策，以偏方抗天下之師，卒走強敵，開拓荊土，非明斷能然乎？至其議縱劉備不資其出地，又欲西取巴蜀而並張魯，北據襄陽以蹙曹操，雄啚出人意表，使究其志，未易量也。雖天嗇其壽，中路隕歿，其一舉而鼎分三國功名之奇，垂于無窮。」

• 張鳳翼：「周公瑾江左偉人，其才略功烈足光紀載，而傳必及其顧曲，固知審聲知音非尠事也。」

• 黃中堅：「周公瑾英姿偉略，諸葛孔明而下一人而已。然其欲徙昭烈于吳，盛宮室美女玩好以娛樂之，分關張各置一處，使如瑜者挾與俱戰，則其計亦左矣。昭烈以梟雄之姿，少有大志，其心固欲建霸王之業耳，故髀里肉生至于墮淚。今方破曹操，勢可有為，豈甘為吳所豢養？關張與昭烈生死分定，不得昭烈而奉之，豈肯為吳宣力？果若所言，勢必將有內變而使魏人得以乘其隙，吳蜀事業俱未可知也。語云：『知彼知己，百戰百勝』。公瑾知昭烈君臣不為人下而顧建此策，殆所謂多思則亂者耶？仲謀于公瑾言無不從而此獨不聽其見，不岀公瑾上哉！」

• 陳子龍：「自漢以後，文武漸分，然猶有虞詡、諸葛亮、周瑜、陸遜、司馬懿、羊祜、杜預、溫嶠、謝玄、韋睿、崔浩、李靖、裴行儉、郭元振、裴度、李德裕、韓琦、李綱、虞允文之徒奮策儒素建功閫外，為時宗臣。彼豈必有摶虎之力，射鵰之技哉？不過深明古今之事，能決機宜之便耳。」

• 屈大均：「漢唐以來善兵者率多書生，若張良、趙充國、鄧禹、馬援、諸葛孔明、周瑜、魯肅、杜預、李靖、虞允文之流，莫不沉酣六經，翩翩文雅，其出奇制勝如風雨之飄忽，如鬼神之變怪。」

• 明代才子高啟的《過二喬宅》節錄：「孫郎武略周郎智，相逢便結君臣義。奇姿聯璧煩江東，都與喬家做佳婿。」

• 羅貫中：「姿質風流，儀容秀麗。」

• 清代鄭板橋的《念奴嬌·周瑜宅》：「周郎年少，正雄姿歷落，江東人傑。 八十萬軍飛一炬，風捲灘前黃葉。 樓艫雲崩，旌旗電掃，熛射江流血。 咸陽三月，火光無此橫絕。 想他豪竹哀絲，回頭顧曲，虎帳談兵歇。 公瑾伯符天挺秀，中道君臣惜別。 吳蜀交疏，炎劉鼎沸，老魅成奸黠。 至今遺恨，秦淮夜夜幽咽。」

• 王懋竑：「周瑜雄略似孫伯符，有併吞中原之志，而不專于自守。」

• 李安溪：「規圖荊、益，及制曹、劉之策，著著機先，真英物也。」「周瑜在則可，如無瑜者，權必不能獨擋曹，無玄德則無吳耳，子敬之謀未為非也。」

• 張佩綸：「若公瑾則赤壁之後旋沒巴邱，世之稱公瑾者第曰膽略兼人而已，不知公瑾之才實一世奇才，而駕乎三國群賢之表。「吳雖多才，魯肅失之疏，呂蒙失之譎，陸遜失之柔，孫權以公瑾為王佐，公瑾誠王佐。惜乎！權之非真主才耳。嗟乎！伯符與公瑾實創江東，其意亦欲取荊州襲許都。使天老其才，以與公瑾戮力中原，天下事未可知也。」

• 盧弼：「公瑾生長江、淮，諳識險要，出入彭、蠡，久涉波濤，熟籌彼我，用能以寡擊眾，遁走阿瞞，一戰而霸，克建大勛，玄德謂為本文武籌略，萬人之英者，豈虛語哉。或曰：公瑾不死，操之憂也，先主亦安能定蜀乎？」

• 蔡東藩：「周瑜年第逾壯，方可有為，乃以意氣之未除，遽致短命，不無可惜。」

• 呂思勉：「周瑜、魯肅，亦皆可謂為好亂之士也。徒以二三剽輕之徒，同懷行險徼幸之計，遂肇六十年分裂之禍，豈不哀哉。」

• 毛澤東：「赤壁之戰，群英會，諸葛亮那時二十七歲，孫權也是二十七歲，孫策起事時只有十七歲，周瑜死時不過三十六歲，那時也不過三十歲左右，魯肅四十歲，曹操五十三歲。事實上，青年人打敗了老年人，長江後浪推前浪，世上新人趕舊人。」「三國時代，曹操帶領大軍下江南，攻打東吳。那時，周瑜是個'青年團員'，當東吳的統帥，程普等老將不服，後來說服了，還是由他當，結果打了勝仗。」「赤壁之戰，程普四十多歲，周瑜二十多歲，程普雖是老將，不如周瑜能幹，大敵當前，誰人掛帥？還是後起之秀周瑜掛了大都督的帥印。」

作品形象

三國演義

《三國演義》總承過往野史、戲曲、地方世代說法、說部話本等故事，將周瑜描繪成足智多謀，但卻氣量狹小之人。例如，在這些作品中，周瑜屢次在赤壁之戰試圖謀害諸葛亮，例如要求諸葛亮造箭等。大戰之後又多次想剷除劉備的勢力，反而被諸葛亮「三氣周瑜」，氣得吐血而亡，臨死前感歎:「老天既生我周瑜，為何又要再生孔明呢？」俗稱「既生瑜、何生亮」。今人常用「瑜亮情結」或「一時瑜亮」來形容兩位傑出人物互相較量的情形。諸葛亮在為周瑜哭喪時說的「從此天下，知音何方？」一句，也被後人視為英雄人物惺惺相惜的經典。

《三國演義》對周瑜的民間形象影響十分巨大。作者為增加情節衝突而創作的「氣量狹小」特點，與歷史上周瑜謙遜寬容，氣度恢弘的人格完全相反。又將其奪南郡之功改為「三氣周瑜」故事，對其作為東吳軍事統帥，謀定對外戰略，任用龐統治理南郡，西進取蜀進而二分天下等重大決策，則完全抹殺。然而，亦有人認為三國演義認同並強化了周瑜年輕，俊美的歷史形象，在「孫氏奪取江東」過程中，增添了頗具文學性的小戰役和周瑜設謀細節（如「計擒太史慈」「奇兵破王朗」等），豐富了人物形象，不可一概以貶毀概括。在由《三國演義》衍生的京劇劇目《群英會》中，周瑜亦成為經典小生，清末「同光十三絕」中技藝非凡、聲名赫赫的京劇表演藝術家徐小香，即因其扮相富麗，所飾周瑜為其拿手，有「活公瑾」之美譽。

詩詞

與周瑜相關的詩詞數量甚多，大多與赤壁之戰或二橋有關，或是追思其年少得志、功名顯赫。當中不少都是出於名家手筆，如最著名的是北宋大文豪蘇軾的《念奴嬌·赤壁懷古》中：

還有唐代大詩人李白的《赤壁歌送別》中：

唐代另一大詩人杜牧的《赤壁》中：

宋代詞人戴復古的《滿江紅‧赤壁懷古》：

元代詩人朱楨的《赤壁石刻》：

明代詩人王奉的《過赤壁偶成佳句》：

此外，也多有詩詞提及周瑜「曲有誤，周郎顧」的雅事。例如唐詩三百首中的《聽箏》：

明初十才子之一的高啟的《過二喬宅》中：

清代揚州八怪之一的鄭燮的《念奴嬌·周瑜宅》：

戲劇

中國傳統戲曲中周瑜的角色，多為小生扮演，而不戴髯口（鬍鬚），以表現其儒雅、秀氣、英俊。其故事多來自《三國演義》，如《群英會》、《借東風》、《三氣周瑜》等。

電影

• 《神通術與小霸王》（1983年，香港邵氏電影）：由艾飛飾演

• 《關公》（1990年）：由陳道明飾演

• 《諸葛孔明》（1996年）：由劉家輝飾演

• 《一代梟雄曹操》（1999年）：由劉家輝飾演

• 《赤壁》、《赤壁2：決戰天下》（吳宇森執導電影）：由梁朝偉飾演

• 《越光寶盒》（2010年，劉鎮偉執導電影）：由黃渤飾演

• 《新解釋·三國志》（2020年，福田雄一執導電影）：由賀來賢人飾演

電視劇

• 《三國春秋》（1976年，麗的電視本港台電視劇集）：由張清飾演

• 《諸葛亮》（1985年，亞洲電視ATV）：由江庚辰飾演。

• 《諸葛亮》（1985年，香港亞洲電視電視劇）：由羅樂林飾演。

• 《孔明三氣周瑜》（1990年，華視葉青歌仔戲）：由楊懷民飾演

• 《三國演義》（1994年，中國中央電視台電視劇集）：由洪宇宙飾演

• 《三國英雄傳之關公》（1996年，中華電視公司電視劇）：由秦風飾演

• 《三國》（2010年，高希希導演）：由黃維德飾演

• 《回到三國》（2012年，無線電視電視劇）：由陳展鵬飾演

• 《半為蒼生半美人》（2015年，安徽廣電傳媒產業集團電視劇）：由李宗翰飾演

• 《武神趙子龍》（2016年，中國湖南衛視電視劇）：由黎源飾演

• 《軍師聯盟》（2017年，中國電視劇）：由王志飛飾演

偶像劇

• 《終極三國》（2009年，民視/八大電視偶像劇）: 由黃少谷飾演

• 《終極三國》（2017年，優酷網絡劇）：由SpeXial-明杰飾演

動漫遊戲

• 真三國無雙系列 / 無雙OROCHI系列（光榮公司開發，吉水孝宏配音）和趙雲、呂布、貂蟬、夏侯惇、司馬懿為遊戲中的主角。

• 三國志

• 三國演義

• 《橫山光輝三國志》（橫山光輝）

• 《蒼天航路》（王欣太）:於討伐董卓時期登場，當時為孫堅軍成員並隨軍出征。

• 《火鳳燎原》（陳某）:設定是謀士學府「水鏡府」的門生，是司馬徽的弟子，更是名聞天下的軍師集團「水鏡八奇」中的「五奇」，樣貌與司馬懿相似，曾假意投靠及輔助劉勳，實際用計使袁術和劉表互相牽制及智取東安城，由下江東至赤壁時為孫軍都督，赤壁之戰後為新一代殘兵所傷並中毒，曾多次以自己「中毒身亡」使自軍習慣及曹軍鬆懈，並實行自己的天下三分之計以劉備入贅江東來號令關張，再與馬超結盟取川以取代劉備，實際上自己本身患有難治之症，所以自己為餌製造多一次不下於赤壁之大火，使自己及大半曹兵亦葬身大火中，使曹操元氣大傷數年間無暇南下及孫軍擺脫對自己的倚賴。

• 《王者榮耀》

譯注與參考文獻

Family background

Zhou Yu was from Shu County (舒縣), Lujiang Commandery (廬江郡), which is present-day Shucheng County, Anhui. Two of his relatives – his greatuncle Zhou Jing (周景), and Zhou Jing's son Zhou Zhong (周忠) – served as the Grand Commandant (太尉) in the Han central government, the highest military official position. Zhou Yu's father, Zhou Yi (周異), was a prefect of the imperial capital, Luoyang.

Service under Sun Ce

Friendship

Around the year 191, Sun Jian raised an army to join the Campaign against Dong Zhuo and moved his family from Shouchun (寿春; around present-day Shou County, Anhui) to Zhou Yu's hometown in Shu County. Zhou Yu befriended Sun Jian's eldest son, Sun Ce, who was born in the same year as him. The two became very close friends. Zhou Yu not only offered to let Sun Ce and his family stay in the Zhou family home, but also paid respects to Sun Ce's mother Lady Wu as if she were his mother.

The Jiang Biao Zhuan (江表傳) contains a slightly different account of how Zhou Yu and Sun Ce met each other. It mentions that Zhou Yu heard of Sun Ce's reputation and wanted to meet him, so he travelled from Shu County to Shouchun to visit Sun Ce. The two of them developed such a close friendship that Sun Ce heeded Zhou Yu's advice to bring along his family and relocate from Shouchun to Shu County.

Conquering Jiangdong

Zhou Yu later travelled to Danyang Commandery (丹楊郡; around present-day Xuancheng, Anhui) to join his uncle Zhou Shang (周尚), who was serving as the Administrator (太守) of Danyang. Around 194, Sun Ce, then acting under orders from the warlord Yuan Shu, led troops into Yang Province to aid his relatives Wu Jing and Sun Ben against the encroachments of the warlord Liu Yao. While Sun Ce was preparing to cross the Yangtze River at Liyang (歷陽; present-day He County, Anhui) for an attack on Liu Yao, he sent a messenger to inform Zhou Yu about his plans. Zhou Yu led troops to assist Sun Ce, who gratefully told Zhou Yu: "With your aid, I can attain greatness!"

Zhou Yu then joined Sun Ce in his conquests of Hengjiang (橫江; southeast of present-day He County, Anhui, on the northern shore of the Yangtze) and Dangli (當利; east of present-day He County, Anhui). They crossed the Yangtze River, conquered Moling (秣陵; in present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu) and defeated Liu Yao's forces under Ze Rong and Xue Li (薛禮). They also conquered Hushu (湖孰; southeast of present-day Jiangning, Jiangsu), Jiangcheng (江乘; north of present-day Jurong, Jiangsu), and Qu'e (曲阿; present-day Danyang, Jiangsu). Liu Yao fled in the wake of his defeat and the strength of Sun Ce's forces increased to tens of thousands.

Later service under Sun Ce

Sun Ce told Zhou Yu: "I now have sufficient military power to conquer Wu and pacify the Shanyue. You can return to Danyang and station there." Zhou Yu then made his way back to Danyang. Around 196, Yuan Shu had sent his cousin Yuan Yin (袁胤) to replace Zhou Shang as the Administrator of Danyang, so Zhou Shang and Zhou Yu went to Shouchun (壽春; present-day Shou County, Anhui) to meet Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu wanted to recruit Zhou Yu to serve under him, but Zhou Yu foresaw Yuan Shu's downfall so he pretended to ask for the appointment of Chief (長) of Juchao (居巢; present-day Juchao District, Chaohu, Anhui) while secretly planning to leave Yuan Shu and join Sun Ce. After Yuan Shu approved his request, Zhou Yu travelled to Wu Commandery (around present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) via Juchao.

In 198, Zhou Yu arrived in Wu Commandery, where Sun Ce personally received and welcomed him. Sun Ce appointed Zhou Yu as General of the Household Who Establishes Might (建威中郎將) and put him in command of 2,000 troops and gave him 50 horses. Sun Ce said: "Zhou Gongjin is an extraordinary hero and talent. He's very close to me and we are like brothers. I still remember that time when he brought his troops and supplies from Danyang to assist me in my campaign. I can never repay him for his help and contributions."

Zhou Yu was 23 years old at the time, and he was nicknamed "Zhou Lang" (周郎; literally "Zhou the youth") by the people in Wu. He was garrisoned in Lujiang Commandery (廬江郡) and later moved to Niuzhu (牛渚) before assuming his appointment as the Chief (長) of Chungu County (春穀縣; northwest of present-day Fanchang County, Anhui). When Sun Ce planned his attack Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan), he appointed Zhou Yu as Central Protector of the Army (中護軍) and the Administrator (太守) of Jiangxia Commandery (江夏郡). Zhou Yu accompanied Sun Ce in the conquest of Wan (皖; present-day Qianshan County, Anhui). Zhou Yu then joined Sun Ce in attacking Xunyang County (尋陽縣; southwest of present-day Huangmei County, Hubei), where they defeated a minor warlord Liu Xun. They then invaded Jiangxia Commandery (江夏郡; around present-day Xinzhou District, Wuhan, Hubei) and subsequently pacified Yuzhang Commandery (豫章郡; around present-day Nanchang, Jiangxi) and Luling Commandery (廬陵郡; around present-day Ji'an, Jiangxi). Zhou Yu later returned to Baqiu (巴丘; present-day Xiajiang County, Jiangxi) and garrisoned there.

Service under Sun Quan

Advising Sun Quan not to send a hostage

Sun Ce was assassinated in the year 200 by the followers of Xu Gong, a commandery administrator whom he killed earlier. His younger brother, Sun Quan, succeeded him and took control of his territories. Zhou Yu rushed back to Wu Commandery (around present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) to attend Sun Ce's funeral and remained in Wu Commandery after the funeral. Zhou Yu then held the appointment of Central Protector of the Army (中護軍). As Sun Quan was still relatively young and inexperienced then, Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao assisted him in overseeing the day-to-day affairs in the Jiangdong territories.

Around the time, the warlord Cao Cao, who controlled the Han court and the figurehead Emperor Xian, had recently defeated his rival Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu and was achieving success in his campaigns to unify northern China. In 202, Cao Cao wrote a letter to Sun Quan, demanding that Sun Quan send one of his sons to the imperial capital Xu (許; present-day Xuchang, Henan) as a hostage, so as to secure Sun Quan's allegiance towards him. Sun Quan gathered all his subjects, including Zhang Zhao and Qin Song, for a discussion, but they could not arrive at a conclusion.

Sun Quan was reluctant to send one of his sons to be a hostage in the capital, so he had another discussion with only his mother Lady Wu and Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu said:

Lady Wu agreed with Zhou Yu and she said: "What Gongjin said is true. Gongjin was around the same age as Bofu as he was only a month younger than Bofu. I see Gongjin as a son, so you should treat him like an elder brother." Sun Quan heeded their advice and did not send a hostage to Cao Cao.

Battles against Huang Zu

In 206, Zhou Yu and Sun Quan's cousin Sun Yu attacked bandits at Ma (麻) and Bao (保) counties and killed their chiefs and captured thousands of enemies. Later that year, Huang Zu, the Administrator (太守) of Jiangxia Commandery (江夏郡; around present-day Xinzhou District, Wuhan, Hubei), sent his subordinate Deng Long (鄧龍) to lead a few thousand troops to attack Sun Quan's forces in Chaisang Commandery (柴桑郡; around present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi). Zhou Yu attacked Deng Long, captured him alive, and sent him as a prisoner-of-war to Wu Commandery (around present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu).

In the spring of 208, Sun Quan ordered an attack on Jiangxia, which was defended by Huang Zu. Zhou Yu was assigned as the Chief Commander of the Front Army (前部大督) and he, along with Lü Meng, Ling Tong and others, scored a major victory over the enemy. Huang Zu was killed by Sun Quan's forces when attempting to escape.

Advising Sun Quan to go to war with Cao Cao

In the late autumn of 208, Cao Cao started a campaign aimed at wiping out all opposing forces in southern China. When his forces arrived in Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan), the provincial governor Liu Cong surrendered without putting up any resistance. When Sun Quan's men heard that Cao Cao had obtained tens of thousands of Jing Province's land and naval troops, they were all very afraid because they knew Cao Cao's next target was Sun Quan's territories in Jiangdong. Cao Cao wrote a letter to Sun Quan as follows: "Of late, I have been leading a punitive campaign in accordance with an imperial decree. Liu Cong surrendered when I led the imperial army to the south. Now, I have 800,000 naval troops under my command, and I wish to participate in a hunting expedition in Wu with you, General." Sun Quan summoned all his subjects for a meeting to discuss how to counter an impending invasion by Cao Cao. Many of them turned pale when he showed them the letter.

Some of Sun Quan's followers suggested to surrender to Cao Cao on the grounds that the strength of their armed forces was not comparable to Cao Cao's. Zhou Yu, however, had a different opinion and he said:

Sun Quan replied: "The old villain has harboured the intention of usurping the Han dynasty for a long time, but he feared the two Yuans (Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu), Lü Bu, Liu Biao and me. Now, all the others have been destroyed and I am the only one left. The old villain and I cannot coexist together. Your idea of going to war coincides closely with my thoughts. This is a sign that Heaven has granted you to me." He then drew his sword, slashed the table in front of him and said: "Any of you who dares to speak of surrendering to Cao Cao shall end up like this table!"

Later that night, Zhou Yu came to see Sun Quan and said:

Sun Quan placed his hand on Zhou Yu's shoulder and replied:

Pei Songzhi, who annotated Zhou Yu's biography in the Sanguozhi, argued that Lu Su was actually the first person who urged Sun Quan to resist Cao Cao. Zhou Yu was at Poyang County before Sun Quan held the discussion with his subjects, and Lu Su suggested to Sun Quan to summon Zhou Yu back for the meeting. Zhou Yu and Lu Su gave similar advice to Sun Quan, which resulted in Sun Quan arriving at his decision to go to war with Cao Cao. Pei Songzhi argued that it was unfair to Lu Su because Zhou Yu's biography gave full credit to Zhou Yu for being the only person to urge Sun Quan to resist Cao Cao, and failed to mention that Lu Su had already urged Sun Quan to resist Cao Cao before Zhou Yu did.

Battle of Red Cliffs

Around the time, Liu Bei had recently been defeated by Cao Cao at the Battle of Changban, and he planned to lead his followers south across the Yangtze River. Liu Bei met Lu Su at Dangyang, where they discussed the formation of an alliance between Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Liu Bei then moved to Xiakou (夏口; present-day Hankou, Hubei) and garrisoned there. At the same time, he also sent his adviser Zhuge Liang to accompany Lu Su to meet Sun Quan and discuss a Sun–Liu alliance. Sun Quan ordered Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu to lead his forces to join Liu Bei in resisting Cao Cao, and they rendezvoused at Red Cliffs (赤壁). A plague had broken out in Cao Cao's army, so Cao Cao lost to the allied forces in an early skirmish between both sides. Cao Cao then moved his camp to the northern bank of the Yangtze River while the allies remained at the south.

Huang Gai, one of Sun Quan's generals, told Zhou Yu: "The enemy are superior in numbers in comparison with our side. I fear that we cannot last long. However, I observe that Cao Cao's ships are linked to each other. We can destroy them by fire." Huang Gai then prepared about ten mengchongs and doujians (鬬艦; a type of warship) and filled them with the ingredients necessary for starting a fire. He also wrote a letter to Cao Cao, pretending that he wanted to surrender and defect to Cao Cao's side.

Huang Gai then prepared some zouges (走舸; a smaller type of boat), which would follow behind the mengchongs and doujians, and his small fleet sailed towards Cao Cao's base. The wind was blowing strongly from the southeast. When Huang Gai's fleet reached the middle of the river, the ships all raised their sails, and Huang Gai lifted a torch and instructed his men to shout "We surrender!" Cao Cao's troops came out of the camp to look and they said Huang Gai was coming to join them. When Huang Gai was about 20 li away from the enemy base, he ordered his men to set the ships on fire and they boarded the smaller boats behind. As the wind was very strong, the flaming ships sailed towards Cao Cao's warships at fast speed and caused them to catch fire as well. Cao Cao's ships were all burnt down and the flames also spread quickly to his camps on land. Zhou Yu then ordered an attack on Cao Cao's base and scored a major victory. Cao Cao retreated north with his surviving troops after his defeat. Zhou Yu and Liu Bei led their respective forces in pursuit of Cao Cao, but Cao had already fled.

Battles of Jiangling

After his defeat at Red Cliffs, Cao Cao returned to Xu (許; present-day Xuchang, Henan) and left Cao Ren and others behind to defend Jiangling County, the capital of Nan Commandery (南郡). Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu led their troops towards Nan Commandery and were separated from Cao Ren's forces by the river. Liu Bei told Zhou Yu: "Cao Ren is defending Jiangling and he has much supplies in the city. He poses a big threat to us. I will send Zhang Yide with 1,000 men to accompany you, while you dispatch 2,000 troops to follow me. We will then cross the Xia River (夏水; a tributary of the Yangtze River starting from southeast of Shashi District and ending at north of Jianli County in Hubei) and attack Cao Ren's rear. When Cao Ren hears that we have infiltrated his rear, he will definitely retreat." Zhou Yu agreed to Liu Bei's suggestion.

Zhou Yu later ordered Gan Ning to station at Yiling (夷陵; present-day Yichang, Hubei). Cao Ren sent a separate cavalry force to besiege Yiling, so Gan Ning sent an urgent request to Zhou Yu for reinforcements. Zhou Yu followed Lü Meng's advice and left Ling Tong to defend his current position while leading Lü Meng and others to help Gan Ning. After the siege at Yiling was lifted, Zhou Yu and his troops crossed the Yangtze River and attacked Jiangling, with Zhou personally participating in battle. He was hit on his right side by a stray arrow and had to retreat due to the severity of the wound. When Cao Ren heard that Zhou Yu was wounded and bedridden, he led his troops to outside Zhou Yu's camp and taunted the Wu troops. Zhou Yu got out of bed and personally inspected his men and encouraged them to raise their morale. Cao Ren saw that and retreated.

By 209, Zhou Yu and Cao Ren had held up against each other for over a year and both sides had sustained heavy casualties. Cao Cao could no longer afford the continuous losses in personnel and materiel, so he ordered Cao Ren to withdraw from Jiangling.

Advice to Sun Quan on how to deal with Liu Bei

After the victory at the Battle of Jiangling, Sun Quan appointed Zhou Yu as a Lieutenant-General (偏將軍) and the Administrator (太守) of Nan Commandery (南郡). Zhou Yu's headquarters were at Jiangling County while he was in charge of Xiajun (下雋), Hanchang (漢昌), Liuyang (瀏陽) and Zhouling (州陵) counties.

Liu Bei assumed the appointment of Governor (牧) of Jing Province with his administrative centre at Gong'an County. When Liu Bei later met Sun Quan at Jing (京; present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), Zhou Yu wrote to Sun Quan:

Sun Quan considered that Cao Cao was still a threat in the north, so he thought it would be better for him to have more allies instead of creating hostility between him and Liu Bei. Besides, he was also worried that Liu Bei's men might not submit to him, so he rejected Zhou Yu's idea.

Death

Around 210, Liu Zhang was serving as the Governor of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing), and he faced the threat of his rival Zhang Lu in Hanzhong Commandery. Zhou Yu went to see Sun Quan and proposed: "Cao Cao is still recovering from his defeats and he faces internal threats, so he will not go to war with you any time soon. I seek your permission to let me and Sun Yu lead an army to invade Shu (Yi Province) and attack Zhang Lu after that. Sun Yu will then remain behind to defend the conquered territories and form an alliance with Ma Chao. I will join you in attacking Cao Cao at Xiangyang, and together we can conquer the north." Sun Quan agreed.

Zhou Yu then headed back to Jiangling County to make preparations for the campaign. However, he died of illness at Baqiu (巴丘; present-day Yueyang, Hunan) on the way back. He was 36 years old (by East Asian age reckoning) at the time of his death.

Before Zhou Yu's death, he recommended Lu Su to Sun Quan to be his successor.

Sun Quan deeply mourned Zhou Yu's death. He shed tears and said: "Gongjin possessed the calibre of a talented adviser to a ruler. Now that he has died at such a young age, who can I still rely on?" He even wore plain garments to express his sorrow, which touched many people. After a funeral was held for Zhou Yu at Baqiu, his body was transported back to Wu Commandery (around present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu). Sun Quan received the procession at Wuhu and personally paid for all the expenses. He also issued an order allowing Zhou Yu's family to keep retainers.

In 229, nearly two decades after Zhou Yu's death, when Sun Quan declared himself the emperor of the state of Eastern Wu, he told his subjects: "I wouldn't have become an emperor today if there wasn't Zhou Gongjin to assist me."

Family

Sometime between 198 and 199, Zhou Yu joined Sun Ce in the conquest of Wan (皖; present-day Qianshan County, Anhui). In Wan, they met a certain Elder Qiao (橋公), who had two daughters who were famed for their beautiful looks. Sun Ce married the elder sister while Zhou Yu married the younger one. Sun Ce joked with Zhou Yu: "Although Elder Qiao's daughters are exceptionally beautiful, with us as their husbands, it should be a happy enough match" (because Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were both known for being handsome youths).

Zhou Yu had two sons and a daughter. It is unknown whether or not his three children were born to his wife Xiao Qiao.

Zhou Yu's daughter married Sun Quan's eldest son Sun Deng, who was designated as the crown prince after his father became the emperor of Eastern Wu. Sun Deng later died at the age of 32, preceding his father.

Zhou Yu's elder son, Zhou Xun (周循), resembled his father in personality, but died very early. He married Sun Quan's daughter Sun Luban and served as a Cavalry Commandant (騎都尉) in Eastern Wu.

Zhou Yu's younger son, Zhou Yin (周胤), married a woman from Sun Quan's clan. He served as the Commandant of Xingye (興業都尉) and was placed in command of 1,000 troops and garrisoned at Gong'an County. In 229, after Sun Quan became emperor, he granted Zhou Yin the title of a Marquis of a Chief District (都鄉侯). Zhou Yin was exiled to Luling Commandery (廬陵郡; around present-day Ji'an, Jiangxi) later for committing an offence. In 239, Zhuge Jin and Bu Zhi wrote a memorial to Sun Quan, requesting for Zhou Yin to be pardoned and restored of his marquis title and appointment on account of his father's contributions. Sun Quan was reluctant to do so, as he noted the severity of Zhou Yin's offence and said that Zhou Yin had not shown any sign of remorse. However, after much urging from Zhuge Jin, Bu Zhi, Zhu Ran and Quan Cong, Sun Quan eventually agreed, but Zhou Yin had died of illness in exile around the time when the pardon was issued.

Zhou Jun (周峻), the son of Zhou Yu's elder brother, was appointed as a Lieutenant-General (偏將軍) and placed in command of 1,000 men by Sun Quan because of his uncle's meritorious service. After Zhou Jun died, Quan Cong requested for Sun Quan to commission Zhou Jun's son, Zhou Hu (周護), as a military officer but Sun declined. Sun Quan replied, "In the past, we managed to defeat Cao Cao and obtain Jing Province because of Gongjin's efforts. I have never forgotten his contributions. When I heard of Zhou Jun's death, I intended to recruit Zhou Hu into the civil service, but I have also heard that Zhou Hu is ruthless and treacherous in his ways. I was worried he will cause trouble if he is given an official appointment so I decided to not recruit him. My memories of Gongjin are lasting. How can I ever stop missing him?"

Personal life

Zhou Yu was described to have a tall, strong physique and handsome looks. When Zhou Yu became close friends with Sun Ce, Sun Ce's mother Lady Wu told Sun Ce's younger brother Sun Quan to treat Zhou Yu like an elder brother. After Sun Quan succeeded Sun Ce, his subordinates did not observe the full protocol when they paid their respects to him. Zhou Yu was the only and the first person to follow all the formalities and etiquette when he paid respect to Sun Quan.

Zhou Yu was known to be a magnanimous and generous man who won the hearts of many people with his character. However, there was one person he could not get along well with – Cheng Pu. Cheng Pu was much older than Zhou Yu, and he often insulted and belittled the latter, but Zhou Yu tolerated him. Cheng Pu was so impressed with Zhou Yu that he eventually changed his attitude towards Zhou Yu and treated him respectfully. He even remarked: "Being with Zhou Gongjin is like drinking the finest of wines. You get carried away and become drunk before even realizing it."

Sometime early in Zhou Yu's career, Cao Cao heard of Zhou's talent and wanted to recruit Zhou Yu to serve under him, so he sent Jiang Gan to persuade Zhou Yu to defect to his side. However, Zhou Yu indirectly affirmed his loyalty to Sun Quan in front of Jiang Gan, and hinted to Jiang Gan that he cannot be persuaded to switch his allegiance. When Jiang Gan later returned to Cao Cao, he told Cao Cao that "Zhou Yu's magnanimity was too great to be described in words".

Around 209, after visiting Sun Quan at Jing (京; present-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), Liu Bei was on his journey back to Jing Province when Sun Quan, along with Zhang Zhao, Qin Song, Lu Su and others, rushed to catch up with Liu Bei to see him off. Sun Quan then held a farewell banquet for Liu Bei. After the feast, the others left while only Liu Bei and Sun Quan remained behind. When they spoke of Zhou Yu, Liu Bei said: "Gongjin's talents and abilities are far greater than those of thousands of others. He possesses great ambitions and he may not be willing to remain subordinate for long." In another incident, after his defeat at the hands of Zhou Yu at the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao remarked: "I am not ashamed of having lost the battle." He later wrote to Sun Quan: "At the Battle of Red Cliffs, my men were affected by a plague, so I burnt my warships and retreated of my own accord. That resulted in Zhou Yu claiming the glory (of winning the battle)." Zhou Yu's widespread fame incurred much jealousy towards him, which was why Cao Cao and Liu Bei attempted to slander him and sow discord between him and Sun Quan.

Zhou Yu was known to be very learned in music from a young age. Even after three rounds of drinking at a banquet, he could still detect a mistake or a wrong note when a musical piece was being played. When that happened, he would look up at the musician. There was a saying at that time to describe this: "If there is a problem with the tune, Zhou Yu will look up."

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Zhou Yu is featured as a major character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the historical events before and during the Three Kingdoms period. In the novel, Zhou Yu is depicted as a rival of Zhuge Liang. He is extremely jealous of Zhuge Liang's talent and relentlessly attempts to outwit the latter on several occasions but never succeeds. His roles in the events leading to, and during the Battle of Red Cliffs, are largely overshadowed by Zhuge Liang's. Furthermore, his death is heavily dramatised in the novel and intentionally triggered by Zhuge Liang. Zhou Yu sustains an arrow wound at the Battle of Jiangling against Cao Ren's forces, and his condition deteriorates after Zhuge Liang makes him angry by foiling his plans on three occasions later. On the third time, Zhou Yu coughs blood and dies.

See the following for some fictitious stories in Romance of the Three Kingdoms involving Zhou Yu:

• List of fictitious stories in Romance of the Three Kingdoms#Zhuge Liang's diplomatic mission to Jiangdong

• Jiang Gan#In fiction

• List of fictitious stories in Romance of the Three Kingdoms#Borrowing arrows with straw boats

• Huang Gai#In fiction

• List of fictitious stories in Romance of the Three Kingdoms#Zhuge Liang prays for the eastern wind

• List of fictitious stories in Romance of the Three Kingdoms#Liu Bei and Lady Sun's marriage

• List of fictitious stories in Romance of the Three Kingdoms#Zhou Yu's death

In popular culture

Chinese opera

In Chinese opera, Zhou Yu is cast as a xiaosheng (小生; young character) or wusheng (武生; character in military dress), even when he appears together with Zhuge Liang, who was actually younger than he was. In Kun opera, Zhou Yu appears as a zhiweisheng, as in the scene The Swaying Reeds, in which Zhang Fei captured him but released him later.

Film and television

Notable actors who have portrayed Zhou Yu in film and television include Hong Yuzhou (Romance of the Three Kingdoms), Tony Leung (Red Cliff), and Victor Huang (Three Kingdoms).

The anime Ikki Tousen and Koutetsu Sangokushi make references to Zhou Yu, in which he is known by his Japanese name "Shuuyu Koukin".

Games

Zhou Yu is a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series. He also appears in Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms strategy game series.

In the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering there is a card named "Zhou Yu, Chief Commander" in the Portal Three Kingdoms set.