Qin and Han · Rebel general also called Zhou Zhang

Zhou Wen 周文

Died BC 209

Passages: 9
Chapters: 3
Histories: 2

Overview

Zhou Wen was a rebel general also called Zhou Zhang.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Zhou Zhang	周章	Zhōu Zhāng

Life and dates

Death

BC 209 二世元年
自剄
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 70

Attested activity

BC 209 二世元年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 64
BC 209 使吳廣、周文將卒百萬西擊秦
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 44
BC 209 陳涉起
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 41, passage 31
BC 209 陳王起蘄，至陳而王
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 73

Key source chapters

Career and standing

general 將
Held
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 44

Places and affiliations

Polity Chu 楚 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 73
At Chen 陳
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 64
BC 209 陳王起蘄，至陳而王
At the Pass 關 · Relation Traveled to
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 73

Events and relationships

Entered pass then driven back
BC 209 陳王起蘄，至陳而王 · Military · Commander · At Xi 戲
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 73
Led troops west against Qin
Military · Commander · With Wu Guang (吳廣)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passage 44
Marched west against Qin and was repeatedly defeated by Zhang Han
BC 209 二世元年 · Military · Commander · With Zhang Han (章邯)
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passages 7, 64-70
Relation Served · Person Lord Chunshen (春申君)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 48, passage 64

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 89, passages 44, 73

References in the histories

Search passages

History

9 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 41Volume 32: Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 2 passages

今以張大楚，王陳，使吳廣、周文將卒百萬西擊秦。 Now he has enlarged Chu, made Chen his royal seat, and sent Wu Guang and Zhou Wen to lead a million troops west to attack Qin.

至邯鄲，耳、餘聞周章軍入關，至戲卻； At Handan, Zhang Er and Chen Yu heard that Zhou Zhang had entered the passes but been repulsed at Xi.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 48House of Chen She · 5 passages

周文，陳之賢人也，嘗為項燕軍視日，事春申君，自言習兵，陳王與之將軍印，西擊秦。 Zhou Wen was a man of ability from Chen who had once served as a diviner for Xiang Yan's army and had been in the retinue of Lord Chunshen. He claimed expertise in military affairs, so the King of Chen bestowed upon him a general's seal and sent him west to attack Qin.

周文敗，走出關，止次曹陽二三月。 Zhou Wen was defeated and fled east out of the passes, halting at Caoyang where he held his position for two or three months.

章邯追敗之，復走次澠池十餘日。 Zhang Han pursued and defeated him again. Zhou Wen retreated to Mianchi, where he held out for just over ten days.

周文自剄，軍遂不戰。 Zhou Wen cut his own throat, and his army disbanded without further resistance.

將軍田臧等相與謀曰：「周章軍已破矣，秦兵旦暮至，我圍滎陽城弗能下，秦軍至，必大敗。 General Tian Zang and the other officers conferred among themselves: 'Zhou Zhang's army has already been destroyed, and the Qin forces will be upon us any day now. We have laid siege to Xingyang but cannot take it. When the Qin army arrives, we will surely be routed.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 89Biographies of Zhang Er and Chen Yu · 2 passages

今已張大楚，王陳，使吳廣、周文將卒百萬西擊秦。 He has already expanded the domain of Chu, established his court at Chen, and dispatched Wu Guang and Zhou Wen to lead a million soldiers west against Qin.

至邯鄲，張耳、陳餘聞周章軍入關，至戲卻； When they reached Handan, Zhang Er and Chen Yu received word that the army of Zhou Zhang had entered the Pass and advanced as far as Xi before being driven back.