Qin and Han · General

Zhou Yafu 周亞夫

Zhōu Yàfū

Died BC 143

Passages: 57
Chapters: 14
Histories: 2

Overview

The translated histories identify Zhou Yafu as an aristocrat, general, military officer, and official. This record brings together 57 passages from 14 chapters across 2 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Zhou Yafu	周亞夫	Zhōu Yàfū
Title	Chancellor	丞相
Title	Chancellor Marquis Tiao	丞相條侯	Chéngxiàng Tiáo hóu
Title	Colonel of the Guard	中尉
Title	Grand Commandant	太尉
Title	Grand Commandant	太尉	Taiwei
Title	Marquis of Tiao	條侯
Title	Marquis of Tiao	條侯	Tiáo Hóu
Title	Marquis of Tiaohou	條侯	Tiao Hou
Title	Marquis Tiao	條侯
Title	Marquis Tiao	條侯	Tiáo hóu
Title	Marquis Tiao	條侯	Tiao Hou
Title	Marquis Tiao Zhou Yafu	條侯周亞夫
Personal	Yafu	亞夫	Yàfū
Personal name	Yafu	亞夫
Given	Yafu	亞夫	Yafu
Given	Yafu	亞夫	Yàfū
Given	Yafu	亞夫	Yǎfū
Given	Yafu	亞夫
Surname	Zhou	周
Personal name	Zhou Yafu	周亞夫	Zhou Yafu
Personal	Zhou Yafu	周亞夫	Zhou Yafu
Personal	Zhou Yafu		Zhou Yafu
Personal	Zhou Yafu	亞夫	Yafu
Personal	Zhou Yafu	周亞夫
Personal name	Zhou Yafu	周亞夫	Zhōu Yàfū
Personal	Zhou Yafu	周亞夫	Zhōu Yǎfū
Title		條侯	Tiao Hou

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0059, hanshu:044:s0145, hanshu:059:s0279, hanshu:102:s0036, shiji:011:s0026, shiji:050:s0016, shiji:109:s0011
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:056:s0018, hanshu:059:s0068, shiji:057:s0150, shiji:102:s0068, shiji:124:s0043
Value: male
Explicit · hanshu:093:s0111

Roles

Aristocrat
General
Military Officer
Official
Statesman

Life and dates

Death

Manner: died in prison · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 後元年 · Western Year: BC 143
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0150
Manner: starvation after refusing food five days; vomited blood · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 條侯果餓死 · Western Year: BC 143
Explicit · shiji:057:s0219, shiji:057:s0225

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 七年二月乙巳 · Western Year: BC 150
Explicit · shiji:011:s0052
Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0059, shiji:011:s0026
Source Date: Text: 信亞夫之軍 · Western Year: BC 158
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:059:s0279
Source Date: Text: 其春，吳、楚、齊、趙七國反 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:056:s0018
Source Date: Text: 吳楚反時，條侯為太尉 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:124:s0043
Source Date: Text: 吳楚軍時 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:109:s0011
Source Date: Text: 孝景三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:057:s0152, shiji:057:s0153
Source Date: Text: 孝景世七國反 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:093:s0111
Source Date: Text: 後元年 · Western Year: BC 143
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0150
Source Date: Text: 文帝 · Western Interval: Start: BC 180 · End: BC 157
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:059:s0068
Source Date: Text: 文帝之後六年 · Western Year: BC 158
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:057:s0124, shiji:057:s0127
Source Date: Text: 是時中尉條侯周亞夫 · Western Interval: Start: BC 180 · End: BC 157
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:102:s0068
Source Date: Text: 景帝中三年 · Western Year: BC 147
Explicit · shiji:057:s0198
Source Date: Text: 與漢將周亞夫戰 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit event contextual date · shiji:050:s0016

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Sibling of Zhou Shengzhi (周勝之)
Kinship Term: elder brother / 兄 · Shared Parentage: full · Subject Relative Age: elder · Subject Role: elder-brother · Object Role: younger-brother
Child of Zhou Bo (周勃)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Parent of Son of Zhou Yafu (條侯子)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Spouse of Wife of Zhou Yafu (周亞夫夫人)
Kinship Term: wife / 夫人 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: husband · Object Role: wife

Career and standing

Label: Chancellor / 丞相 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 七年二月乙巳 · Western Year: BC 150
Explicit · shiji:011:s0052
Label: Chancellor / 丞相 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 五歲 · Western Year: BC 149
Explicit · shiji:057:s0177
Label: Grand Commandant / 太尉 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 孝景三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:057:s0153
Label: general at Xiliu / 將軍軍細柳 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 文帝之後六年 · Western Year: BC 158
Explicit · shiji:057:s0127
Label: Chancellor / 丞相 · Action: dismissed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 景帝中三年 · Western Year: BC 147
Explicit · shiji:057:s0198
Label: Grand Commandant / 太尉 · Action: held · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 七國反 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · hanshu:056:s0018
Label: Colonel of the Guard / 中尉 · Action: held · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 文帝 · Western Interval: Start: BC 180 · End: BC 157
Explicit · shiji:102:s0068
Label: general / 將軍 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:093:s0111
Label: Governor of Henei / 河內守 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:057:s0115
Label: Grand Commandant / 太尉 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0059, shiji:011:s0026, shiji:124:s0043
Grand Commandant / 太尉
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0145, hanshu:044:s0210
Office: Chancellor / 丞相
Explicit · hanshu:102:s0036, hanshu:102:s0084
Office: Grand Commandant / 太尉
Explicit · hanshu:102:s0083
Title: Grand Commandant / 太尉
Explicit · hanshu:104:s0043
Title: Marquis of Tiao / 條侯 · Action: enfeoffed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 居三歲 · Western Year: BC 168
Explicit · shiji:057:s0123
Title: Marquis of Tiao / 條侯 · Action: held
Explicit · shiji:011:s0052, shiji:102:s0068, shiji:124:s0043
Title: Marquis Tiao / 條侯 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0150
Marquis of Tiao / 條侯
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0158
Marquis of Tiaohou / 條侯
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0145
Title: Marquis Tiao / 條侯
Explicit · hanshu:102:s0036
Status: accusation · Action: implicated in illicit purchase of burial armor; interrogated
Explicit · shiji:057:s0209, shiji:057:s0211

Places and affiliations

Label: Han / 漢 · Relation: served
Explicit · shiji:057:s0153

Works and attributed material

Kind: military assessment · Role: speaker · Statement: Ju Meng's allegiance could determine control east of the Pass · Other Person Id: Ju Meng (劇孟)
Explicit · hanshu:093:s0111
Kind: speech · Role: addressee · Other Person Id: Xu Fu (許負) · Quoted: true
Explicit · shiji:057:s0116, shiji:057:s0117, shiji:057:s0118
Kind: speech · Role: speaker
Explicit · shiji:124:s0043

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: attacked rebels · Other Person Ids: Liu Bi (劉濞), Ang (卬), Wu (戊), Liu Sui (劉遂), Bi Guang (辟光), Xian (賢), Xiong Qu (雄渠) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · hanshu:006:s0059
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated Wu and Chu rebellion · Other Person Id: Liu Bi (劉濞) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 孝景三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:057:s0153, shiji:057:s0173
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: Emperor Wen trusted his army (Fine Willow episode referenced by Yang Xiong) · Other Person Id: Emperor Wen (孝文帝) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 亞夫之軍 · Western Year: BC 158
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:059:s0279
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: fought · Other Person Id: Wu (戊) · Place: south of Changyi / 昌邑南 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 與漢將周亞夫戰 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:050:s0016
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: held strict discipline at Xiliu; praised by Emperor Wen · Place: Xiliu / 細柳 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 文帝之後六年 · Western Year: BC 158
Explicit · shiji:057:s0130, shiji:057:s0144
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: suppressed-rebellion · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 三年 · Western Year: BC 154
Explicit · shiji:011:s0026
Relation: friend-of · Person Id: Zhang Shizhi (張釋之)
Explicit · shiji:102:s0068
Type: son-of · Person Id: Marquis of Jiang (絳侯)
Explicit · hanshu:044:s0152

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: stern authority in command; self-satisfied and obstinate, ending in ruin · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment · Speaker Person Id: Sima Qian (太史公)
Explicit · shiji:057:s0230, shiji:057:s0231
Kind: physical-description · Statement: vertical crease running into the mouth (starvation physiognomy)
Explicit · shiji:057:s0122

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · shiji:050:s0016

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Han, Chapter 5Volume 4: Annals of Emperor Wen · 2 passages

以中大夫令免為車騎將軍屯飛狐，故楚相蘇意為將軍屯句注，將軍張武屯北地，河內太守周亞夫為將軍次細柳，宗正劉禮為將軍次霸上，祝茲侯徐厲為將軍次棘門，以備胡。 He appointed Court Gentleman Ling Mian as Chariot and Cavalry General stationed at Feihu Pass, former Chu Chancellor Su Yi as general stationed at Gouzhu Pass, General Zhang Wu stationed at Beidi, Hedong Governor Zhou Yafu as general stationed at Xiliu, Imperial Kinsman Liu Li as general stationed at Bashang, and Marquis Xu Li of Zhuzi as general stationed at Jimen, all to defend against the Xiongnu.

令中尉亞夫為車騎將軍，屬國悍為將屯將軍，郎中令張武為復土將軍，發近縣卒萬六千人，發內史卒萬五千人，臧郭穿復土屬將軍武。 He appointed Superintendent of the Capital Zhou Yafu as Chariot and Cavalry General, Protector of Dependent States Han as Garrison General, and Palace Assistant Zhang Wu as Restorer of Soil General. He mobilized 16,000 troops from nearby counties and 15,000 from the Capital District; excavating the outer burial enclosure and covering it with earth was assigned to General Wu.

Book of Han, Chapter 6Volume 5: Annals of Emperor Jing · 2 passages

遣太尉亞夫、大將軍竇嬰將兵擊之。 He sent Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu and General Dou Ying to lead troops against the rebels.

條侯周亞夫下獄死。 Marquis Tiao Zhou Yafu was thrown into prison and died there.

Book of Han, Chapter 44Volume 35: Princes of Jing, Yan and Wu · 10 passages

七國反書聞，天子乃遣太尉條侯周亞夫將三十六將軍往擊吳楚； News of the seven kingdoms’ revolt reached court; the emperor sent Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu of Tiaohou with thirty-six generals against Wu and Chu;

條侯將乘六乘傳，會兵滎陽。 Zhou Yafu raced six post-horses to rally the host at Xingyang.

條侯曰：「善。」 Zhou Yafu said, “Excellent.”

梁數使使條侯求救，條侯不許。 Liang begged Zhou Yafu again and again; he refused.

又使使愬條侯於上，上使告條侯救梁，又守便宜不行。 They complained to the throne; the emperor told him to relieve Liang, yet he clung to his plan and stayed put.

吳兵欲西，梁城守，不敢西，即走條侯軍，會下邑。 Wu meant to drive west, yet Liang’s walls blocked the way; they dared not push on and veered toward Zhou Yafu’s camp, meeting him below Xiayi.

欲戰，條侯壁，不肯戰。 They clamored for a fight; Zhou Yafu stayed behind his walls and refused.

吳糧絕，卒飢，數挑戰，遂夜奔條侯壁，驚東南。 With supplies gone and men famished, Wu taunted day after day, then stormed the southeast corner of Yafu’s lines by night.

條侯使備西北，果從西北。 He had stacked his defense on the northwest; the feint failed and the real blow came there.

吳王之棄軍亡也，軍遂潰，往往稍降太尉條侯及梁軍。 Once the king bolted, his army unraveled; bands here and there gave themselves up to Zhou Yafu or to Liang.

Book of Han, Chapter 56Volume 47: The Three Sons of Emperor Wen · 1 passage

吳、楚以梁為限，不敢過而西，與太尉亞夫等相距三月。 Wu and Chu could not get past Liang to march west; for three months they were locked in stalemate with Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu and the imperial army.

Book of Han, Chapter 59Volume 50: Zhang, Feng, Ji and Zheng · 2 passages

是時，中尉條侯周亞夫與梁相山都侯王恬啟見釋之持議平，乃結為親友。 At the time Commandant Zhou Yafu of the Tiao marquisate and Wang Tianqi, marquis of Shandu and minister of Liang, saw how fairly Shizhi decided cases and became his close friends.

揚子以為孝文帝詘帝尊以信亞夫之軍，曷為不能用頗、牧？ Yang Xiong objected: Emperor Wen once bowed his imperial pride to trust Zhou Yafu's camp—how could the same man fail to use Lian Po and Li Mu?

Book of Han, Chapter 93Volume 82: Wang Shang, Shi Dan and Fu Xi · 1 passage

前孝景世七國反，將軍周亞夫以爲即得雒陽劇孟，關東非漢之有。 In Emperor Jing's reign the seven states rebelled. General Zhou Yafu said that with Ju Meng of Luoyang on their side, the rebels could take everything east of the Pass from Han.

Book of Han, Chapter 102Volume 90: Cruel Officials · 5 passages

都遷為中尉，丞相條侯至貴居也，而都揖丞相。 Promoted to metropolitan commandant, he greeted even the mighty Chancellor Zhou Yafu with no more than a waist-level bow.

以佐史補中都官，用廉為令史，事太尉周亞夫。 He rose from aide to capital posts, won recommendation as honest, became chief clerk under Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu.

亞夫為丞相，禹為丞相史，府中皆稱其廉平。 When Zhou Yafu became chancellor, Zhao Yu served as his bureau clerk and won praise for integrity.

然亞夫弗任，曰：「極知禹無害，然文深，不可以居大府。」 Yet Yafu hesitated: "I know Zhao Yu is upright, but his legal prose is merciless—not fit for the main office."

始條侯以禹賊深，及禹為少府九卿，酷急。 Marquis Zhou Yafu had called him dangerously subtle; as privy treasurer among the nine ministers he proved fierce and relentless.

Book of Han, Chapter 104Volume 92: Youxias · 1 passage

吳、楚反時，條侯為太尉，乘傳東，將至河南，得劇孟，喜曰：「吳、楚舉大事而不求劇孟，吾知其無能為已。」 During the Rebellion of Seven States, Zhou Yafu rode east as Grand Commandant, picked up Ju Meng in Henan, and laughed with relief: "If Wu and Chu forgot to recruit Ju Meng, they have already lost."

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 11Annals of the Xiaojing Emperor · 2 passages

上乃遣大將軍竇嬰、太尉周亞夫將兵誅之。 The emperor then sent Grand General Dou Ying and Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu to lead troops and suppress the rebellion.

二月乙巳，以太尉條侯周亞夫為丞相。 On the yisi day of the second month, he appointed Zhou Yafu, Grand Commandant and Marquis of Tiao, as Chancellor.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 50House of Prince Yuan of Chu · 1 passage

至昌邑南，與漢將周亞夫戰。 They advanced as far south as Changyi, where they engaged the Han general Zhou Yafu in battle.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 57House of Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang · 27 passages

絕一歲，文帝乃擇絳侯勃子賢者河內守亞夫，封為條侯，續絳侯後。 After a lapse of one year, Emperor Wen chose the most worthy of the Marquis of Jiang's sons, Yafu, who was then serving as Governor of Henei, and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Tiao to continue the line of the Marquis of Jiang.

條侯亞夫自未侯為河內守時，許負相之，曰：「君後三歲而侯。 When the Marquis of Tiao, Yafu, was not yet a marquis and was still serving as Governor of Henei, the physiognomist Xu Fu read his face and said: "In three years you will become a marquis.

亞夫笑曰：「臣之兄已代父侯矣，有如卒，子當代，亞夫何說侯乎？ Yafu laughed and said: "My elder brother has already succeeded our father as marquis. Should he die, his own son will inherit. How could Yafu ever become a marquis?

居三歲，其兄絳侯勝之有罪，孝文帝擇絳侯子賢者，皆推亞夫，乃封亞夫為條侯，續絳侯後。 Three years later, his elder brother Shengzhi, the Marquis of Jiang, was found guilty of a crime. Emperor Wen selected from among the Marquis of Jiang's sons the most worthy; all agreed on Yafu. He was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Tiao to carry on the line of the Marquis of Jiang.

以河內守亞夫為將軍，軍細柳：以備胡。 Yafu, the Governor of Henei, was appointed general and stationed at Xiliu to guard against the Xiongnu.

亞夫乃傳言開壁門。 Only then did Yafu give the order to open the rampart gates.

至營，將軍亞夫持兵揖曰：「介胄之士不拜，請以軍禮見。」 When they reached the command tent, General Yafu, weapon in hand, gave a military salute and said: "A man in armor cannot perform the full obeisance. I beg leave to greet Your Majesty with the rites of the camp."

至於亞夫，可得而犯邪！」 But Yafu, could any enemy dare challenge him?"

稱善者久之。 He went on praising Yafu for a long while.

乃拜亞夫為中尉。 Yafu was thereupon appointed Commandant of the Capital Guard.

孝文且崩時，誡太子曰：「即有緩急，周亞夫真可任將兵。」 When Emperor Wen lay on his deathbed, he admonished the Crown Prince: "If ever there is an emergency, Zhou Yafu is the man you can truly entrust to command the army."

文帝崩，拜亞夫為車騎將軍。 After Emperor Wen passed away, Yafu was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry.

亞夫以中尉為太尉，東擊吳楚。 Yafu was promoted from Commandant of the Capital Guard to Grand Commandant and sent east to campaign against Wu and Chu.

而梁孝王每朝，常與太后言條侯之短。 Moreover, each time King Xiao of Liang attended court, he would speak to the Empress Dowager of the Marquis of Tiao's failings.

丞相議之，亞夫曰：「高皇帝約『非劉氏不得王，非有功不得侯。 When the matter was put to the chancellor, Yafu replied: "Emperor Gaozu's covenant states: 'None who is not of the Liu clan may be made king; none without merit may be made marquis.

丞相亞夫曰：「彼背其主降陛下，陛下侯之，則何以責人臣不守節者乎？」 Chancellor Yafu objected: "These men betrayed their own lord to surrender to Your Majesty. If Your Majesty rewards them with marquisates, by what standard can you censure ministers who fail to keep faith?"

亞夫因謝病。 Yafu thereupon pleaded illness and withdrew.

頃之，景帝居禁中，召條侯，賜食。 Not long afterward, Emperor Jing, from within the inner palace, summoned the Marquis of Tiao and offered him a meal.

條侯心不平，顧謂尚席取櫡。 The Marquis of Tiao was displeased. He turned and asked the steward to fetch chopsticks.

條侯免冠謝。 The Marquis of Tiao removed his cap and apologized.

上起，條侯因趨出。 When the emperor rose, the Marquis of Tiao hastily withdrew.

庸知其盜買縣官器，怒而上變告子，事連汙條侯。 The laborers, aware that government equipment had been illicitly purchased, were enraged and reported the crime, accusing the son. The case implicated the Marquis of Tiao himself.

吏簿責條侯，條侯不對。 The officials interrogated the Marquis of Tiao based on the charges, but the marquis refused to answer.

亞夫曰：「臣所買器，乃葬器也，何謂反邪？」 Yafu replied: "What I purchased were burial goods. How can you call that rebellion?"

初，吏捕條侯，條侯欲自殺，夫人止之，以故不得死，遂入廷尉。 When the officials first came to arrest the Marquis of Tiao, he had wished to take his own life, but his wife stopped him. Unable to die, he was brought before the Commandant of Justice.

條侯果餓死。 The Marquis of Tiao did indeed die of starvation.

亞夫之用兵，持威重，執堅刃，穰苴曷有加焉！ As for Yafu's command of armies, maintaining stern authority and wielding iron discipline, even Rangju could not have surpassed him!

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 102Biographies of Zhang Shizhi and Feng Tang · 1 passage

是時，中尉條侯周亞夫與梁相山都侯王恬開見釋之持議平，乃結為親友。 At this time, Zhou Yafu the Marquis of Tiao, who served as Colonel of the Guard, and Wang Tiankai the Marquis of Shandu, who served as Chancellor of Liang, observed that Shizhi deliberated with impartiality, and both became his close friends.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 109Biography of General Li · 1 passage

吳楚軍時，廣為驍騎都尉，從太尉亞夫擊吳楚軍，取旗，顯功名昌邑下。 During the Rebellion of Wu and Chu, Guang served as Commandant of the Brave Cavalry. He followed Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu in the attack against the rebel armies, captured an enemy battle standard, and won renown at the walls of Changyi.

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 124Biographies of Knight-errants · 1 passage

吳楚反時，條侯為太尉，乘傳車將至河南，得劇孟，喜曰：「吳楚舉大事而不求孟，吾知其無能為已矣。」 When the kingdoms of Wu and Chu rose in rebellion, the Marquis of Tiao was serving as Grand Commandant. On his way to Henan by relay carriage, he secured the allegiance of Ju Meng and exclaimed with delight: "Wu and Chu have launched their great revolt without enlisting Meng — I know they cannot accomplish anything for themselves."