Zhou Cang is a fictional character in Luo Guanzhong

Luo Guanzhong

Luo Ben , better known by his style name Luo Guanzhong , was a Chinese writer of the early Ming Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was also known as Huhai Sanren...

's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...

.

Biography

A strong warrior with a dark face and a wiry beard, Zhou became caught up in the Yellow Turban Rebellion

Yellow Turban Rebellion

The Yellow Turban Rebellion, also translated as Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt that broke out in 184 AD in China during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty...

 and joined the rebels. It was during this time that he first met Guan Yu

Guan Yu

Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...

, who impressed him with his courage and sense of honor. However, after the rebellion was crushed by Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...

 forces, Zhou became a renegade bandit. He inhabited Mount Woniu with another former Yellow Turban rebel, Pei Yuanshao

Pei Yuanshao

Pei Yuanshao is a fictional character in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He was a former Yellow Turban rebel serving under Zhang Jiao. Following the failed uprising, Pei Yuanshao and Zhou Cang became the leaders of a group of bandits...

, and became infamous as a warrior of great strength and skill. After encountering Guan Yu again on a mountain road, he swore his loyalty to the worthy general and was appointed to the rank of Guan Yu's weapon bearer. A skilled boatman, his talents were critical in helping achieve Guan Yu's water attack at the Battle of Fancheng

Battle of Fancheng

The Battle of Fancheng was fought between the forces of warlords Liu Bei and Cao Cao in 219 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...

. At Fancheng, he managed to capture Pang De

Pang De

Pang De was a military general during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served different warlords during his life-span, including the Han Dynasty imperial court under Emperor Ling; the Liang Province forces led by Han Sui and Ma Teng; the Hanzhong warlord, Zhang Lu; and the...

 during the flooding of the castle. He committed suicide after learning that Guan Yu and Guan Ping

Guan Ping

Guan Ping was the oldest son of the military general Guan Yu and older brother of Guan Xing. He served under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...

 had been captured and executed by Sun Quan

Sun Quan

Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....

's forces.

Other appearances

After Guan Yu was made a deity, Zhou was made part of the holy trio, along with Guan Yu's adopted son Guan Ping. His face is often portrayed as coal black, a stark contrast to Guan Ping's pure white features, and Guan Yu's shades of red.

See also

• List of people of the Three Kingdoms
• List of fictional people of the Three Kingdoms