Yao Zhou (died 242), courtesy name Zixu, was an official of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
Life Yao Zhou was born in Langzhong (閬中), Baxi Commandery (巴西郡), which is present-day Langzhong, Sichuan.(伷字子緒，亦閬中人。) Sanguozhi vol. 45. In July 214, after Liu Bei seized control over Yi Province, Yao Zhou served as an Officer of Merit (功曹) and Assistant Scribe (書佐).(先主定益州後，為功曹書佐。) Sanguozhi vol. 45. He was transferred to Ba Commandery along with another scholar Gong Lu. Both were famous and popular with high rank and salary yet they admired Zhang Ni whose status was lower than them due to his accomplishments and became friends with him.(時郡內士人龔祿、姚伷位二千石，當世有聲名，皆與嶷友善。) Sanguozhi vol. 43.
Following Liu Bei's death in June 223, he was appointed as Administrator of Guanghan (廣漢太守).(建興元年，為廣漢太守。) Sanguozhi vol. 45. In 227, Zhuge Liang was stationed at Hanzhong and recalled Yao Zhou to serve as Senior Clerk (掾) in his office. While simultaneously, being responsible for the management of civil and military personals.(丞相亮北駐漢中，闢為掾。並進文武之士，) Sanguozhi vol. 45.
Zhuge Liang praised him and said: "There is nothing more important and useful than managing people well, allowing those individual to reach their respective office and bring benefice. At this moment, Clerk Yao is at the same time firm yet gentle. He certainly can be assessed as elegant in his handling and supervision of civil and military personals. In the past, auxiliaries wanted for the affairs to be managed as such, today their hopes are fulfilled."(亮稱曰：「忠益者莫大於進人，進人者各務其所尚；今姚掾並存剛柔，以廣文武之用，可謂博雅矣，原諸掾各希此事，以屬其望。」) Sanguozhi vol. 45.
He served as a military officer during Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions. After Zhuge Liang's death, he was appointed as deputy director of the Secretariat (尚書僕射).(遷為參軍。亮卒，稍遷為尚書僕射。) Sanguozhi vol. 45. People at the time admired him for his honesty, sincerity and virtue. He died in 242. Thereafter his death, his work was eulogized.(時人服其真誠篤粹。延熙五年卒，在作讚之後。) Sanguozhi vol. 45.
See also Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms
References
Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).