Zheng Yi Sao
Zheng Yi Sao (born Shi Yang; 1775–1844), also known as Shi Xianggu, Shek Yeung and Ching Shih, was a Chinese pirate leader active in the South China Sea from 1801 to 1810.
Zheng Yi Sao | |
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鄭一嫂 | |
Zheng Yi Sao in an 1836 illustration | |
| Born |
1775 |
| Died | 1844 (aged 68–69) Nanhai, Guangdong, Qing China |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Occupation(s) | Pirate leader and gambling house owner |
| Criminal charge | Piracy |
| Criminal status | Pacified |
| Spouses | |
| Children |
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| Piratical career | |
| Other names | Ching Shih (鄭氏) |
| Type | Pirate |
| Allegiance | Guangdong Pirate Confederation (1805-1810) |
| Years active | 1801–1810 |
| Base of operations | Lantau Island, Guangdong, Qing China |
| Commands | Guangdong Pirate Confederation (400 ships, 40,000–60,000 pirates in 1805) Personal command of 24 ships and 1,433 pirates in 1810 |
| Later work | Gambling house owner at Guangzhou |
| Zheng Yi Sao | |||||||||||
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| Ching Shih | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鄭氏 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 郑氏 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | wife of Zheng | ||||||||||
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| Cheng I Sao | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 鄭一嫂 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 郑一嫂 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | wife of Zheng Yi | ||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 石陽 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 石阳 | ||||||||||
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| Chinese | 石香姑 | ||||||||||
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Born as Shi Yang in 1775 to humble origins, she married a pirate named Zheng Yi at age 26 in 1801. She was named Zheng Yi Sao ("wife of Zheng Yi") by the people of Guangdong. After the death of her husband in 1807, she took control of his pirate confederation with the support of Zheng Yi's adopted son Zhang Bao, with whom she entered into a relationship and later married. As the unofficial commander of the Guangdong Pirate Confederation, her fleet was composed of 400 junks and between 40,000 and 60,000 pirates in 1805. Her ships entered into conflict with several major powers, such as the East India Company, the Portuguese Empire, and the Great Qing.
In 1810, Zheng Yi Sao negotiated a surrender to the Qing authorities that allowed her and Zhang Bao to retain a substantial fleet and avoid prosecution. At the time of her surrender, she personally commanded 24 ships and over 1,400 pirates. She died in 1844 at the age of about 68, having lived a relatively peaceful and prosperous life since the end of her career in piracy. Zheng Yi Sao has been described as not only history's most successful female pirate, but one of the most successful pirates in history.