The Phenomenon of Piracy in Chinese History and 鄭一嫂 Zheng Yi Sao

• Published in: Sarkiyat Mecmuasi Vol. 2021; no. 38; p. 1
• Main Author: Aslı Can DUMAN
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Istanbul Istanbul Universitesi/Istanbul University 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Asian history; Chinese history; Piracy
• ISSN: 0578-9761
• DOI: 10.26650/jos.820135

Due to its geographical location, China has been the target of sea bandits in almost every period from the first dynasty to the last. Their existence in Chinese history dates back to the about 2000s B.C. Sea bandits are usually regarded as villains who rule the seas, as they are known for their lifestyles of law-breaking and criminality. In many cases, however, Chinese naval bandits emerged as a result of forced conditions that cannot be considered apart from the nature and formation of their society. Until a centralized authority was established, people who escaped from the oppression of slavery started to live on the seas and tried to survive the difficult conditions of seamanship by plundering. Over time, piracy became a profession, and Chinese bandits sailed across the seas throughout the following dynasties. 張伯路 Zhang Bo Lu, who rebelled (A.D. 109) in the Eastern Han dynasty (A.D. 25-220), was the first person to be recorded in Chinese official records as a sea bandit, although there had been piracy activities before. Across history, the scope and nature of piracy has changed with social developments and technological advances. Sometimes they involved themselves in the politics of the country only on the seas, while robbing and looting, and sometimes indirectly with the people they are acting with. By the Qing Dynasty (A.D.1644-1911), piracy peaked with鄭一嫂 Zheng Yi Sao, commonly known in English as Ching Shih. 鄭一嫂 Zheng Yi Sao took over her husband’s legacy and began to rule the South China Sea. Cooperating with 張保仔 Zhang Bao Zi, her deceased husband’s adopted son, she owned dozens of ships with thousands of crew members. They made their own laws at sea and punished crews who did not comply with death. Compared to other naval sea bandits, 鄭一嫂 Zheng Yi Sao and her subjects posed a threat not only to their own country, but also to the Western states that were now operating in the Chinese seas. However, contrary to what we might expect today, she did not meet her end in a prison or a grave. On the contrary, by negotiating with the Qing Dynasty, she spent the rest of her life in prosperity.