Who was the female pirate who controlled China's waters?
Ching Shih
Ching Shih
Ching Shih [1]:65 (simplified Chinese:郑氏; traditional Chinese:鄭氏; pinyin:Zhèng Shì; literally: 'widow of Zheng') (born Shih Yang (simplified Chinese:石阳; traditional Chinese:石陽; pinyin:shí yáng; 1775–1844), also known as Cheng I Sao (simplified Chinese:郑一嫂; traditional Chinese:鄭一嫂; pinyin:zhèng yī sǎo; literally: 'wife of Cheng I'), was a former pirate who once terrorized the China Seas during the Jiaqing Emperor period of the Qing dynasty in the early 19th century. She commanded over 300 junks (traditional Chinese sailing ships) manned by 20,000 to 40,000 pirates[1]:71—men, women, and even children. She entered into conflict with the major nations, such as the British Empire, the Portuguese Empire, and the Qing dynasty.[2]