In the collective imagination, piracy is often associated with male figures such as Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard, or Bartholomew Roberts, aka Black Bart. Yet in the early 19th century, a woman emerged as one of the most fearsome pirates ever to ply the Chinese seas. Ching Shih, a former worker in the pleasure houses of Canton, succeeded in dominating the ruthless world of Chinese pirates by taking command of a fleet of several hundred junks.
From humble beginnings to piracy
Born in 1775 in Guangzhou, Canton province, Ching Shih (then known as Shih Yang) didn't grow up in privilege. From a poor background, she spent her teenage years working in a floating brothel. It was there that she was spotted by Cheng I, a famous Chinese pirate, in 1801. He kidnapped her, married her and integrated her into his business. She quickly established herself as a formidable strategist. As soon as they married, she negotiated a position of power: she demanded 50% of her husband's booty and command of one of his main junks.
Under his influence, Cheng I's pirate armada, the ''Red Flag Fleet'', grew rapidly to become a feared maritime power, numbering up to 70,000 men and 2,000 ships. When Cheng I died in 1807, Ching Shih took full control of the fleet, a decision that would have been unimaginable in any other context.
The naval domination of the Red Flag Fleet
At the helm of the largest pirate fleet ever seen, Ching Shih leads her men with iron discipline. She implements a strict code of conduct for her crew, ranging from rules concerning the sharing of booty to severe penalties for non-compliance with her orders. Serious offenses, such as theft or desertion, are punishable by death. The rape of captives is also strictly forbidden, and those who contravene this rule are executed without delay.âeuros
Ching Shih also distinguished herself by her military strategy: she orchestrated coordinated attacks against European merchant ships, Manchu ships from the Qing Empire, and even Portuguese and British vessels. The Chinese seas are under her total control, and she demands passage rights for anyone wishing to sail in complete safety.
Ching Shih's activities eventually attracted the attention of Chinese and international authorities. In response to her growing dominance, China's Qing emperor sent naval fleets to defeat her. However, Ching Shih proved to be an outstanding strategist. She repeatedly defeated the Chinese imperial forces, then attacked the British and Portuguese forces trying to secure the region's trade routes. Even alliances between these foreign navies failed to bend her.
Junks: boats in the service of piracy
Junks, the emblematic boats of Chinese pirates, have a clever design that has made them invaluable assets in maritime campaigns. Specially adapted to navigation in China's coastal and river waters, these boats are distinguished by their V-shaped hulls, which give them excellent stability and enable them to sail quickly.
The junks are multi-masted, with large sails made of jute or cotton canvas, giving the boats unrivalled flexibility and maneuvering power, essential for attacks. Under Ching Shih's command, the "Red Flag Fleet" took advantage of these features to become a feared maritime force.
Junks also had an impressive carrying capacity, enabling them to transport large quantities of treasure and men. Their shallow draught was also a major advantage, enabling them to access shallow areas and hide in estuaries. This agility made it considerably more difficult for imperial naval forces to capture the fleet.
This advantage, combined with an efficient armament often consisting of cannons and rifles, enabled Ching Shih to carry out daring raids against merchant ships and coastal ports, consolidating his power over the China Sea.
In a context where piracy was often viewed with suspicion and repression, the junks of Ching Shih's fleet redefined maritime power dynamics and established a reign of terror on Chinese waters. One of the defining moments of his rise was the capture of Richard Glasspoole, an officer of the East India Company, who spent several months in captivity aboard his ships. He later testified to the extreme violence and appalling living conditions aboard the pirate junks.
The art of piracy: pragmatic governance
Unlike many pirates of his time, Ching Shih didn't focus solely on terror and violence. Her fleet management is also based on pragmatism. She respects coastal populations, understanding that maintaining peaceful relations with local peasants can bring her vital resources and information. She therefore forbids her men to molest them on pain of death, and ensures that the majority of the spoils are redistributed fairly among the crewâeuros.
The pirate also manages important alliances, notably with Cheung Pao, a key lieutenant who becomes her second in command and probably her lover after Cheng I's death. Together, they dominate Chinese waters, coordinating their forces to ward off all attempts at destruction by the Qing Empire.
Amnesty and retirement
After years of domination, Ching Shih is beginning to feel signs of discord within his armada. One of his captains, Kwo Po Tai, is jealous of his relationship with Chang Pao and refuses to support him in battle. This internal conflict, combined with growing pressure from the Imperial Navy and European fleets, threatens his position.
For his part, rather than continue to suffer devastating losses, the Qing emperor finally decided to offer amnesty to the pirates: he offered peace and honorary titles in exchange for the cessation of hostilities. Ching Shih seized this opportunity and agreed to surrender her arms in 1810 in exchange for a guarantee of her freedom and an official title. She managed to retain much of her fortune and retired to prosperity with Chang Pao, who had also become a mandarin in the Imperial Navy. Unlike most pirates of the time, Ching Shih ended her life in peace, running a gambling house until her death in 1844 at the age of 69.
In a world of male-dominated governance, Ching Shih transformed a pirate fleet into a political and economic force that defied empires and redefined the rules of the maritime game. Through her cunning tactics and unfailing discipline, she left her mark on nautical history as one of the most feared and respected pirates.
