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How Chinese Prostitute Ching Shih (1775–1844) Became The Most Successful Pirate Ever
The Chinese pirate Ching Shih (1775–1844), in Chinese 郑氏 (‘widow of Zheng Yi’), is considered the greatest pirate in history. She is also sometimes called Cheng I Sao (‘wife of Zheng Yi’). This prostitute was a ruthless woman who did not shy away from anything. Ching Shih, who lived during the Chinese Qing dynasty, became very rich through her piracy. Who was this extraordinary lady? A short biography of Ching Shih, who started as a prostitute but eventually became the leader of a group of about 40,000 pirates.
The early years of Ching Chi
Ching Chi was probably born in 1775 in the south-eastern Chinese province of Guangdong. When she was about 26, she worked for some time as a prostitute in the metropolis of Guangzhou. In the brothel, she met a Chinese pirate leader, whom she married in 1801: Zheng Yi. He had the prostitute removed from the brothel because she was beautiful and he wanted her for himself.
In the years that followed, Ching Shih and her husband built up a large network of pirates. Their…
