Outline for Japanese Pirates in the Ming

And Lord of the Pirates Coxinga

Japanese Pirates in the Ming

1. Where they came from.

a. Always present, but not of any importance until Ming government was weakening.

b. Called Wo-k’ou, Wo meaning Japanese and k’ou meaning bandit, pirate, or robber.

1. Not all Wo-k’ou were Japanese Pirates, any pirates were Wo-k’ou.

c. Major flux of Japanese pirates when the Ashikaga government started to have trouble after the Onin War.

1. Senkoku period in Japan (feudal warfare) and lack of a central government. Three Japanese families play a major role. Ise, Hosokawa, and the Ouchi. Ouchi is the most influential and when the house dies in 1557 Japanese leadership in piracy ends for the most part, replaced by Chinese leaders.

2. Chinese noble families see how lucrative piracy is and become ringleaders, hiring Japanese Pirates to invade Chinese coastal cities.

a. Use Wo-k'ou as a scapegoat, blaming the Japanese. Weak community interaction and low grade coastal fortifications make piracy easy. As well as a weak central government in aiding the problem.

b. Times got so bad that even Nanjing was taken between 1552-1559.

c. Chinese leaders funded technology, ships, and plans to Japanese pirates

d. started as just illegal trade, but famine and the laxity of local officials key to it upgrade to piracy.

3. An able official named Chu Wan tried to stop the Chinese ringleaders and piracy.

a. Made good reforms but had little support, soon was ousted by rich Chinese families not liking his intervention

1. His ideas were used later when the Piracy was finally put to an end.

4. Social, economic and political conditions played a role in the growth of piracy.

a. Political being a weak Ming government and laxed local officals.

b. social being the large population flux and the movement of people from the country to the city. Farmers now move to trading. With foreign trade lucrative yet illegal, smuggling occurred.

c. economic being the desire of foreign goods, like Japanese precious metals.

5. reforms that ended piracy.

a. Opening up to foreign trade in all but Japan.

b. Upgrading of local officials competence and communication. As well as new supported coastal city fortifications.

c. Better armed and trained military being stationed at the coastal cities.

Coxinga

1. Born in 1624 to a rich Chinese merchant, trader, pirate. Mother was Japanese, father was a pirate and trader, given rank because the Ming government couldn't stop his actions. Virtually overlord of Fujian province (southeastern coastal province).

2. Stern Ming loyalist, turned away from his father when he teamed up with the invading Qing.

A. Had various titles and close relations with Ming emperors and princes. Started with a small group but got followers quickly, creating a giant maritime empire. Used it to fight the Qing with his boats. Charismatic and well trained in politics but lacking in some military strategies like siege warfare. Lost many battles but successfully harassed the Qing enough that they moved all inhabitants of coastal cities off the coast of China.

a. So Coxinga attacked Taiwan as a base and food supply. Ousting the Dutch there. Was first given the title ‘pirate’ by the Europeans.

3. Coxinga the myth and hero

A. Died of disease at the age of 39 in Taiwan

B. Hero in multiple cultures including Japan, Communist China, Nationalist China and even the Qing he fought against. Although later with the Qing.

C. Deified in China, Taiwan and Japan.

D. Later respected by the Europeans who first called him barbaric for his loyalty.

E. Organized a full civil and military administration while a pirate, including 6 boards and 72 military commanders.