The seas and channels of China and Southeast Asia were ideal for pirates. Small boats easily hid in the mangrove swamps along the coasts. Piracy was well established by 400 A.D. China and Japan often had to work together to stop the pirates.
The pirates became worse after European empires grew in the 16th and 17th centuries. Pirates such as Ching Yih had over 500 ships. Ching-Chi-ling had a fleet of 1,000 ships. The fleets of the China Seas pirates were divided into squadrons, each with its own flag: Ching Yih’s fleet had red, yellow, green, blue, black and white.
The largest Chinese pirate ships were converted cargo vessels armed with 10-15 guns. They were too powerful for the Chinese navy to defeat them.
For hand to hand fighting, the traditional weapon for Chinese pirates was a long, heavy sword. Swung with both hands, the sword could even cut through metal armour. Japanese pirates used smaller swords, fighting with one in each hand.
The British navy destroyed the most notorious Chinese pirate fleet in 1849. By 1860 they had put an end to piracy in the China Seas.
Hi,
do you have any history of the shipwreck that was found some where off the coast around palliser bay maybe or sumwhere there? It was a Chinesse ship and I beleive it was quite a huge one?
Thank you for your help!