A Betrayal that Destroyed a Dynasty
Shi Lang, Marquis Jinghai (1621 – 1696) was a Chinese admiral who served the Ming Dynasty. Then he switched sides, turned against his people, and defected to help the Manchus conquer China. He was instrumental in the overthrow of the Ming Dynasty, and its replacement with the Manchu Qing Dynasty which ruled China until the early twentieth century. Shi Lang was born into a prominent family in Fujian, studied the military arts, and gained an expertise in naval warfare. He joined the Ming navy, which was led by the powerful Zheng family. He distinguished himself, and rapidly rose to command a powerful contingent by his mid-twenties. A quarrel with a scion of the Zhengs led Shi Lang to defect to the rising Manchus in 1646. In retaliation, the Zhengs slaughtered the family he left behind as traitors, and killed Shi Lang’s father, brother, and son.
The Manchus lacked a seafaring tradition and capable naval commanders. They warmly welcomed Shi Lang for his naval talents and network of contacts throughout East Asia’s port cities. In 1656, he helped the Manchus conquer his native province of Fujian. In 1663, he conducted a successful campaign against the Zheng family, in cooperation with a naval contingent from the Dutch East India Company. In 1681, he led the Manchu invasion of the Ming Dynasty’s last bastion in Taiwan. He had the satisfaction of once again defeating the Zheng family. He crushed their chief admiral in a sea battle off the Pescadores, and forced the final surrender of his old enemies. After he conquered Taiwan for the Manchus, Shi Lang was given the hereditary rank of marquis, and granted the title of “General Who Maintains Peace on the Seas”.