Growing up poor was not easy for a young Chinese
girl. Though mentally suited for any job, the social
norms of her culture denied this fearless scrapper
the ability to make her own way. Refusing to live the life of a peasant, she chose a life of prostitution. It was this road that led her to meet and marry the infamous pirate captain, Zheng. This sudden gift
from the gods gave her the tools to become the most
powerful woman in all of China.
Zheng Shih (also known as: Cheng Shih or Cheng I Sao),
was the most successful pirate known to history. In her
prime, she held command of well over 300 battle-ready
vessels. Her power was so great, she even fought and defeated attacks from the British, Portuguese and Chinese Empires. Her true testimony of strength is shown
in the fact she is also one of the few pirates able to 'retire'
from piracy and live the rest of her life in peace.
