Qi Jiguang

Qi Jiguang (November 12, 1528 – January 5, 1588) was a Chinese military general and national hero during the Ming Dynasty. He was best remembered for his courage and leadership in the fight against Japanese pirates along the east coast of China, as well as his reinforcement work on the Great Wall of China.

Historical background

Domestic situation

Qi Jiguang was born during the reign of Jiajing Emperor, who was a devout follower of Taoism. The emperor devoted much of his time to seeking the way of immortality and, ironically, material indulgence. Most of the administrative matters, including military power, were left in the hands of the prime minister, Yan Song. Yan Song was an extremely corrupt official who abused his power. Every year, six tenths of the wages meant for troops guarding the frontlines would end up in his pocket. As a result, damaged defense works were not promptly repaired and acts of desertion were rampant.

Related Topics:
Jiajing Emperor - Taoism - Yan Song

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When Qi Jiguang took over the commandership of Shandong's coastal defense, he had less than 10,000 troops at hand, though the recorded strength was 30,000. Furthermore, most of the deserters were young and strong men who could find a living elsewhere, leaving behind the old and the weak. The troops also lacked training and discipline, while the defense works were dilapidated due to years of negligence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In addition, Yan Song also established a clan of court and district officials, which ostracized those who opposed its members. Besides covering up one another's acts of corruption, Yan Song's followers also blamed their inability on others, especially those whose capabilities threatened their positions. After the victory at Cengang (岑港), not only was Qi Jiguang not credited for his valor, he was almost demoted over slander that he liaised with Japanese pirates.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pirate raiders from Japan

Meanwhile, Japan was in a state of great unrest. The Sengoku Period saw the entire Japan plunged in small-scale regional civil wars. Many defeated samurais as well as impoverished workers and farmers turned to piracy. They often occupied offshore islands near the coast of China and raided Chinese coastal cities. The raids seriously impeded China's economy and trade, not to mention the mass killings and lootings. The pirate problem intensified during the mid-16th century. Efforts by Chinese generals such as Qi Jiguang effectively curbed the pirate insurgency, but the problem was only eradicated with the coming of the Azuchi-Momoyama period when the situation in Japan stabilized and few new pirates were produced.

Related Topics:
Japan - Sengoku Period - Samurai - China - Azuchi-Momoyama period

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Conflicts with the Mongols

With the revolt against the Yuan Dynasty in mid-14th century, Zhu Yuanzhang drove the Mongols north beyond the Great Wall and founded the Ming Dynasty. However, he did not manage to emasculate the Mongolian power, which continued to pester the northern front of China for the next two hundred years. When Qi Jiguang was in Beijing in 1550, Altan Khan, ruler of the right wing of the East Mongols, whom the Chinese called "Dada" (鞑靼) after Tatar, broke through the northern defense and nearly felled Beijing. In 1571, the Ming Dynasty bestowed the title Lord Shunyi (顺义王) upon Atlan Khan and established trade with the Tatar. Atlan Khan then forbidded his subordinates from raiding Chinese settlements. However, the left wing of the Tatar led by Jasaghtu Khan continued to test Qi Jiguang's defense, though without much success.

Related Topics:
Yuan Dynasty - Zhu Yuanzhang - Mongols - Great Wall - Ming Dynasty - Beijing - Altan Khan - Tatar - Jasaghtu Khan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~