Wokou

W?k?u (Chinese: ??; Japanese pronunciation: wak?; Korean pronunciation: ?? waegu) were pirates who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the 13th century onwards. They were comprised largely of Japanese soldiers, ronin and merchants, and later also of Chinese bandits and smugglers.

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The early phase of Wokou activity began in the 13th century and extended to the second half of the 14th century. Japanese pirates concentrated on the Korean peninsula and spread across the Yellow Sea to China. The second major phase of Wokou activity occurred in the early to mid-16th century. During this period the composition and leadership of the Wokou changed significantly. At their height in the 1550s, the Wokou operated throughout the seas of East Asia, even sailing up large river systems such as the Yangtze.

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The term "Wokou" is a combination of "Wo", referring to the Japanese, and "kou", meaning "bandit" or "brigand". "Wo" was a derogatory term for the Japanese meaning dwarf, used by the Chinese since at least the beginning of the first millennium AD. The earliest textual reference to the term "Wokou" comes from a stele erected by King Gwanggaeto of Goguryeo in southern Manchuria in 414.

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Chinese: Chinese can mean:...

Japanese: When used as an adjective, Japanese refers to anything that originates from Japan. It may refer to more than one article:...

Korean: Korean may refer to:...