Although Western media and textbooks often reference the world’s greatest pirates as white men, the most successful pirate-lord in recorded history was an Asian woman named Ching Shih. Not only did she plunder boats, she defeated the British, Chinese and Portuguese navies. At the height of her power operating in the South China Sea at the dawn of the 19th century, she commanded over 1,800 ships and an estimated 80,000 pirate crew, comprising of both men and women. In comparison, the famed Blackbeard commanded 4 ships and 300 pirates within the same century.
Our beach bungalow property in The Rockaways is named after this historical heroine. We dedicate it to our mom, Ching Shih and the spirits of all strong women past, present and future who thrive regardless of the odds stacked against them.
