Cheung Po Tsai
Encyclopedia
Cheung Po Tsai was a 19th century Chinese
pirate. He was also known as Cheung Po/Chang Pao/Zhang Bao ("Cheung Po Tsai" literally means "Cheung Po the Kid").
Several places in Hong Kong
are linked to Cheung Po Tsai:
fisherman who lived in Xinhui
of Jiangmen
but was kidnapped by the pirate Cheng I
and his wife Ching Shih
when he was 15. He was adopted by the kidnappers as their son. Cheung Po later took over the pirating business from his adopted parents.
Cheung Po Tsai was active along the Guangdong
coastal area during the Qing Dynasty
. His followers are said to have reached 50,000 and his fleet said to have possessed 600 ships. His piracy mate was Cai Qian
and the two worked together until Cai Qian was destroyed by the Qing government, making Cheung decide to surrender. Cheung Po capitulated to the Chinese
government in 1810 and became a captain in the Qing imperial navy, receiving the rank of navy colonel
and an appointment in Penghu, far away from Hong Kong. He spent rest of his life in a very comfortable government position.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
pirate. He was also known as Cheung Po/Chang Pao/Zhang Bao ("Cheung Po Tsai" literally means "Cheung Po the Kid").
Several places in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
are linked to Cheung Po Tsai:
- Cheung Po Tsai Cave, on Cheung ChauCheung ChauCheung Chau is a small island 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island, is nicknamed as the 'dumbbell island' for its shape. It has been inhabited for longer than most other places in the territory of Hong Kong, with a population of about 23,000 up to 2006...
island. It is a small cave, said to be the place where he stored his prizes. - Cheung Po Tsai built several temples dedicated to the goddess Tin Hau and seafaring activities on Ma WanMa WanMa Wan is an island of Hong Kong, located between Lantau Island and Tsing Yi Island, with an area of 0.97 km². Administratively, it is part of Tsuen Wan District....
, Cheung Chau, and StanleyStanley, Hong KongStanley is a town and a tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It located on a peninsula on the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It is east of Repulse Bay and west of Shek O, adjacent to Chung Hom Kok...
.
Biography
A famous pirate in Hong Kong, he was a son of a TankaTanka
Tanka may refer to:* Tanka, a form of Japanese waka * Tanka prose, a literary genre which combines tanka poems and prose* Thangka, a pictorial representation in Tibetan Buddhism...
fisherman who lived in Xinhui
Xinhui
Xinhui also known as 'Kuixiang'. Famous people born in what is now known as Xinhui include Liang Qichao, Chen Baisha, Chan Heung, and Michael Li from Westmead Hospital.-Geography:...
of Jiangmen
Jiangmen
Jiangmen , is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong province in southern China with a population of about 4.48 million in 2010. The 3 urban districts are now part of Guangzhou - Shenzhen built up area.-Names:...
but was kidnapped by the pirate Cheng I
Cheng I
Cheng I was one of the most powerful chinese pirate along the Chinese coast during the 19th century. He and his wife Ching Shih, an prostitute who he fell in love with captured Cheung Po Tsai and legend has it he was her lover. Cheung was later adopted by them...
and his wife Ching Shih
Ching Shih
Ching Shih , also known as Zheng Yi Sao , was a prominent female pirate in middle Qing China.Ching Shih also known as Cheng I Sao terrorized the China Sea in the early 19th century. A brilliant cantonese female pirate, she commanded 1800 ships and more than 80,000 pirates — men, women, and even...
when he was 15. He was adopted by the kidnappers as their son. Cheung Po later took over the pirating business from his adopted parents.
Cheung Po Tsai was active along the Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
coastal area during the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. His followers are said to have reached 50,000 and his fleet said to have possessed 600 ships. His piracy mate was Cai Qian
Cai Qian
Cai Qian was a Chinese sea merchant, considered by some a pirate during the Qing Dynasty era.- Biography :He was born in Tong'an District, Fujian Province, China. Facing starvation, he became a pirate in 1794. At the height of his power, he commanded along Cheung Po Tsai hundreds of ships and...
and the two worked together until Cai Qian was destroyed by the Qing government, making Cheung decide to surrender. Cheung Po capitulated to the Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
government in 1810 and became a captain in the Qing imperial navy, receiving the rank of navy colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and an appointment in Penghu, far away from Hong Kong. He spent rest of his life in a very comfortable government position.
In popular culture
- The 1973 Hong Kong action film The Pirate (Da hai dao) has Cheung Po Tsai as its lead character.
- The 1983 Hong Kong action film Project AProject AProject A is a 1983 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film written and directed by Jackie Chan, and starring Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao....
depicts a character based on Cheung Po Tsai. The lead villain, San Po (played by Dick WeiDick WeiDick Wei is a Taiwanese actor, director and writer who specializes in martial arts and action films.-Early life & career:...
) is a pirate with similar characteristics. Project AProject AProject A is a 1983 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film written and directed by Jackie Chan, and starring Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao....
's time period is a composite of several in Hong Kong's history.
- The movie Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End depicts a pirate named Sao Feng as a member of the Brethren Court. This character is based on Cheung Po Tsai, although the film is set many years before he lived.
- The Amazing Race 17 visited the cave during Leg 10 Episode 10 in Hong Kong.
- In the anime One PieceOne Pieceis a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 4, 1997; the individual chapters are being published in tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, with the first released on December 24, 1997, and the 64th volume released as...
, one of the character Scratchman Apoo is influenced by Cheung Po Tsai.