Lai Choi San
Encyclopedia
Lai Choi San was a 20th century Chinese pirate. She was the most powerful and well-known female pirate leader in Chinese history, rivaled perhaps only by Cheng I Sao of the previous century, commanding a fleet of some 12 junks
in the area of Macao
and the South China Sea
during the 1920s and 30s. Though her fleet was based in South China sea, she frequented the East China Sea
and some times to the Sulu sea
near Palawan
.
There is no documented evidence of her existence apart from the book I Sailed With Pirates by American journalist Aleko Lilius
, published in 1930. Lai Choi San was one of several pirates that Lilius claims to have traveled with during the late 1920s. Lilius described her fleet as "twelve smooth-bore, medieval-looking cannons onboard, and two rather modern ones. Along the bulwarks of the junk were bolted rows of heavy iron plates". Her crew were referred to as ladrones by the Portuguese and, according to Lilius, were "all fearsome fellows, muscular bare-chested men who wore wide-brimmed hats and tied red kerchief
s around their necks and heads". Lai Choi San has been referred to as a female "Robin Hood
" figure, however she and her crew were often paid protection money by local merchants and operated with little interference from either Portuguese
or Chinese
authorities since inheriting the fleet from her father upon his death.
She was the model for the Dragon Lady
, one of the main villains which appeared in the comic
, radio
and television
series Terry and the Pirates. The series creator Milton Caniff
later claimed to have been inspired by reading a story about her. The character would heavily influence the stock character
whose persona is usually portrayed as a beautiful yet cold-hearted villainess as seen in later popular culture.
Junk (ship)
A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages...
in the area of Macao
Mação
Mação is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 400.0 km² and a total population of 7,763 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of eight parishes, and is located in the Santarém District....
and the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
during the 1920s and 30s. Though her fleet was based in South China sea, she frequented the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
and some times to the Sulu sea
Sulu Sea
The Sulu Sea is a body of water in the southwestern area of the Philippines, separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago. Borneo is found to the southwest and Visayas to the northeast.Sulu Sea contains a number of...
near Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
.
There is no documented evidence of her existence apart from the book I Sailed With Pirates by American journalist Aleko Lilius
Aleko Lilius
Aleko Axel August Eugen Lilius, was an explorer, free-lance writer and photographer, variously described as an “English journalist,” “Russian-Finnish,” “an English writer of Finnish origins,” “a United States citizen of Finnish origin,” a “Swedish journalist and adventurer,” and an “intrepid...
, published in 1930. Lai Choi San was one of several pirates that Lilius claims to have traveled with during the late 1920s. Lilius described her fleet as "twelve smooth-bore, medieval-looking cannons onboard, and two rather modern ones. Along the bulwarks of the junk were bolted rows of heavy iron plates". Her crew were referred to as ladrones by the Portuguese and, according to Lilius, were "all fearsome fellows, muscular bare-chested men who wore wide-brimmed hats and tied red kerchief
Kerchief
A kerchief is a triangular or square piece of cloth tied around the head or around the neck for protective or decorative purposes...
s around their necks and heads". Lai Choi San has been referred to as a female "Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
" figure, however she and her crew were often paid protection money by local merchants and operated with little interference from either Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
or Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
authorities since inheriting the fleet from her father upon his death.
She was the model for the Dragon Lady
Dragon Lady (character)
The Dragon Lady, also known as Madam Deal, was a well-known character in the popular U.S. comic strip Terry and the Pirates, created by Milton Caniff, and in the movie serial, comic books, and TV series based on the comic strip. Her real name is Lai Choi San.The Dragon Lady first appeared in 1934...
, one of the main villains which appeared in the comic
Terry and the Pirates (comic strip)
Terry and the Pirates was an action-adventure comic strip created by cartoonist Milton Caniff. Captain Joseph Patterson, editor for the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate, had admired Caniff’s work on the children's adventure strip Dickie Dare and hired him to create the new adventure strip,...
, radio
Terry and the Pirates (radio serial)
Terry and the Pirates was a radio serial adapted from the comic strip of the same name created in 1934 by Milton Caniff. With storylines of action, high adventure and foreign intrigue, the popular radio series entralled listeners from 1937 through 1948...
and television
Terry and the Pirates (TV series)
Terry and the Pirates is a short-lived American adventure series based on Milton Caniff's popular comic strip, was telecast from June 26, 1953 to November 21, 1953. The syndicated series ran for 18 episodes and was produced by Don Sharpe Enterprises...
series Terry and the Pirates. The series creator Milton Caniff
Milton Caniff
Milton Arthur Paul Caniff was an American cartoonist famous for the Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon comic strips.-Biography:...
later claimed to have been inspired by reading a story about her. The character would heavily influence the stock character
Dragon Lady (stereotype)
A Dragon Lady is a stereotype of East Asian women as strong, deceitful, domineering or mysterious. The term's origin and usage is Western, not Chinese. Inspired by the characters played by actress Anna May Wong, the term was coined from the villain in the comic strip Terry and the Pirates...
whose persona is usually portrayed as a beautiful yet cold-hearted villainess as seen in later popular culture.
Further reading
- Blackham, Robert James. Woman: In Honour and Dishonour. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd., 1936.
- Lintner, Bertil. Blood Brothers: Crime, Business and Politics in Asia. Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 2002. ISBN 1-86508-419-0
- Lorimer, Sara. Booty: Girl Pirates on the High Seas. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2001. ISBN 0-8118-3237-6