Yu Dayou
Encyclopedia
Yú Dàyóu (1503–1579) was a Chinese
general during the Ming Dynasty
, best known for the suppression of wokou
piracy along China's southeastern coast.
Yu was born in Jinjiang
, Fujian
to a military family and served as regional commander in five border areas of China. In addition to being a strategist, Yú was also a martial artist who specialized in a style of weapon fighting called Jingchu Changjian. He also compiled a martial arts manual entitled Jian
jing ("Sword Classic").
Around 1560, Yú Dàyóu travelled to Shaolin Monastery to observe the monks' fighting techniques, but found their techniques inferior and disappointing. As a result Yú returned to the south along with two monks, Zongqing and Pucong, whom he taught the use of the staff over the next three years. Zongqing and Pucong later returned to Shaolin Monastery and taught other monks what they had learned. Nineteenth-century martial arts expert Tang Hao
traced the Shaolin staff style Wǔ Hǔ Lán (五虎攔; “Five Tigers Interception”) to Yú's teachings.
Yú Dàyóu was also the father of Yú Zīgou(俞咨臯), who became an admiral
himself. Yú Zīgou defeated the Dutch
in 1624 and forced them to retreated from the Pescadores to Formosa
(Taiwan
). In 1628 Yú was defeated by a coastal pirate named Zheng Zhilong
.
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...
general during the Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
, best known for the suppression of wokou
Wokou
Wokou , which literally translates as "Japanese pirates" in English, were pirates of varying origins who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the 13th century onwards...
piracy along China's southeastern coast.
Yu was born in Jinjiang
Jinjiang
Jinjiang City is a county-level city of Quanzhou Municipality in Fujian. It is located in the southeastern part of the province, on the right or south bank of the Jin River, across from Quanzhou's urban district of Fengze...
, Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
to a military family and served as regional commander in five border areas of China. In addition to being a strategist, Yú was also a martial artist who specialized in a style of weapon fighting called Jingchu Changjian. He also compiled a martial arts manual entitled Jian
Jian
The jian is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century BCE during the Spring and Autumn Period; one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian.Historical one-handed versions have blades...
jing ("Sword Classic").
Around 1560, Yú Dàyóu travelled to Shaolin Monastery to observe the monks' fighting techniques, but found their techniques inferior and disappointing. As a result Yú returned to the south along with two monks, Zongqing and Pucong, whom he taught the use of the staff over the next three years. Zongqing and Pucong later returned to Shaolin Monastery and taught other monks what they had learned. Nineteenth-century martial arts expert Tang Hao
Tang Hao
Tang Hao or Tang Fan Sheng was a Chinese lawyer, and expert on chinese martial arts.-Biography:Hao studied many martial arts from China and Japan, including T'ai chi ch'uan and Xingyi quan, judo and kendo....
traced the Shaolin staff style Wǔ Hǔ Lán (五虎攔; “Five Tigers Interception”) to Yú's teachings.
Yú Dàyóu was also the father of Yú Zīgou(俞咨臯), who became an admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
himself. Yú Zīgou defeated the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1624 and forced them to retreated from the Pescadores to Formosa
Formosa
Formosa or Ilha Formosa is a Portuguese historical name for Taiwan , literally meaning, "Beautiful Island". The term may also refer to:-Places:* Formosa Strait, another name for the Taiwan Strait...
(Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
). In 1628 Yú was defeated by a coastal pirate named Zheng Zhilong
Zheng Zhilong
Zheng Zhilong also known as Nicholas Iquan Gaspard, a native of Nan'an, Fujian, China. He was a Chinese merchant, pirate and admiral for the Ming Empire. He was the father of Zheng Chenggong , also a military leader. Under the Qing Dynasty, Zheng was elevated to the rank of Count of the Second Rank...
.