21 Facts About Qi Jiguang

Qi Jiguang, courtesy name Yuanjing, art names Nantang and Mengzhu, posthumous name Wuyi, was a Chinese military general and writer of the Ming dynasty.

Qi Jiguang is best known for leading the defense on the coastal regions against wokou pirate activities in the 16th century, as well as for the reinforcement of the Great Wall of China.

Qi Jiguang is regarded as a hero in Chinese culture.

Qi Jiguang was born in the town of Luqiao in Shandong province to a family with a long military tradition.

Qi Jiguang's forefather served as a military leader under the Hongwu Emperor and died in battle.

Qi Jiguang's father Qi Jingtong was a skilled martial arts expert and an upright and devoted military general.

Strongly influenced by his family, Qi Jiguang took an early interest in the military.

When his father died, Qi Jiguang took over the commandership of Dengzhou Garrison at the age of 17.

At the age of 22, Qi Jiguang headed for Beijing to take part in the martial imperial examination.

Qi Jiguang twice submitted defense proposals to the emperor and was noted to have displayed extraordinary valor and military cunning during the battle, and saw the defeat of the invaders.

In 1553, Qi Jiguang was promoted to Assistant Regional Military Commissioner of Shandong's defense force against wokou pirates.

When Qi Jiguang took over the command of Shandong's coastal defense, he had less than 10,000 troops at hand, though the recorded strength was 30,000.

Qi Jiguang drafted mainly miners and farmers from the county of Yiwu because he believed these people to be honest and hardworking.

Qi Jiguang oversaw the construction of 44 naval vessels of various sizes to be used against pirates at sea.

Qi Jiguang directed the construction of watchtowers along the wall.

Qi Jiguang's troops defeated them many times and captured Dong Huli's younger brother Changtu.

When Dong Huli brought his nephew and 300 clansmen to beg tearfully for mercy at the outpost, Qi Jiguang accepted their surrender.

Qi Jiguang's wife left him soon after and he spent the rest of his years in poverty and ailing health.

Qi Jiguang documented his ideas and experience in the form of two books on military strategy, the Ji Xiao Xin Shu and the Lianbing Shiji or Record of Military Training.

Qi Jiguang wrote a great number of poems and proses, which he compiled into the Collection of Zhizhi Hall, named after his study hall during his office in Jizhou.

The Republic of China Navy Cheng Kung class frigate Chi Kuang as well as the People's Liberation Army Navy Type 680 training ship Qi Jiguang are after him.