The Admiral who conquered Taiwan for the Qing and became its controversial ruler

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Shi Lang was a brilliant naval strategist who defected to the Qing dynasty after his family was executed by a rival. He eventually led the decisive amphibious invasion that brought Taiwan under Qing control in 1683, yet his legacy remains deeply polarized between military achievement and personal corruption.

Born in 1621 in Fujian, Shi Lang was a formidable warrior who rose through the ranks of the Zheng family fleet. His trajectory shifted violently in the 1640s following a personal dispute with Zheng Chenggong, who ordered the execution of Shi's father, brother, and son. This tragedy prompted Shi to defect to the Qing dynasty. By 1681, the Kangxi Emperor identified him as the essential commander for an invasion of Taiwan, granting him the independent authority he demanded over the operation.

In July 1683, Shi launched a massive fleet of 300 warships and 20,000 soldiers from Tongshan. After crushing the Zheng naval forces near the Pescadores, he secured the surrender of Zheng Keshuang and Liu Guoxuan by October. Despite significant opposition within the Qing court, which viewed Taiwan as an economic liability, Shi successfully lobbied the Emperor to annex the island. In 1684, Taiwan was formally incorporated as a prefecture of Fujian province, a pivotal moment in the island's history.

Shi Lang’s governance was marked by both imperial favor and local resentment. While the Kangxi Emperor granted him the hereditary rank of Marquis and allowed him to sit in the imperial presence, Shi exploited his position to seize vast tracts of land and extort wealth from local communities. He implemented restrictive policies that isolated Taiwan, prohibiting coastal interactions and preventing settlers from establishing permanent roots. Today, he remains a complex figure: celebrated by the Qing for his loyalty and military genius, but widely condemned in Taiwan as a cruel conqueror and a traitor to the Ming cause.

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