[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.00,0:00:01.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When most people think of pirates,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.36,0:00:02.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they imagine hulking, fearsome men
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.91,0:00:05.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with names like Blackbeard or Long John Silver.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.75,0:00:07.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although the vast majority of pirates
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.28,0:00:08.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,throughout history have been male,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.62,0:00:10.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the most famous and feared pirates
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.48,0:00:11.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who ever lived was
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.26,0:00:12.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ching Shih --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.29,0:00:14.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a young Cantonese woman who became the ruler
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.52,0:00:17.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of one the largest pirate fleets in history,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.02,0:00:18.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the mastermind behind
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.42,0:00:20.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a floating criminal empire so powerful,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.57,0:00:23.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that even the Chinese military couldn't stop it.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.22,0:00:24.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don't know much about her early life,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.92,0:00:26.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,except that at one point,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.24,0:00:28.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she worked at a brothel in Canton.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.04,0:00:30.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 1801, Ching Shih married a pirate commander
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.56,0:00:31.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,named Ching I,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.58,0:00:32.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and soon ruled by his side
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.82,0:00:34.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as he expanded his empire,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.31,0:00:36.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,unifying countless small, scattered crews of pirates
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.100,0:00:38.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into an organized
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.24,0:00:40.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and increasingly powerful coalition.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.74,0:00:43.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When her husband died suddenly in 1807,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.26,0:00:45.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ching Shih knew exactly what to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.73,0:00:48.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She stepped in to claim the leadership for herself,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.12,0:00:49.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,taking control of somewhere between
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.70,0:00:52.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,40,000 and 60,000 pirates.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.35,0:00:54.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Their acceptance of a woman as their commander
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.94,0:00:56.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,remains a remarkable testament to both
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.94,0:00:58.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her political skill and the respect
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.76,0:01:00.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she must have earned from the crew.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.88,0:01:02.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She soon appointed her adopted son,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.34,0:01:03.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ching Pao,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.34,0:01:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the commander of her most powerful fleet
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.22,0:01:06.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and eventually married him.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.67,0:01:07.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was a little creepy,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.82,0:01:09.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the two became a formidable team
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.100,0:01:11.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose raids were feared through
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.34,0:01:13.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the South China Sea.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.05,0:01:14.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don't know exactly what Ching looked like,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.78,0:01:16.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,although some historians have assumed
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.08,0:01:17.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she caught the eye of her pirate husband
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.68,0:01:18.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through good looks rather than `
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.95,0:01:20.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her considerable intelligence.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.78,0:01:22.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,While there are many flamboyant but dubious
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.71,0:01:24.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,accounts invented by Western writers of a
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.64,0:01:25.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,gorgeous goddess,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.96,0:01:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wielding swords and wearing glittering battle gear
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.28,0:01:29.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,covered in golden dragons,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.98,0:01:32.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more reliable texts describe Ching Shih
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.19,0:01:34.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a good military strategist,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.22,0:01:35.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a strict disciplinarian,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.65,0:01:37.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and an excellent businesswoman.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.44,0:01:39.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although she rejected many traditional ideas
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.51,0:01:41.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about what women could and couldn't do,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.32,0:01:43.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,other rules were extremely important:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.69,0:01:44.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,namely, those enforced on her ships.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.47,0:01:47.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With the help of a code of conduct
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.58,0:01:48.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,drawn up by Ching Pao,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.95,0:01:51.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she helped establish clear rules for the behavior,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.52,0:01:53.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,finances, and power structure of the fleet --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.87,0:01:56.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As well as the draconian punishment that awaited
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.06,0:01:59.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,anyone who dared to disobey or cheat her.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.52,0:02:01.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Her rule was unquestionably harsh:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.58,0:02:03.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not only for the victims of her raids,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.36,0:02:05.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but for anyone in the fleet who dared
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.14,0:02:06.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to step out of line.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.88,0:02:08.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All plunder had to be registered,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.71,0:02:11.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with 80% of the loot paid into a general fund.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.06,0:02:12.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Somewhat ironically,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.35,0:02:13.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stealing from the fund
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.25,0:02:15.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was one of the worst crimes a pirate could commit,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.38,0:02:17.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the punishment was death.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.59,0:02:18.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As one observer noted,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.92,0:02:20.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ching Shih's strict and often lethal reaction
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.85,0:02:23.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to misbehavior kept the crew very honest.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.62,0:02:25.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the pirates under her command
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.09,0:02:27.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,took great care to behave themselves well.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.63,0:02:29.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Through careful and ruthless management,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.72,0:02:31.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ching Shih made the bloody and chaotic work
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.68,0:02:34.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of piracy into a highly organized business.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.41,0:02:36.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And business was good --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.18,0:02:38.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,making her a very wealthy woman.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.35,0:02:38.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, of course,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.96,0:02:40.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like so many male leaders,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.17,0:02:41.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,conquerors, and generals
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.04,0:02:42.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,throughout history,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.11,0:02:43.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her prosperity and success
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.11,0:02:45.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,came at the cost of innocent lives.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.87,0:02:47.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Her remarkable story is a reminder that,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.94,0:02:50.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,regardless of the limitations placed on them,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.04,0:02:52.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,women can be anything that men can be:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.47,0:02:53.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,brilliant and brutal,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.79,0:02:55.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,courageous and cruel,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.10,0:02:57.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,powerful and dreadful.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.61,0:02:59.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Chinese government devoted
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.15,0:03:01.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,considerable effort to crushing the pirates,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.37,0:03:02.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but, thanks in large part to
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.51,0:03:04.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ching Shih's strategic skill,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.20,0:03:06.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,her fleets became so powerful
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.15,0:03:07.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the government eventually stopped
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.62,0:03:09.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trying to destroy them,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.09,0:03:11.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and started trying to negotiate with them instead.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.84,0:03:13.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ching Shih knew that piracy was not
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.76,0:03:15.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a wise long term career --
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.82,0:03:16.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,especially when the most common
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.86,0:03:19.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,retirement plan was death.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.06,0:03:20.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, in 1810,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.39,0:03:21.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she stepped off a boat,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.62,0:03:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,surrounded by the wives and children
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.18,0:03:24.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of her pirates
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.37,0:03:26.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and walked completely unarmed into the office
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.15,0:03:27.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the local Governor General
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.15,0:03:29.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to discuss amnesty.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.74,0:03:32.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With a fearsome floating army at her back,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.10,0:03:34.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ching Shih negotiated a very good deal.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.67,0:03:36.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not only was she and any other pirates
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.53,0:03:38.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who surrendered completely pardoned
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.18,0:03:40.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the government for their many, many crimes;
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.79,0:03:42.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they got to keep their all ill-gotten plunder
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.100,0:03:44.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even received jobs from the government
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.88,0:03:46.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they wanted.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.32,0:03:47.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Her husband was appointed a lieutenant
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.73,0:03:48.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Chinese navy,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.95,0:03:50.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where he commanded a private fleet --
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.43,0:03:52.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,made up of former pirates, of course.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.73,0:03:54.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks to her exceptional cunning and bravery,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.86,0:03:56.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ching Shih ended her life of piracy,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.54,0:03:57.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not as a criminal behind bars,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.95,0:03:59.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the casualty of a raid gone wrong;
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.88,0:04:01.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but rather, by gathering her riches,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.70,0:04:04.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and retiring in comfort as a law-abiding citizen.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.82,0:04:07.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, mostly law-abiding.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.02,0:04:08.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She spent her later years running
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.05,0:04:10.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a gambling establishment back in Canton,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.36,0:04:12.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where she reportedly led a peaceful life,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.23,0:04:13.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or at least, as peaceful as she could manage
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.96,0:04:16.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while presiding over a notorious gambling den.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.97,0:04:18.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When she finally died in 1844,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.75,0:04:19.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at 60 years old,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.84,0:04:20.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she had transformed herself
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.96,0:04:22.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from a relatively powerless young woman
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.90,0:04:25.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into both the most powerful female pirate in history
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.54,0:04:27.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and into something almost as rare:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.87,0:04:30.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a pirate who died from old age.