Qin Liangyu
| Qin Liangyu | |
|---|---|
| General of the Ming dynasty | |
| Born | 1574 |
| Died | 1648 (aged 73–74) |
| Names | |
| Traditional Chinese | 秦良玉 |
| Simplified Chinese | 秦良玉 |
| Pinyin | Qín Liángyù |
| Wade–Giles | Ch'in Liang-yü |
| Courtesy name | Zhensu (simplified Chinese: 贞素; traditional Chinese: 貞素; pinyin: Zhēnsù; Wade–Giles: Chen-su) |
| Posthumous name | Zhongzhen (simplified Chinese: 忠贞; traditional Chinese: 忠貞; pinyin: Zhōngzhēn; Wade–Giles: Chung-chen) |
Qin Liangyu (1574–1648), courtesy name Zhensu, was a Chinese female general best known for defending the Ming dynasty from attacks by the Manchu-led Later Jin dynasty in the 17th century.
Qin Liangyu was born in Zhongzhou (忠州), which is in present-day Zhong County, Chongqing, to Miao parents. Her father, Qin Kui (秦葵), obtained the position of a gongsheng (貢生) in the civil service examination. He believed that girls should receive the same education as boys, so he made Qin Liangyu study history and the Confucian classics with her brothers. He also taught them martial arts. Qin Liangyu learnt martial arts more deeply than her brothers and became proficient in archery and horse-riding. She was also known for her skill in poetry.
In 1595, Qin Liangyu married Ma Qiancheng (馬千乘), the tusi and xuanfushi (宣撫使; "Announcing and Pacifying Commissioner") of Shizhu County, and accompanied him in minor battles against local warlords in the southwestern border of the Ming Empire. They had a good marriage and he often sought her advice. In 1599, when Yang Yinglong (楊應龍) started a rebellion in Bozhou (播州; present-day Zunyi, Guizhou), Ma Qiancheng brought 3,000 riders with him to suppress the revolt while Qin Liangyu brought an addition 500 to support her husband. They successfully quelled the rebellion and destroyed the rebel camps.
In 1613, Ma Qiancheng offended Qiu Chengyun (邱乘雲), an influential court eunuch, and ended up being arrested and imprisoned. He died in prison later. Qin Liangyu succeeded her husband as the xuanfushi of Shizu County. Those under her command were known as the White Cavalry (白杆兵).
In 1620, Qin Liangyu's elder brother, Qin Bangping (秦邦屏), led 3,000 White Cavalry to Liaodong to resist invaders from the Manchu-led Later Jin dynasty. He was killed in action at the Battle of Hun River (渾河之戰).
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