Limahong channel

16th-century Chinese pirate

In this Chinese name, the family name is Lim.

Limahong, Lim Hong, or Lin Feng (TeochewChinese: 林鳳, Pe̍h-ūe-jī:Lîm Hõng, Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Hōng), well known as Ah Hong (TeochewChinese: 阿鳳, Pe̍h-ūe-jī:A-hõng, Pe̍h-ōe-jī: A-hōng) or Lim-A-Hong or Limahon (TeochewChinese: 林阿鳳, Pe̍h-ūe-jī:Lîm A-hõng, Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm A-hōng), was a Chinesepirate and warlord who invaded the northern Philippines in 1574.

He built up a reputation for his constant raids to ports in Guangdong, Fujian and southern China. He is noted to have twice attempted, and failed, to invade the Spanish city of Manila in 1574.

Origins

Wokou merchant-pirates became a serious problem along the China coast in the early 16th century.

Merchant-pirates such as Wang Zhi, Ye Zongman, Li Guangtou, and Xu Dong constructed large trading ships in Guangdong and Shuangyu, where they established clandestine trade relations between Japan, China