Gao Guiying
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gao Guiyng, (d. 1647), was a female Chinese revolutionary, rebellion-leader and army-commander, one of the most remarkable women in the history of China.
From the beginning of the 17th century, the Ming dynasty - China was decaying during a large number of rebellions, the greatest one being the rebellion of Li Zicheng, who gattered a very large army of followers around him and became more successful every year. It is said that Li met Gao while hiding in the house of her father, and when he left, she went with him and took and active part in the rebellion, following him side by side at the head of his army, sharing his command; while Li was the commander of the male troops, Gao educated, trained and lead the female troops of rebels.
The rebellion was so successful that the armies of Li and Gao effectively controlled large parts of China and ruled them as independent entities. This caused Ming-China to fall to pieces, as it was in the same time attacked by the Manchurians.
In 1644, Gao captured Beijing, deposed the Ming dynasty and declared her husband emperor of a new dynasty with herself as empress and took control over the city as his regent, but soon after, Li was killed, and the Manchurians took Beijing and established the new Qing dynasty. Gao now saw the Manchurians as her new enemies, and turned to her former enemies to fight them; the remaining relatives of the Ming dynasty had formed a new court in the south of China and ruled as the Southern Ming dyansty, and Gao, making herself known as the greatest enemy of the Qing dynasty, was called there to serve and continue the fight against the foreign intruders. She was styled "Lady of the first degree" in her own right, her position as military commander whas secured and she was declared protector of the new Ming dynasty.
Gao Guiyng is undoubtedly one of the most unusual and interesting fates in the Chinese history, especially considering the time she lived; there have been a large number of women in her position earlier on in Chinese history, but in the 12th century, women's position in China decayed severely, and the only other women of her time to have a similar position were Shen Ynying and Quin Liangyu.
