Qin Liangyu

Marquis Zhongzhen (忠貞侯) Qin Liangyu
Portrait of Qin Liangyu by Ye Yanlan
Native name	秦良玉
Other name(s)	Zhensu (貞素) Zhongzhen (忠貞)
Born	1574 Zhongzhou, Chongqing, Sichuan, Ming China
Died	1648 (aged 73–74) Shizhu, Chongqing, Sichuan, Southern Ming
Allegiance	Ming dynasty
Commands	White Cavalry (白杆兵)
Spouse(s)	Ma Qiancheng
Children	Ma Xianglin

Qin Liangyu (1574–1648), courtesy name Zhensu, was a 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 ethnic 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[1] 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 additional 500 to support her husband.^[1] They successfully quelled the rebellion and destroyed the rebels' 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).

In 1623, Qin Liangyu assisted Ming forces in suppressing the She-An Rebellion in Sichuan and Guizhou led by She Chongming (奢崇明) and An Bangyan (安邦彥). In the following year, her elder brother, Qin Minping (秦民屏), was killed in battle by An Bangyan's forces.

In 1630, when Later Jin forces besieged the Ming capital, Beijing, Qin Liangyu led forces from Sichuan to reinforce the capital. The Chongzhen Emperor showered her with praises in poetry and presented her with four poems as she passed through Beijing.^[3] In 1634, when Zhang Xianzhong's rebel army invaded Sichuan, Qin Liangyu and her son, Ma Xianglin (馬祥麟), led their troops to attack the rebels, defeated them at Kuizhou (夔州; present-day Fengjie County, Chongqing) and drove them away. In 1640, Qin Liangyu defeated another rebel force led by Luo Rucai (羅汝才) in Kuizhou and Wushan. In recognition of her contributions to the Ming Empire, the Chongzhen Emperor appointed her as the Crown Prince's Guardian (太子太保) and awarded her the title "Marquis Zhongzhen" (忠貞侯; lit. "Loyal and Chaste Marquis").

The Ming Empire was overthrown in 1644 by rebel forces led by Li Zicheng, and its former territories were conquered by the Later Jin dynasty (later renamed to Qing dynasty). Some Ming loyalists formed a remnant state, the Southern Ming dynasty, in southern China to resist the Qing dynasty. Its nominal ruler, the Longwu Emperor, also granted Qin Liangyu a marquis title. Meanwhile, Zhang Xianzhong invaded Sichuan again, and Qin Liangyu attempted to resist him, but was defeated and forced to retreat, allowing Zhang to conquer most of Sichuan. She did however prevent her soldiers from surrendering to Zhang.

Qin Liangyu controlled part of Shizhu County and her policy of agricultural self-sufficiency made her region attractive for refugees. She helped about 100,000 refugees to settle down in Shizhu.^[4]

Qin Liangyu died in 1648 and was buried in present-day Yachun Village, Dahe District, Shizhu County, Chongqing. She was given the posthumous name "Zhongzhen" (忠貞; lit. "Loyal and Chaste") and was survived by her son, Ma Xianglin (馬祥麟).

Qin Liangyu's life, along with her weapons and armour, is showcased in a museum in Shizhu County, Chongqing. A statue of her is in the Ganyu Hall of the Shibaozhai in Zhong County (that was preserved during the Three Gorges Project).^[5] Together with Hua Mulan, Liang Hongyu and He Yufeng, Qin Liangyu is one of the most well-known female warriors and heroines in China.^[6]

In the Twenty-Four Histories, Qin Liangyu was also the only woman whose biography was listed among the biographies of court officials and generals.

Qin Liangyu sometimes appears as a door goddess, usually in partnership with Mu Guiying.

Qin Liangyu is one of the 32 historical figures who appear as special characters in the video game Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI by Koei.

Qin Liangyu appears as a playable Lancer class servant in the mobile RPG video game Fate/Grand Order.

• Kehry-Kurz, Doris (1998). Warum muss ein General ein Mann sein? Die Generalin Qin Liangyu und ihre Darstellung in biographischen Quellen des 17. bis 19. Jahrhunderts. Universitaetsbibliothek Marburg. pp. 60–95. ISBN 3-8185-0288-9.
• Belsky, Richard (2005). Localities at the center: native place, space, and power in late imperial Beijing. Harvard University Press.
• Peterson, Barbara Bennet (2000). Notable Women of China: Shang Dynasty to the Early Twentieth Century. M.E. Sharpe.
• Edwards, Louise P (2001). Men and Women in Qing China. Hawai'i Press.
• Zhang, Tingyu. History of Ming, Volume 270.
• Hummel, Arthur W. Sr., ed. (1943). "Ch'in Liang-yü" . Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period. United States Government Printing Office.

• Qin Liangyu - Commander-in-Chief of Sichuan Province [1]
• WOMEN IN POWER 1600-1640 [2]