Chāngguó

Changguo was the historic name of the Zhoushan island district off Zhejiang's coast. Its harbours offered shelter to sailors, merchants and, at times, maritime raiders. Under the Yuan it was a prefecture, but the early Ming reduced it to a county. In 1386 the Ming ordered inhabitants of 46 islands removed to the mainland, and abolished Changguo County the following year. Maritime activity continued despite restrictions. In 1558 Ming forces captured Cengang after a prolonged struggle with the followers of the sea lord Wang Zhi.