Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period/Huang Wu
HUANG Wu 黃梧 (T. 君宣), d. 1674, age 57 (sui), Ming-Ch'ing general, was a native of P'ing-ho, Fukien. He served under Chêng Ch'êng-kung [q. v.] as brigade-general and defended the strategic city of Hai-ch'êng on the southern coast of Fukien. In 1656 he killed his colleague, surrendered the city to the Manchu prince, Jidu [q. v.], and was made Duke of Hai-ch'êng 海澄公, by Emperor Shih-tsu. In the next year he was associated with Li Shuai-t'ai [q. v.] and Ma Tê-kung [q. v.] in the Fukien campaign and for his services was made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. The utilization of the services of Shih Lang [q. v.] against the Fukien insurgents, the execution of Chêng Chih-lung [q. v.], the regulation of ocean trade as a means of suppressing piracy and insurrection, and the strengthening of costal defenses were among the measures advocated by Huang Wu. After cooperating with Kêng Chi-mao [q. v.] in the capture of Amoy and other islands from the insurgents in 1663, he was assigned to garrison Yün-hsiao 雲霄 in the extreme south of Fukien. From here the government troops crossed over to T'ung-shan 銅山 and forced Chêng Ching [q. v.] to flee to Taiwan. In 1667 Huang Wu's dukedom was fixed at the first rank to continue through twelve generations. When Kêng Ching-chung [q. v.] revolted and sent a summons to follow him, Huang Wu was seriously ill. His indignation is reputed to have hastened his death. He was given the posthumous name Chung-k'o 忠恪.
[1/267/5b; 2/9/8a; 3/270/3a; 9/4/17a; 12/10/1a; 漳州府志 Chang-chou fu-chih (1715) 32/14b; P'ing-ho hsien-chih (1719) 9/21a.]
Earl Swisher