Jonathan Clements weaves a fascinating account of the rise and fall of the Zheng clan. This is several histories in one: that of a Chinese family, the rise and fall of empires, the colonization of Taiwan, the rise of Western colonialism, missionaries in China, and the economic history of the Pacific Rim.

http://fireandsword.blogspot.com/2007/09/pirate-king-coxinga-and-fall-of-ming.ht...