shap-ng-tsai () was a chinese pirate active in the south china sea from about 1845 to 1859. he was one of the two most notorious south china sea pirates of the era, along with chui a-poo. he commanded about 70 junks stationed at dianbai, about 180 miles west of hong kong. coastal villages and traders paid shap-ng-tsai protection money so they would not be attacked. chinese naval ships that pursued the pirate were captured and their officers taken captive and held for ransom. the chinese government offered him a pardon and the rank of officer in the military but he did not accept.