Lin Daoqian

Lin Daoqian (Chinese: 林道乾; pinyin: Lín Dàoqián; Wade–Giles: Lin Tao-ch'ien; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm tō-khiân, Malay: Tok Kayan, Thai: ลิ้มโต๊ะเคี่ยม), also written as Lim Toh Khiam and Vintoquián,[1][2][3] was a Chinese pirate of Teochew origin active in the 16th century.

He led pirate attacks along the coast of Guangdong and Fujian, but they were driven away by the Ming navy forces in 1563.

[7] Lin was part of the wokou piratical activity that plagued the Chinese coast during the reign of the Ming Jiajing Emperor (1522–1566).

[4] In response, the Ming navy led by Yu Dayou drove Lin away in 1563, first to Penghu islands, later to Beigang, Taiwan.

After 1581 there were no further reports of his piratical activity in Ming sources, suggesting he had retired from raiding and settled in Patani.

[11][18] According to the local lore of Patani, he married the daughter of the Sultan (perhaps Raja Hijau), converted to Islam and built a mosque.

Lin awoke and mistakenly thought that dawn had arrived, immediately firing off three divine arrows with his name towards the imperial capital.

A shrine in her name exists in Patani and she is worshipped by some Chinese people in southern Thailand and from other countries.

[26] It is thought that Lin's activity in the area may have influenced the migration of Teochew people to Thailand in later years.

[27] Another Dutch report of 1603 by Jacob van Neck estimated that there may be as many Chinese in Patani as there were native Malays.

[28] Many Malays in Kru Se, Patani claim descent from Lin, although they may have been descendants of his followers who married local women.

A replica of Phaya Tani was created and placed in front of Krue Se Mosque in Pattani in 2013, but it was damaged by separatists who saw it as 'faked' and wanted the return of the actual cannon.