Chronological Guides (YSS Episodes 1-4)

[florel]

- This is not a summary of the drama, The Immortal YSS, but "historical" backgrounds related to drama episodes.

- I established these timelines, initially for myself in order to better understand what's going on in the drama. I would like to share my informations with those who are interested in history.

- Because of some personal reasons, I cannot have access to serious and scientific books in Korean or in English. So I collected informations on various internet sites. I read also scenarios. (I don't read the original novel.)

- Numbers of drama episodes related to historical facts as well as my commentaries are mentioned in rectangular parentheses [ ].



1597

September 2 - December 2 : Ukita Hideie constructs the Waekyo (or Yekyo) Castle into which Konishi's troops retreat.




(the Waekyo Castle in Soon-Chun, Cholla province)


www.natsukusa.com/soonchun.htm

(the Waekyo Castle; webpage in korean with several photos)





1598

September 18 : Death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi

September 20-22 : Siege of the Waekyo Castle by Chosun-Ming allies

October 1-4 : Siege of the Waekyo Castle [Episode 1]+




Siege of Waekyo (painted 200 years after the end of Imjin Wars)


(During the month of October, Japanese forces are preparing for a complete withdrawal from Chosun.)

[Episodes 2-3 occur between the 4th October and the 18th November]



November 19 : The Battle of Noryang. Death of Admiral YSS. [Episodes 4]




Gwaneumpo (Noryang) where the navy of Admiral YSS sank or burnt about 200 of 500 fleets of Shimazu Yoshihisa and three other japanese generals. Konishi, who had been blocked in the Waekyo Castle during sevral months, could finally run off at the moment of the battle.



Notices

+1. Episode 1 occurs on the 3rd October. In fact, General Hwang Se-Deuk, cousin of YSS (the old gen. who died after rescuig chinese admiral), died the 2nd October, not on the following day as the TV show presents.

2. Yi Hoe, admiral's first son was also dead at the Battle of Noryang. But he is absent in first four episodes.

3. Yi Wan, admiral's nephew appears in episodes 1-4. He was one of those who was standing by the admiral's side at his last moment. Yi Wan died when he combated at a battle against Manchurians' invasion in 1627.

[florel]

4. As I have already mentioned, Wakizaka Yasuharu was not dead at the Battle of Noryang.

[Aging Warrior]

Thanks florel. The writer's choice to start the series with the last few weeks of YSS's life made it all very confusing for me. It's easier to understand with some context.

[skinz unlogged]

There's more info on his life here:

www.geocities.com/yi_sun_shin_adm/yisunshin.html

[florel]

Aging Warrior : I'am happy it's also useful for you.
I decided to search some info on the siege of Waekyo, because the beginning of episode 1 was also a little bit confusing for me.


skinz : Thanks for your additional information.
I'am interested in the way of which korean ancient terms are translated in English.

I think translators who subtitle korean historical dramas do really a great task ! It's not easy to translate old special terms.

I became another devoted fan of "immesurable graces".

[ID]

This is truly helpful. Thank you for putting time into this.

PS, please register as a member. In the "General" forums, we were discussing the possibility of making registration mandatory, in order to post, as we have had some problems here with some "guests"

[florel on registration]

I'am registered. I'am waiting to receive a password.

[galacticchick]

You might want to check your Junk Email folder in case it went in there. It usually doesn't take more than a couple of minutes.

[florel]

You're right. I found the mail in Junk folder.

Now I join this very symphatic community !

[luvarchfiend]

welcome florel as an official member.

many of us are fans of 'your grace is immeasurable'. i have tried it a few times out in the world of non-korean drama fans and they just sort of stare at me.

[florel unlogged]

luvarchfiend said:

many of us are fans of 'your grace is immeasurable'. i have tried it a few times out in the world of non-korean drama fans and they just sort of stare at me.

Hahahaha.... I imagine...

I would like to try it to my european friends ! ;D

"Sa grace est immensuable, Majeste !"

[florel]

florel said:

2. Yi Hoe, admiral's first son was also dead at the Battle of Noryang. But he is absent in first four episodes.

* A correction on my previous posting :

YSS's eldest son, Yi Hoe didn't die in the Sea Battle of Noryang.


And Toyotomi Hideyoshi died on the 18th August 1598 in lunar calendar.
I don't remember where I found the date 18 September. Was it a solar calendar ?

florel said:

3. Yi Wan, admiral's nephew appears in episodes 1-4. He was one of those who was standing by the admiral's side at his last moment. Yi Wan died when he combated at a battle against Manchurians' invasion in 1627.

Yi Shin, YSS's another son from a concubine, died in the Battle of Uiju with his cousin Yi Wan in 1627.