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Post by florel on Sept 13, 2005 19:48:27 GMT -5
* Yeah, Daemado, it's really ironical. I didn't know about this 2nd Battle of Busan before I study again the Imjin War history this year. And... "the Battle of Kimunpo" of Admiral Won Kyun, that I will mention today is more ironical and even ridiculous. IMO, the terrible record of this "battle" seems to, partly, have saved YSS's life. [/li][li] *********************************************************** Chronology and Battles of the Imjin War (13)9th March 1597 (Jung-yu year)92) the Sea Battle of Kimunpo - mentioned by the actors in Ep. 90- attack : Won Kyun - defence : 32 Japanese noncombatant soldiers ! - also called as "the Sea Battle of Godapo". - Won Kyun attacks one Sekibune (small Japanese warship) at Kimunpo. Commander Won kills 32 Japanese noncombatant soldiers who are collecting firewoods. - Cho Eung-Do, Magistrate of Kosung, dies after being injured. - Damage of Chosun Navy : 140 dead and one warship of Kosung captured by 32 Japanese soldiers. It was burnt by hands of the Chosunese. - Damage of the Japanese : 32 dead. - Won Kyun insisted that he gained victory. But he lost one Panok ship (big warship) after meeting with the Japanese soldiers' resistance. - Commander Won sent 47 Japanese heads to the royal court as his booty. How could he multiplify 15 heads ? - The Japanese commanders protest to the Chosun court because their soldiers killed at Kimunpo were possessing a laissez-passer and permission of cutting woods, accorded by Kim Eung-Suh, Commander of the Right Kyunsang Army. 13th March- King Sunjo proclaims that he will put YSS to death. 18th March- King Sunjo receives a memorial from Yi Yong-Sun, Governor of Kyungsang province, about the defeat at Kimunpo and the annihilation of the Kosung warship. 19th March- Toyotomi Hideyoshi orders a resumption of the war in Chosun. 20th March- Won Kyun's memorial, written on the 28th February, arrives at the royal court. In his memorial, Commander Won criticizes YSS's naval operation in Busan held in early February. 24th March- King Sunjo receives Marshal Kwon Yul's detailed report about the Battle of Kimunpo. 25th March- King Sunjo insists that the Kimunpo Battle was a victory and that Won Kyun should be rewarded. The ministers raise an objection. * In the end of March, Chung Tak sends up his famous memorial to the Throne, called as shin gu cha, requesting to save YSS's life. - Ep. 89Chung Tak (1526-1605) - also spelled as Jeong Tak or Jung Tak 30th March- The Royal Prosecution ( ui geum bu) makes a proposal of YSS's execution. But King Sunjo decides to exempt YSS from death penalty and to demote him to a regular soldier (baek ui jong gun). - Ep. 89
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Post by florel on Sept 16, 2005 19:17:44 GMT -5
1st April 1597 (Jung-yu year)- YSS comes out of prison. - Ep. 8911th April- YSS's mother dies. - Ep. 9019th April- The royal court receives Won Kyun's memorial, written on the 29th March, in which he proposes new strategy, i.e. an amphibious operation with 300,000 army troops (!) instead of a single-handed navy operation. From then on, Won Kyun refuses to attack Busan before the army would capture Angolpo and Gaduk Island (!). - mentioned by Kwon Yul in Ep. 91Early May- Marshal Kwon Yul orders to concentrate all navy forces on Hansan Island. 8th May- 5,000 Ming troops under Yang Yuan (Yang Won) arrives in Seoul. 13th May- 134 Chosunese warships with 13,200 troops assemble on Hansan Island. 5th June- YSS arrives in Cho-gye (Kyungsang province), the HQ of Marshal Kwon Yul. 8th June- YSS meets Marshal Kwon Yul. - Ep. 9012th June- YSS meets Marshal Kwon Yul. 14th June- The Ming troops under Yang Yuan arrives in Namwon (Cholla province). - The Ming envoy Shen Weijing is arrested and jailed in Beijing. Shen Weijing (Shim Yu-Kyung) 17th June- YSS meets Kwon Yul. Marshal Kwon fulminates Won Kyun. YSS gives no comment. 18th June- Won Kyun's fleet sets sail from Hansan Island to attack Busan. 19 June- YSS meets Marshal Kwon Yul again. 93) the Battle of Angolpo and Gaduk - referred in Ep. 90- attack : Won Kyun - defence : Takahashi Munematsu, Tachibana Muneshige - A modest victory of the Chosun navy. - Won Kyun burns two empty Japanese ships. - Ahn Hong-Kuk, Magistrate of Bosung, is killed by a bullet. - Kim Chuk, Captain of Pyungsanpo, is injured by a bullet. - Won Kyun's fleet retreats to Hansan Island.
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Post by florel on Sept 20, 2005 14:48:13 GMT -5
* I added more infos on January and February 1597 (in the previous page of this thread). ***************************** Chronology and Battles of the Imjin War (14)July 1597 (Jung-yu year)- Shen Weijing (Shim Yu-Kyung) is executed in Beijing. 3rd July- 7,000 Ming troops under Ma Gui arrives in Seoul. The total Chinese forces will reach up to 142,700 during the second invasion. 4th July- Won Kyun's fleet sets sail for Busan. - Ep. 915th July- Won Kyun's fleet arrives at Chilchonryang. 7th July- Won Kyun's fleet destroys 8 Japanese ships at Dadaepo. - Ep. 91- Won Kyun arrives on the outer sea of Jeol-young Island in Busan. - Ep. 91- The Chosun Navy encounters 1,000 Japanese logistic ships under Shimazu Yoshihiro coming sailing from Tsushima Island. The Chosunese challenge them to fight, but the Japanese vessels scattered as if to evade fighting, so the Chosunese cannot destroy them. - Forces of the Japanese : 600 vessels in Busan + 1,000 logistic ships from Tsushima. - Forces of the Chosun Navy : 140-180 warships, 5 Turtle Ships, 110 boats, 15,000 troops. Cf. There were about 2,000 deserters after Won Kyun's appointment as Supreme Navy Commander. - referred in Ep. 90- Damage of the Chosun Navy : 5 warships of the Right Kyungsang Navy and 7 warships of the Right Cholla Navy are adrift on the rough sea. - referred in Ep. 91* The sailors of the Right Cholla Navy land on Seosaengpo in Ulsan and they are killed by the Japanese soldiers under Kato Kiyomasa. Their captain Yi Yeop is captured and he will be sent to Japan. Five warships of the Right Kyungsang Navy arrive at Dumopo (actual Busan) and they will join the main forces of the Chosun Navy. 9th July- 1,000 Japanese vessels under Shimazu Yoshihiro engage Won Kyun's fleet in a battle on the sea off Jeol-young Island. Won Kyun loses more than 10 warships. - Damage of the Chosun Navy between 7th-9th July : 20 warships destroyed and 2,000-3,000 dead. * On this day, YSS saw Won Kyun in his dream : "... In my dream I found myself meeting with Admiral Won. When I was seated above him and received a banquet table, his face beamed with delight. I do not know its portent. ..." (in YSS's Diary) 10th July- King Sunjo warns Won Kyun that he would be punished if he retreats again. 11th July- On his way back, Won Kyun is summoned by Marshal Kwon Yul. He went to Kosung and flogged by the Marshal. - Ep. 91(Cf. There are also other Korean primary sources which date this incident on th 15th July. The 11th July is mentioned in Nanjungjaprok. The IYSS dramatists situate it before on the 7th July 1597, i.e. before Won Kyun's first departure for Busan.) 14th July- Won Kyun goes again to Busan, but retreats without a battle act. - Won Kyun's fleet arrives on Gaduk Island. 400 soldiers, who land on Gaduk to search potable water and to cut woods, are attacked by the Japanese. - Ep. 91-92 Won Kyun orders his captains to leave abandoning 400 soldiers. They are massacred. * At dawn, YSS had an odd dream and he wrote it in hid Diary : "... At dawn I had a dream ; I and the Royal Commissioner [the Supreme Provincial Commander Yi Won-Ik] came together at a place, where piles of corpses lay scattered. We stepped on them as we cut off their heads. ..." 15th July- Won Kyun's fleet retreats to Chilchonryang. 16th July95) the Sea Battle of Chilchonryang (Kyungsang) - Ep. 92- attack : Won Kyun - defence : Todo Takatora (chief navy commander), Shimazu Yoshihiro, Wakisaka Yasuharu, Kato Yoshiaki, Kurushima Michihusa - alternative spells : Chilcheonryang or Chilchunryang. - also called as the Battle of Chilchondo. The Japanese call it as the Battle of Hansan. It starts at Chilchonryang and finishes at Chunwonpo. - Great victory of the Japanese on the Chosun navy during YSS's absence. - Forces of the Chosun Navy : 120-160 warships, 5 Turtle Ships, 110 boats and 12,000-13,000 troops. - Forces of the Japanese : 1,000 vessels, 40,000 navy combatant and noncombatant soldiers and 80,000 army soldiers. - Damage of the Chosun Navy : 100-140 warships, 5 Turtle Ships and 90 boats are destroyed. (Cf. According to a Japanese record, 280 out of 290 ships destroyed and 15,000-17,000 dead out of 19,000 soldiers). - Damage of the Japanese : 15 ships destroyed, 2,000 dead and wounded (according to a Japanese record). - When the Japanese start a sudden attack at dawn, Won Kyun orders to retreat from Chilchonryang and to get to land at Chunwonpo (Kosung County) abandoning warships. (Why Chunwonpo ? ) Three Navy Commanders refuse to follow his order and... - Bae Seol (Commander of the Right Kyungsang Navy) retreats with a dozen warships of the Right Kyungsang Navy. - Yi Ok-Ki (Commander of the Right Cholla Navy) and Choe Ho (Commander of the Chungchong Navy) fight on sea until they die while the Supreme Navy Commander Won Kyun runs away. - Kim Wan testified that Won Kyun was drunken and Bae Seol was unconscious because of seasickness when the Japanese started attacking the Chosun Navy. - Kim Wan becomes captive. He will be sent to Japan, but he will escape and return to Chosun in 1598. - Won Kyun is supposed to be killed at Chunwonpo. But His death is not confirmed in any (Korean or Japanese) source and, in fact, no one saw his death. [Cf. About this subject, please refer to Chosun Navy Guys in history thread.) - An recent research found that most sub-commanders and captains of the Chosun navy were alive after this disastrous battle. Only high rank commanders died or disappeared (Yi Ok-Ki, Choe Ho and Won Kyun). It seems that most of the Chosunse captains and soldiers were scattered after Won Kyun's desertion and several thousands of them were killed on land and that the Japanese burnt empty Chosunese ships.
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Post by florel on Sept 21, 2005 17:05:30 GMT -5
16th July- The Japanese troops complete disembarkment on Busan. (Chief Commander : Kobayakawa Hideaki) * The Japanese troops in the second invasion.- The Left Army (47,600 troops) : Ukida Hideie, Konishi Yukinaga, So Yoshitoshi, Shimazu Yoshihiro - The Right Army (64,200 troops) : Mori Hidemoto, Kato Kiyomasa, Nabeshima Naoshige - The Navy : Todo Takatora, Wakisaka Yasuharu * The Ming army in July-August 1597 - Yang Yuan (3,000 troops) in Namwon (Cholla province) - Jin Wu-Chung (2,000 troops) in Jeonju (Cholla province) - Oh Yu-Chung (4,000 troops) in Chungju (Chungchong province) - Ma Gui (1,000 troops) in Dan-yang (Chungchong province) Cf. The names of Jin Wu-Chung and of Oh Yu-Chung are spelled with Korean pronunciation. 18th July- YSS hears the news of the Chosun Navy's defeat at Chilchonryang. - Ep. 93- Kwon Yul meets YSS. The latter decides to check in person the actual condition at the southern coastal areas. - Ep. 93- YSS leaves for Sam-ga. From then on, he starts the long march of 148km from Cho-gye (Kyungsang province) to Hoeryongpo (Cholla province) assembling troops, arms and provisions. - Ep. 9321th July- YSS arrives at Noryang and meets with Anh Wui (Magistrate of Koje) and Cho Gye-Jong (Captain of Youngdeungpo) who participated in the Battle of Chilchonryang. They state that Won Kyun took flight toward land when he saw the enemy. 22th July- YSS meets Bae Seol, Commander of the Right Kyungsang Navy - Ep. 93. Bae Seol talks in detail about Won Kyun's defeat. - YSS arrives at Gon-yang. - The royal court receives urgent report on the Chosun Navy's defeat at Chilchonryang and appoints YSS again as Commander of the Left Cholla Navy and Supreme Navy Commander of three provinces. - Ep. 9323th July- YSS arrives in Chinju. 28th July- The Japanese capture Hansan Island. - Ep. 933rd August- YSS receives a royal decree reappointing him as Supreme Navy Commander. - Ep. 93- YSS arrives at Gurye and enters in Cholla province. - The Japanese troops capture Chinju. 4th August- YSS arrives at Goksung. - Ep. 93- 17,000 troops of the Japanese Left Army under Ukida and Konishi land on Sacheon. 5th August- YSS arrives at Ok-gwa. He encounters Yi Ki-Nam (captain of the Turtle ship) and his son. Several other ancient subordinates also join YSS's party. 7th August- YSS leaves for Suncheon. - The Japanese troops arrive in Gu-rye and enter in Cholla province. - King Sunjo sends a royal decree to YSS*. * YSS will receive it on the 15th August 1597 (the Chuseok day). The decree certainly orders to abolish the navy and to concentrate his fighting strength on land battles. YSS's Diary and other historical circumstances confirm it. I'll explain it later. 8th August- YSS arrives in Suncheon. - Ep. 93* Fact & Fiction : In IYSS, Kim Ok-Chu (Commander of the Right Cholla Navy), Kim Eung-Ham (Garrison Commander of Mijohang) and Ahn Wui (Magistrate of Koje) join YSS in Suncheon. In real history, Commander Kim met YSS at Yijin (Haenam County) on the 26th August 1597. Kim Eung-Ham and Ahn Wui have already participated in Won Kyun's battle at Chilchonryang. 9th August- YSS arrives in Nak-an and meets with Wu Chi-Jeok (Constable of Suncheon) and Ko Bong-Sang (Magistrate of Kimje). - In the evening, YSS arrives at Choyang in Bosung County. 11th August- Yi Bok-Nam, Commander of the Cholla Army, enters in Namwon Castle with 700 soldiers. Other sub-commanders of Cholla province (including Shin Ho) join the Army Commander. The total Chosun forces reach up to 4,000 men. the 13th-16th August96) the Battle of Namwon (Cholla) - Ep. 94 (narration)- attack : Ukida Hideie, Konishi Yukinaga (Left Army) -> 56,000 troops - defence : Yang Yuan (3,000 Chineses), Yi Bok-Nam (4,000 Chosuneses) - Fall of Namwon Castle. The Ming-Chosun ally is defeated. - The Ming commander Yang Yuan takes flight with 117 soldiers while the Chosunese commanders fight against the Japanese until they are killed or commit suicide. Yang Yuan will be decapitated by the order of the Ming court. - The Ming commander Jin Wu-Chung, who are stationing in Jeonju, runs away when he hears the news of the fall of Namwon. Konishi will capture Jeonju without resistance. - Yi Bok-Nam (Commander of Cholla army), Im Hyun (Constable of Namwon), Shin Ho (ancient staff officer of Admiral YSS) and other sub-commanders of the Cholla Army die in the battle. Shin Ho (1539-1597, the former Magistrate of Nak-an) - It's interesting to note that Japanese army brought lots of cannons from Japan for the second invasion. The Battle of Namwon from Wikipedia
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Post by florel on Sept 25, 2005 14:42:39 GMT -5
Map of South Cholla Province Cf. Uldolmok (Myungryang) is a narrow channel between Haenam County and Jindo Island. 14th August- YSS arrives in Bosung. - Ep. 93Cf. In IYSS, YSS encounters Chung Dae-Man in Bosung. 15th August- YSS receives the royal decree which was written on the 7th August 1597 and which ordered abolition of the navy*. - referred in Ep. 94* About this subject, please refer to the thread Twelve ships or thirteen ships ?16th-18th August97) the Battle of Hwang-seok Mountain Castle (Kyungsang) - attack : Kato Kiyomasa, Kuroda Nagamasa (Right army) -> 27,000 troops - defence : Gwak Jun (army) - The Japanese army wins. - Gwak Jun, Magistrate of An-eum, and Cho Jong-Do, Magistrate of Ham-yang, are killed in the battle. 17th August- YSS arrives in Jangheung. 18th August- YSS goes to Hoeryongpo in Jangheung. 19th August- At Hoeryongpo, YSS finally receives the remaining 12 warships. - Ep. 93- The Ming army abandons Jeonju, capital of Cholla province, and retreats toward Gongju, Chungchong province.
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Post by florel on Sept 27, 2005 11:44:29 GMT -5
20th August- YSS moves his fleet to Yijin in Haenam county. - YSS falls sick until on the 23th August. - The Japanese army enters in Jeonju Castle. - mentioned in Ep. 9524th August- YSS moves his fleet to Uhranjin (aka Uhranpo) in Haenam county. 25th August- The Japanese destroy Jeonju Castle. * After capturing Namwon and Jeonju, the troops of Kato Kiyomasa march to north while most Japanese troops move to southward sacking villages and towns of Cholla province. It's during this period of the second invasion that the Japanese massacred the Chosun people without reason and collected their ears and noses as a trophy of their victories. I quote Moreshige's posting in another thread. ... To be fair, the Japanese were also very adept at decapitating their victims much in the same way as certain native american warriors counted the number of scalps as a indication of valor. At first the Japanese sent ears to Hideyoshi but later sent heads as "proof" of their successes on the battlefield. Of course, as the drama and the history books atest, many of these severed ears, noses and heads came from Chosun commoners which included women and children.
There's a huge burial mound called the Mimizuka in Kyoto today that holds the noses and ears cut from tens of thousands of Korean and Chinese (Ming soldiers) victims.
The Mimizuka holds only a fraction of total severed heads. For the total number of counted Korean heads we go to a Japanese source. Okochi Hidemoto writes in his Chosen Ki that they have taken 185,738 Korean heads and 29,014 Chinese ones during the war.* Against the Japanese pillage and massacre, numerous small scale of militia soldiers are organized in Cholla province. Notably, Wang Deuk-In (Battle of Seokjugwan in Gurye), Choe Uh-Rip and Choe Dae-Sung (Battle of Anchi in Bosung), Song Dae-Rip+ (Battle of Chumsan in Goheung), Cho Kyung-Nam++ (Battle of Gungjanghyun, 23th September 1597), et al. There are also numberless guerrilla combats during the 1st and 2nd Invasions, not inventoried in this chronicle. + Song Dae-Rip is a brother of Song Hui-Rip, a staff officer of YSS. ++ Cho Kyung-Nam (1570-1641) is a young militia leader. He is also the author of Nanjungjaprok, a kind of Diary written from 1582 to 1639 and an important primary source for the Imjin War history. 26th August- A patrol officer Im Jun-Young reports to YSS on the coming of the enemy to Yijin. - One battleship of Kim Ok-Chu, new Commander of Right Cholla Navy, joins YSS's fleet. The number of YSS's vessels becomes thirteen. Fact & fiction : In the drama, Kim Ok-Chu joins YSS in Bosung on the 9th August with Ahn Wui and Kim Eung-Ham. These three commanders are depicted as navy newbies in the drama. But this is not true. All of them have already had navy experiences. But even these experts were seized with fear in front of the outnumbered enemy at Myungryang. 28th August- 8 Japanese vessels try a sudden attack on the YSS's fleet at Uhranpo. (* They were the vanguard of 50 Japanese warships.) YSS goes forward in a counter-attack and chases them off as far as Galdu, then returns to his camp. In the evening, he moves his fleet to Jangdo Island to pass the night. 29th August- YSS moves his temporary military base to Byokpajin on Jindo Island, across the Channel of Usuyuong (the Right Cholla Naval Station). - Ep. 94Cf. The Battle of Myungryang (16 September 1597) 30th August- The Japanese Right Army prepares an attack on Gongju, Chungchong province.
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Post by florel on Sept 30, 2005 19:35:52 GMT -5
2nd September 1597 (Jung-yu year)- The Japanese Right Army enters in Gongju Castle, Chungchong province. - mentioned in Ep. 95- The royal court deploys 8,000 Chosunese troops on the board of the Han River. - Ukida Hideie starts constructing the Castle of Waekyo (aka Yekyo) in Suncheon, Cholla province. (* The Japanese called it as the Castle of Suncheon.) The work will continue until the 2nd December 1597. - Bae Seol, Commander of the Right Kyungsang Navy, deserts from the navy camp at dawn. - Ep. 95Admiral Bae Seol the deserter 3rd September- The Ming army of Pyung-yang arrives in Seoul. 4th September- Mori Hidemoto enters in Chon-an, Chungchong province. - Kato Kiyomasa attacks Chongju Castle, Chungchong province. 5th September- 8,800 Ming troops under Ma Gui move to Suwon, Kyung-ki province. 6th September- The Ming army moves again to south from Suwon. 7th September- At four o'clock in the afternoon, 13 Japanese vessels tries an attack on YSS's fleet. They run away at full speed when YSS takes a counter-attack. - At ten o'clock at night, the Japanese vessels comes attacking the Chosun fleet with gun fire as YSS already expected it. YSS's flagship takes a counter-attack again, shooting cannons. After fierce fire exchanges, the Japanese vessels retreat at midnight. 97) the Battle of Jiksan (Chungchong) - mentioned by Yang Hao in Ep. 97- attack : Kuroda Nagamasa (Right army) -> 5,000 troops - defence : Yang Hao, Ma Gui (Ming army) -> 10,000 troops - So called "the Great Victory of Jiksan" (named by King Sunjo). - Damage of the Ming army : 200 dead - Damage of the Japanese army : 29 dead - In fact, it was a ridiculous battle in which both sides were not eager to fight and regarding to which each of them claimed that it finished with their victory. - The Mings retreat to Suwon when Mori Hidemoto arrive with 30,000 relieving forces. - The Japanese retreat to Chon-an, Chungchong province. Yang Hao (Yang Ho) 9th September- Two Japanese vessels sail directly from Uhranjin in order to spy the strength of the Chosun navy. YSS orders Jo Gye-Jong, Captain of Youngdeungpo, to chase them. The terror-stricken Japaneses flee, throwing overboard all the supplies on their vessels. 14th September- YSS hears from his patrol officer that 50 out 200 Japanese vessels arrive at Uhranjin. - YSS orders to evacuate the war refugees from sea to land. 98) the Battle of Keum-gu (Cholla) - attack : Won Shin, Kim Uhn-Gong (cavalry) - defence : the Japanese Left army (Ukida Hideie) - Victory of the Chosun regular army. 15th September- YSS moves his fleet to the outer sea of the Right Cholla Naval Station.
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Post by florel on Sept 30, 2005 20:27:14 GMT -5
16th September 1597 (Jung-yu year)99) the Sea Battle of Myungryang (Cholla) - Ep. 95-96- attack : Todo Takatora (chief), Wakisaka Yasuharu (patrol), Kurushima Michihusa (vanguard) - defence : Yi Soon-Shin - YSS sinks 31 out of 133 (or 333) Japanese ships. - Forces of the Chosun Navy : 13 warships with 1,000 troops (12 ships survived from Chilchonryang Battle + 1 ship of Kim Ok-Chu, the new Commander of the Right Cholla Navy). - Forces of Japanese Navy : about 330 vessels with 23,000 troops*. (* The number of the Japanese vessels varies in different primary sources. 133 ships are the minimum number of vessels which were engaged in the battle.) - Damage in YSS's flagship : 2 dead and 3 slightly wounded. - Damage of the Chosun Navy : about 30 dead and 40 wounded (the number assumed by historians) - Damage of the Japanese navy : 31 ships sunk and about 6,000-8,000 dead. 80-90 ships are seriously damaged. - Among Japanese commanders, Kurushima Michihusa, Hata Nobutoki, Gan Masakake (spell?) are killed and their chief commander Todo Takatora is seriously injured. Mori Takamasa plunges into the sea in order to escape from YSS's attack and he is rescued by his men. Kurushima Michihusa (photo by courtesy of Choko) Myungrynag Channel (Uldolmok) The Great Bridge of Jindo across Uldolmok Uldolmok (Myungryang) - the width 325m, the depth of water 20m (the deepest), the speed of a running fluid 11.5 knots. A modern painting depicting the Battle of Myungryang. This is a modern painting imitating ancient style. We can recognize it as modern one because Hanja words are written from left to right as modern writing style. The picture depicts this passage from YSS's Diary : "... The Flagship dashed alone into the midst of the fleet of the advancing enemy ... but all the other ships only looked at this fray and did not move forward, even though their Admiral on the Flagships was in danger. ..." (16 September 1597) - YSS's specialists assume that his Flagship fought alone for a while and he alone annihilated the Murakami Pirates before the engagement of the Chosunese captains (i.e. other 12 ships) in the battle. - After his victory at Myungryang, YSS moves his navy camp on Dangsa Island. The Battle of Myungryang in WikipediaRelated discussions in the forum : Episodes 95,96 the best so far?- the iron chain controversy between members of the forum Ep. 95 - The battle of Myoungryang - Choko's summary about the battle in the drama and about the iron chain stuffs. A folklore legend, song & dance related to the Admiral YSS during the second invasion. gang-gang-sulae (in IYSS Tangent board) Gang Gang SwirlaeCf. Gang-gang-sulae is a folklore dance & song widespread in southwest coasts areas of Cholla province, i.e. Haenam, Wando, Muan and Jindo. South Cholla province
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Post by florel on Oct 5, 2005 7:27:53 GMT -5
A modern painting depicting the Battle of Myungryang. This is a modern painting imitating ancient style. We can recognize it as modern one because Hanja words are written from left to right as modern writing style. The picture depicts this passage from YSS's Diary : "... The Flagship dashed alone into the midst of the fleet of the advancing enemy ... but all the other ships only looked at this fray and did not move forward, even though their Admiral on the Flagships was in danger. ..." (16 September 1597) - YSS's specialists assume that his Flagship fought alone for a while and he alone annihilated the Murakami Pirates before the engagement of the Chosunese captains (i.e. other 12 ships) in the battle. This is another description of this scene in the Admiral's biography written by his nephew Yi Bun. "... When Chungmugong [YSS's posthumous honorific title], resolving death, anchored his flagship in midstream and was surrounded completely by enemy craft, it looked as if he was buried in clouds and fogs. Nothing was seen or heard but the glinting of swords which flashed in the sky and the roar of thundering cannons which shook the very bottom of the sea." And about the fishermen's boat, Yi Bun wrote that... " [Before the battle of Myungryang], Chungmugong ordered the refugee-boats to move to safety zone far away from the enemy vessels, but none of them would leave him. Therefore, in the Battle of Myongyang [=Myungryang] he had those boats wait in long rows on the horizon to look like squadrons of reinforcements in the rear, while he fought at the front. These make-believe squadrons were helpful in defeating the enemy fleet, which feared that our navy was as strong as ever and dared not return to challenge us in more battles."
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Post by florel on Oct 5, 2005 7:32:38 GMT -5
19th September 1597 (Jung-yu year)- YSS's fleet arrives at Bupseongpo (actual Young-gwang county, South Cholla province). - Ep. 97- After his victory in Myungryang, YSS takes maritime operations on western coasts of Cholla province until early October. - Ep. 9720th September (circa)- The Japanese, who have been stationed in Jiksan and Boeun (Chungchong province, about 160km south of Seoul), start retreating to south. - Ep. 70 (narration)Map of South Chungchong province - It's about this period that The Japanese make a raid on Asan (Chungchong province) and they burn down YSS's house in revenge of their great defeat in Myungryang. - Ep. 97- YSS's third son Yi Myun (1577-1597) is killed by the Japanese when he fought against them in Asan. - Ep. 97Yi Myun (1577-1597) Fact & fiction : The Battle of Myungryang was held on the 16th September 1597. So there was no time that Toyotomi Hideyoshi could order to kill YSS's family. And Wakisaka Yasuharu couldn't take a going-and-returning-voyage between Chosun and Japan in less than a week unless the Japanese of the 16th century had an airplane. Also Wakisaka didn't kill Yi Myun as he did in the drama. 23th September- YSS revises his draft-memorial to the royal court concerning his victory of Myungryang. 29th September- YSS sends his officer Song Han to Seoul, who is carrying his memorial to the royal court, reporting on his victory in the Battle of Myungryang. 1st October- YSS is informed that his house in Asan was burnt down by the Japanese. YSS send his first son Yi Hoe to Asan in order to find out the safety of his family. 3rd October- Kato Kiyomasa, who has already retreat to Hamchang and Sangju (northern part of Kyungsang province), retreats again to Ulsan (southern part of Kyungsang province). 9th October- YSS's fleet returns to the Right Cholla Naval Station (in Haenam County). 10th October- YSS's fleet sails to Anbyon Island (aka Bal-eum Island). Jo Gye-Jong, Captain of Youngdeungpo, comes to meet YSS and talks about the Japanese movements. He also says that the Japanese extremely fear and dislike the Chosun navy. 11th October- The Japanese in Haenam take flight and go away. 13th October- Kato Kiyomasa starts constructing a Japanese Castle in Ulsan. (wall width 1,300m and height 10-15m) Leftovers of the Japanese Castle of Ulsan 14th October- YSS is informed of the death of Yi Myun, his youngest son. - Ep. 97* Related thread : Episode 9729th October- YSS installs navy base on Bohwa Island (aka Goha Island) and starts rebuilding the Chosun navy. - referred in Ep. 97* YSS will build 29 new warships during following 108 days and the total number of his fleet will reach up to 42 in February 1598. He will also take offensives against the Japanese not only on sea, but also on land to push them back to east. 3rd November- 40,000 Ming troops enter in Chosun across the Yalu River. 11th November- The Ming army arrives in Seoul. - The Chosun-Ming ally starts preparing an attack on Ulsan. 11th November- Ahn Wui, Magistrate of Koje (5th Low Rank), is promoted to the honorific rank Tongjongdaebu (3rd High Rank) and all the rest captains of YSS are also promoted thanks to the victory in the battle of Myungryang. On the other hand, YSS receives no promotion. He is only given 20 yang of silver as a reward. - YSS receives a gift and a letter from Yang Hao, the Ming chief commander, who felicitates his great victory. 20th November- YSS's men defeat the Japanese in Jangheung.
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Post by florel on Oct 7, 2005 18:50:50 GMT -5
1st December 1597 (Jung-yu year)- Yi Sun-Shin (the homonym), appointed Commander of the Right Kyungsang Navy, arrives in YSS's camp. - depicted in Ep. 97 with a slight modification of the date. In the drama, it's situated after the Sea Battle of Myungryang, i.e. in late September 1597.Admiral Yi Sun-Shin (the homonym) 18th December- The Chosun-Ming ally launches military operations to recover Gwang-yang and also launches the blockade of Gwang-yang Bay in order that Konishi Yukinaga and his 13,000 troops in Waekyo Castle in Suncheon, might not take flight or send relieving forces to Ulsan. - mentioned in Ep. 9820th December- 40,000 troops of the Chosun-Ming ally assemble in Kyungju, Kyungsang province. 22th December 1597 - 4th January 1598100) the 1st Battle of Ulsan (Kyungsang) - Ep. 98- attack : Yang Hao (40,000-50,000 Mings), Kwon Yul (10,000 Chosuneses) - defence : Kato Kiyomasa -> 16,000 troops - The Chosun-Ming ally fails to recover Ulsan. - Chung Ki-Ryong (Commander of the Right Kyungsang Army), Ko Uhn-Baek (Commander of the Left Kyungsang Army) and Kim Eung-Suh (demoted to a staff officer) participate in this battle. - Commander Seon Geo-Yi, the best friend of YSS, is killed in the battle. - It's generally considered as the Japanese's victory, but both sides suffered from huge human lost. - Damage of the Japanese : 6,000 dead and numberless wounded - Damage of the Chosun-Ming ally : 5,800 dead (Cf. Damage of the Mings : 1,000 dead and 3,000 injured / Damage of the Chosunese : 4,800 dead and about more than 4,000 wounded) - It's a rare battle into which the Mings jumped with both feet. - Kato Kiyomasa literally escaped from the death because of the lack of provisions and of water. According to Chosunese primary sources, he is supposed to have attempted suicide. - The Chosunese and the Mings suffered from cold winter weather and many soldiers die of frostbite. - Kuroda Nagamasa, Hachisuka Iemasa, Ukida Hieie, Mori Hidemoto and Konishi Ukinaga sent reinforcements to Kato Kiyomasa. - On 4th January 1598, the Chosun-Ming ally retreats from Ulsan and, on the 5th January, Kato Kiyomasa retreats to Seosaengpo abandoning the Castle of Ulsan. Yang Hao (Yang Ho) Kwon Yul Kato Kiyomasa The 1st Battle of Ulsan The Japanese drinking horses' blood Ulsan Japanese Fortress (3D reconstitution) Photos from Level's postingFact & Fiction : Minister Yu, why are you there ? 5th January- Kato Kiyomasa retreats to Seosaengpo. - Ep. 98
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Post by florel on Oct 8, 2005 18:12:34 GMT -5
Chronology and Battles of the Imjin War (15)January 1598 (Musul Year)101) the Battle of Gwang-yang (Cholla) - attack : Yi Gwang-Ak (army) - defence : Konishi Yukinaga - Several huge and small scale battles are held in Gwang-yang Bay and in Suncheon between the Chosun army and the Japanese army. Sometimes the Mings also participate. Yi Gwang-Ak (1557-1608), Commander of the Cholla Army in 1598, showed up in the drama in Ep. 79-80 (the 1st Battle of Chinju). - Konishi is cornered in the Castle of Waekyo. The route to Sacheon, where Shimazu Yosihiro is stationing, will be blocked by the Chosun-Ming ally. February- Ukida Hideie retreats from Bosung and Goheung. He will retreat to Kyungsang province. 18th February- YSS installs the HQ on Gogeum Island (in Gangjin, actual Wando County). - Ep. 9813th March102) the Sea Battle of Gogeum Island (Cholla) - attack : Yi Soon-Shin - defence : ? - YSS destroys 16 Japanese vessels and annihilates Japanese soldiers, who unfortunately arrive on Gogeum Island without knowing the installation of the Chosun navy's HQ on the island. * From late 1597 to 1598, numerous battles were held on lands and on sea in Cholla province, but they are not well known because YSS's Diary and his memorials to the court during this period were lost. We can only find fragmentary infos in other primary sources or in regional oral traditions. For example, several websites upon Yosu city (the ancient Left Cholla Naval Station) mention "the Sea Battle of Musulmok (1598)" in which it is said that YSS sank 60 Japanese vessels. But I failed to find the exact date on which this battle was held. Possibly after the Sea Battle of Jeol-yi Island (July 1598) and before the Battles of Waekyo (September-October 1598). 24th March- Kim Wan succeeds in escaping from Japan. He sets sail to Chosun. - dramatical adaptation in Ep. 97Fact & Fiction : In the drama, Kim Wan's return is situated after the Sea Battle of Myungryang, between late September and early October 1597. 103) the Battle of Yulwon, near Samga (Kyungsang) - attack : Chung Ki-Ryong, Hae Seng (the Chosun-Ming ally) -> 3,000 troops - defence : Japanese troops under Shimazu Yoshihiro -> 2,000 troops - Victory of the Chosun-Ming ally. - One hundred Chosunese captives are released. 8th April104) the Battle of Muju (Cholla) - attack : Yi Gwang-Ak (army) - defence : Japanese troops under Shimazu Yoshihiro -> 300 men - Victory of the Chosun army. - One hundred Japanese soldiers are killed and others take flight toward Sacheon. 9th April- Kim Wan arrives on Tsushima Island. 18th April- Kim Wan arrives at Dadaepo (near Busan) and finally returns to Chosun. 19th April- Kim Wan arrives in Busan. 20th April105) the Battle of Sa-geun in Ham-yang (Kyungsang) - attack : Chung Ki-Ryong, Yi Nyong (the Chosun-Ming ally) -> 2,000 troops - defence : Japanese troops under Shimazu Yoshihiro - Victory of the Chosun-Ming ally. But the Ming Commander Yi Nyong is killed. - Shimazu Yoshihiro hit the ceiling when he heard of the defeat in Muju on the 8th April 1598. He sent his troops to Guh-chang (Kyungsang province) for an offensive operation. The Chosun army under Commander Chung Ki-Ryong (1562-1622), who was chasing after the Japanese from Samga, encountered the Ming troops under the command of Yi Nyong {*Korean pronunciation of Chinese name*} in Guh-chang. And the battle was held between the ally and the Japanese. 30th April- Kim Wan arrives in Uhn-yang (Kyungsang province) and meets with Pak Eung-Chang, Magistrate of Yangsan, who will report his return to the royal court. (* Kim Wan will be appointed Magistrate of Ham-an in Kyungsang province, but fired soon.) May- The Ming Chief Commander Yang Hao asked King Sunjo the promotion of YSS.
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Post by florel on Oct 30, 2005 11:07:35 GMT -5
3rd June 1598 (Musul year)- Yang Hao, supreme commander of the Mings, arrested the Japanese envoy (& spy) Yoshira in Seoul and retained him. (Cf. Yoshira will be sent to Beijing and executed by the Mings.) Fact & fiction : So Yoshira's presence in the episodes depicting the Battles of Waekyo and of Noryang (Episodes 1-4 and Episodes 100-104) is fictional. Yoshira Yang Hao 16th July- The Ming navy under Chen Lin arrives at the HQ of the Chosun navy on Gogeum Island. - Ep. 98- Forces of Ming Navy : 103 vessels and 5,000 troops. Chen Lin (Jin Lin) 19th July106) the Sea Battle of Jeol-yi Island (aka Jolido) - Ep. 99- attack : Japanese troops under Konishi Yukinaga - defence : Yi Soon-Shin - Forces of Chosun Navy : 85 warships, 85 boats, 15,000-16,000 troops - Forces of Japanese Navy : 100 (or 200) vessels and 16,000-1,8000 troops - Damage of Japanese Navy : 50 vessels sunk and other 50 vessels seriously damaged with about 6,000-8,000 deaths. - Damage of Chosun Navy : about 20-30 wounded and dead. - Victory of the Chosun navy. - Konishi Yukinaga, who is cornered in Waekyo, attempts to attack YSS's HQ on Gogeum Island. But YSS, who has already known the movement of Japanese vessels, sweeps them on the northern sea area of Jeol-yi Island (actual Guhgeum Island). After this victory, YSS extends the command of the sea as far as Goheung peninsula. - The Mings are not engaged in the battle and watch it on secure sea area. But, after the Chosunese victory, the Ming admiral Chen Lin snatched 40 (or 69) Japanese heads along with 6 captured enemy vessels from YSS. (YSS also had to give 5 heads to another Ming commander). Chen Lin lies to the Ming court that it was himself who gained victory over the Japanese. This incident causes a diplomatic scandal between Seoul and Beijing.
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Post by florel on Oct 30, 2005 11:17:18 GMT -5
18th August- Toyotomi Hideyoshi dies at the age of 63. - Ep. 99Toyotomi Hideyoshi Fact & fiction : Before he died, Hideyoshi designated five council men to devote helping his young son Hideyori. Certainly, at the moment of his death, Hideyoshi thought of son Hideyori, not of out Admiral. 28th August- The five council men order the Japanese commanders to retreat from Chosun. 5th September- The five council men order again to retreat from Chosun. mid September- The Chosun-Ming ally starts final offensives against the Japanese on four routes. - mentioned in Ep. 98* Eastern Route : Ma Gui (24,000 Mings), Kim Eung-Suh (5,500 Chosuneses) -> attack on Ulsan (Kato Kiyomasa, Kuroda Nagamasa) Kim Eung-Suh (Commander of the Left Kyungsang Army) * Middle Route : Dong Yiyuan (13,500 Mings), Chung Ki-Ryoung (2,300 Chosuneses) -> attack on Sacheon (Shimazu Yoshihiro) * Western Route : Liu Ting (13,600 Mings), Yi Gwang-Ak (10,000 Chosuneses) -> attack on Waekyo (Konishi Yukinaga) Liu Ting Yi Gwang-Ak (Commander of the Cholla Army) * Sea Route : Chen Lin (13,200 Mings), Yi Soon-Shin (15,000-16,000 Chosuneses) -> attack on Waekyo (Konishi Yukinaga) Yi Soon-Shin Chen Lin
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Post by seven stars on Jan 12, 2006 10:03:15 GMT -5
I'm sorry that I didn't see this earlier.
I should follow you around this forum Florel. I am always interested in the information that you contribute.
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