Post by Cool on Jul 19, 2005 14:39:34 GMT -5
Please read this, I found it on the internet looking for biographys of Yi....I can feel the pride of this guy just by reading these words..
23 battles, 23 victories. This is the testament of resolve to never lose, to always win, of the invincible Yi-Sun-Shin, supreme naval commander of Joseon, or if better stated, "Lord High Admiral". It is often said that the Joseon people often said that Admiral Yi "Scares even the demons away from Joseon". Reponsible for the destruction of 1000+ Japanese battleships, all the while it is said he himself did not lose even 1 ship under his command. He wasn't the strongest, he wasn't the glory seeking hounds like most high commanders were in that time period (and who can blame them, the ministers even can be placed blame on this deed), no, Admiral Yi was a citizen of Joseon before he was a naval commander, and he won with his intelligence, not his brawn.
Considered in East Asia to be the greatest naval commander of all time. Korean, Japanese, Chinese, he is revered in all 3 countries affiliated with the war. No navy had ever humiliated the Japanese navy as horrendously as Admiral Yi's fleet did. The victories were so lopsided, it resembles a young boy playing with toy ships. The casualties caused/casualties of war ratio of Yi was 1:100000 to the Japanese fleet. This has never been duplicated in naval warfare in the history of man. He brought hope, he brought faith, to a civilization that had given up all hope. He brought the country the freedom it once had, even costing him his own life in the untimely end.
To be honestly cruel, if he his life had not been taken by a Japanese sniper that day, he would not have the legacy he does today. I am sure in Heaven he is not regretting his decision to die for his country. Everytime I ponder about Admiral Yi's contributions I cannot hold back my pride, that Joseon pride he saved for all of us. More evidence of his strong morals and patriotism is when the Chinese discussed making a deal with the Japanese, quote; "I am sorry, but for Justice sakes, I cannot live with these thiefs and robbers under the same haven. Joseon is my king and peoples country, and my king and peoples country alone".
Successes were not always so constant however. He was locked in jail just following an attack he knew would utterly fail. And so Won Gyung, the man that had been jealous of his naval success took control and took the rank supreme naval commander of Joseon. Failure was the only option in his ludacris strategy to attack the enemy head on. Only 12 ships survived Won's suicidal attack and he himself was beheaded by the Japanese. The incompetent King Sonjo had admitted to his incompetence when he reinstated Admiral Yi, and the end of the war was near.
The situation looked grim, after Won's army was defeated, General Dodo and Wakizaka Yasaharu of the Japanese navy thought they had won this naval battle. But the Japanese forgot to learn, the Joseon people were fighting for they're country, the Japanese were fighting to steal it. With 12 ships alone Admiral Yi defeated an army of 133. The Japanese were utterly humiliated yet again by the greatest warrior of Joseon. Followed by another crushing defeat by Yi the following November, the naval war was already over. With the inability to resupply now that the line was cut off by the Joseon navy, all the Japanese could do was hold position. Eventually a retreat was initiated, but a naval army of Admiral Yi and Chinese artillery expert Chen Lin attempted to destroy every single Japanese battleship at Noryang. Admiral was shot by a Japanese sniper, but asked his son to cover his body, so his men would not get discouraged. And so he died at that moment, the greatest warrior in Joseon's history, and the greatest patriot my country could have. In all approximately 200 of the 400 fleeing Japanese ships were destroyed, it was a total and complete victory as it had always been for Yi.
However, when it was discovered that Admiral Yi had gone on to the next world, it was a sad day for all of Joseon. Admirail Yi's death was a national mourning and he was not celebrated as a warrior, he was celebrated as if he was a king. He wasn't, but his importance was higher then any king Joseon have had. But Yi the warrior himself was an extradionary man.
Credited with the development of the turtle ship, the first ironclad ship in the world. This is where Admiral's intelligence was brilliantly shown, the turtle ship played a pivitol role in leading the attack and breaking the enemies line of formation, while the galleys of Joseon were in the back barraging the enemy with cannons. His intelligence not only played in this, but also he knew how to manipulate the currents to his advantage, and he his weaponry far surpassed the Japanese navy.
Even though history proved not all men are immortal, the man known as Yi-Sun-Shin comes dangerously close. He is immortal for this, he will never be forgotton, his deeds will always be remembered, and I truly in my heart believe a little bit of the man lives in every Corean today. My own parents ask me why do I get so emotional when talking about Admiral Yi, my response is, how could I not? He gave up his life just so people like me could have a future, if not for him the whole country of Corea would be in ruin. For some reason these words just flowed out of my hands, my heart, and I hope, if God permits me and forgives me for all my sins, when I go to heaven to meet the legend of the man that is Yi-Sun-Shin. He has made a legacy in both North and South Corea, in the North he constantly dealt with the invading Jurchens, in the South he became the greatest naval commander of all. Admiral Yi-Sun-Shin, invincible, immortal, hero, and most all a fellow Corean.
23 battles, 23 victories. This is the testament of resolve to never lose, to always win, of the invincible Yi-Sun-Shin, supreme naval commander of Joseon, or if better stated, "Lord High Admiral". It is often said that the Joseon people often said that Admiral Yi "Scares even the demons away from Joseon". Reponsible for the destruction of 1000+ Japanese battleships, all the while it is said he himself did not lose even 1 ship under his command. He wasn't the strongest, he wasn't the glory seeking hounds like most high commanders were in that time period (and who can blame them, the ministers even can be placed blame on this deed), no, Admiral Yi was a citizen of Joseon before he was a naval commander, and he won with his intelligence, not his brawn.
Considered in East Asia to be the greatest naval commander of all time. Korean, Japanese, Chinese, he is revered in all 3 countries affiliated with the war. No navy had ever humiliated the Japanese navy as horrendously as Admiral Yi's fleet did. The victories were so lopsided, it resembles a young boy playing with toy ships. The casualties caused/casualties of war ratio of Yi was 1:100000 to the Japanese fleet. This has never been duplicated in naval warfare in the history of man. He brought hope, he brought faith, to a civilization that had given up all hope. He brought the country the freedom it once had, even costing him his own life in the untimely end.
To be honestly cruel, if he his life had not been taken by a Japanese sniper that day, he would not have the legacy he does today. I am sure in Heaven he is not regretting his decision to die for his country. Everytime I ponder about Admiral Yi's contributions I cannot hold back my pride, that Joseon pride he saved for all of us. More evidence of his strong morals and patriotism is when the Chinese discussed making a deal with the Japanese, quote; "I am sorry, but for Justice sakes, I cannot live with these thiefs and robbers under the same haven. Joseon is my king and peoples country, and my king and peoples country alone".
Successes were not always so constant however. He was locked in jail just following an attack he knew would utterly fail. And so Won Gyung, the man that had been jealous of his naval success took control and took the rank supreme naval commander of Joseon. Failure was the only option in his ludacris strategy to attack the enemy head on. Only 12 ships survived Won's suicidal attack and he himself was beheaded by the Japanese. The incompetent King Sonjo had admitted to his incompetence when he reinstated Admiral Yi, and the end of the war was near.
The situation looked grim, after Won's army was defeated, General Dodo and Wakizaka Yasaharu of the Japanese navy thought they had won this naval battle. But the Japanese forgot to learn, the Joseon people were fighting for they're country, the Japanese were fighting to steal it. With 12 ships alone Admiral Yi defeated an army of 133. The Japanese were utterly humiliated yet again by the greatest warrior of Joseon. Followed by another crushing defeat by Yi the following November, the naval war was already over. With the inability to resupply now that the line was cut off by the Joseon navy, all the Japanese could do was hold position. Eventually a retreat was initiated, but a naval army of Admiral Yi and Chinese artillery expert Chen Lin attempted to destroy every single Japanese battleship at Noryang. Admiral was shot by a Japanese sniper, but asked his son to cover his body, so his men would not get discouraged. And so he died at that moment, the greatest warrior in Joseon's history, and the greatest patriot my country could have. In all approximately 200 of the 400 fleeing Japanese ships were destroyed, it was a total and complete victory as it had always been for Yi.
However, when it was discovered that Admiral Yi had gone on to the next world, it was a sad day for all of Joseon. Admirail Yi's death was a national mourning and he was not celebrated as a warrior, he was celebrated as if he was a king. He wasn't, but his importance was higher then any king Joseon have had. But Yi the warrior himself was an extradionary man.
Credited with the development of the turtle ship, the first ironclad ship in the world. This is where Admiral's intelligence was brilliantly shown, the turtle ship played a pivitol role in leading the attack and breaking the enemies line of formation, while the galleys of Joseon were in the back barraging the enemy with cannons. His intelligence not only played in this, but also he knew how to manipulate the currents to his advantage, and he his weaponry far surpassed the Japanese navy.
Even though history proved not all men are immortal, the man known as Yi-Sun-Shin comes dangerously close. He is immortal for this, he will never be forgotton, his deeds will always be remembered, and I truly in my heart believe a little bit of the man lives in every Corean today. My own parents ask me why do I get so emotional when talking about Admiral Yi, my response is, how could I not? He gave up his life just so people like me could have a future, if not for him the whole country of Corea would be in ruin. For some reason these words just flowed out of my hands, my heart, and I hope, if God permits me and forgives me for all my sins, when I go to heaven to meet the legend of the man that is Yi-Sun-Shin. He has made a legacy in both North and South Corea, in the North he constantly dealt with the invading Jurchens, in the South he became the greatest naval commander of all. Admiral Yi-Sun-Shin, invincible, immortal, hero, and most all a fellow Corean.
