Admiral Yi Sunsin

< Standard Portrait of Admiral Yi Sunsin> By Artist Jang Useong in 1953 Stored in Hyeonchungsa

500 years ago on this land, there took place a big war shaking the states of East Asia. After unifying Japan in the ages of war for 100 years, readies his 159,000 forces to move into that indulged itself in factions and peace-at-any price principle. It was the beginning of Imjin War. It was the one of the hardest national crises by the Japanese invasions that put Korean nation in the crossroads to life or death throughout 5,000 years Korean history.

The 7 years war damaged Joseon severely, taking huge loss of lives, cultural assets, and ruining our land. However, whole Korean people stood against to the invasion of Japan and the war ended with the defeat of Japan. In the middle of the whirlpool of Imjin war it was Admiral Yi Sunsin who was the greatest distinguished defending Joseon and saving the people from the Japanese invasion. The most key cause by which the Japanese invaders could not accomplish the desire of conquest and help but retreat from this land was that it lost battles to forces and thus could not win the command of the sea.

Admiral Yi, who won the greatest victories over the sea battles such as Hansan and Myeongryang victories that can not be compared with any sea fights in the world history, was a man of character -a consistent patriotism, a sense of justice, and extreme filial affection toward his parents. More than anything else, his superior war strategies and spirit of "Providing is Preventing" resulted in the victories whenever confronted with the Japanese forces on battles. In Noryang Sea battles, the last one of Imjin War, Admiral Yi didn't save his life to gain the victory against the Japanese fighters and finally won. In this respect he is not a person not enough to be a symbol of the national spirit.

■ Chungmugong's Life (1545~1598) 1.Chronology of Chungmugong´s Life This page contains a description of Chungmugong's life and a brief chronology. Records on General Yi Sunsin's life, the Imjin War, General Yi's contributions are taken from the following materials. 2.Patriotism Chungmugong saved Joseon endangered by Japan's invasion with the timely and decisive victories at Hansando and Myeongnyang, which turned the tide of the war in Joseon's favor. Many scholars in history of naval wars praise Chungmugong as the greatest of all military heroes. One episode of Admiral Togo, who defeated the Baltic Fleet of Russia in the war between Russia and Japan in 1905, could well illustrate Chungmugong's excellence. When the cadets of the U.S. Naval Academy visited Japan as part of their on-board training, they asked Admiral Togo who he admired most. Togo answered, "I admire Yi Sunsin and nobody can peer with him in his personality and military achievement." Also Yi Eunsang, a Korean poet, described Yi Sunsin as the never-setting sun of the Korean people. His patriotism will remain forever in the mind of Korean people.

■ Construction of 1.Construction of Turtle Ship Turtle Ship was the creature on the basis of shipbuilding techniques handed down from the periods of Jangboko in Shilla Dynasty. It adopted the spike ship in Dynasty that was invented to keep the enemy from approaching by fixing short spear and spike into the sides of the ship. Also the arts of fire and board ship covered with planks to protect soldiers, all of which were developed in Chosun Dynasty, were also applied to turtle ship.

For traditional sea battles, a major battle strategy was to approach close to the enemy ship for soldiers to climb onto it to fight. However, the surfaces of turtle ship were covered with iron plates and the trusts of short sword were wedged on them compactly, so that the enemy soldiers could not be on board though close to the turtle ship.

Turtle Ship had a very strong hull structure because hard pine trees and sea water-resistant wooden nails were used. Also its way to patch the outer boards together was different from that of the Japanese ships. In a battle, the heads of turtle ships collided on purpose with the enemy to shake the ships and stir enemy lines. In addition, it could employ the strategy to destroy and sink the enemy ships by shooting various .

The traces that Admiral Yi built turtle ships can be found in "Nanjungilki (In-War Diary)", "Dangpopawhebyungjang", and "Hangrok of Ibun". In Nanjungilki that Admiral Yi wrote down himself, there are records on turtle ship. He put down, "we obtained 29 Pil (Roll of cloth) of sailcloth" on February 8, Year Imjin, "...tested the sailcloth." on March 27, Year Imjin, ". At last hung up the anchor on the same year, and the next day he wrote, "after lunch I fired Jijapo and Hyunjapo of the turtle ship." Dangpopawhebyungjang that record the situation of Yi's second mobilization reads, "I knew the Japanese invasion in advance and thus prepared the ship." Also in Chungmukong Preserved in Hangrok (Record of Loyal Solider Yi's Achievement) that Yi's nephew Ibun wrote out, "And after building the Hyunchung Temple ship, the size is a big as a board house ship, even with boards on it and a narrow cross-shaped way on the boards"

Assuming from these records, we can know that Admiral Yi started building the turtle ship on early fall of 24th year of King Sonjo, almost completed around the next spring, and assigned in the middle of the squadron from June of the year when the second mobilization began.

Three turtle ships were that entire Admiral Yi used in every sea battles during Imjin War. There were called Youngkwi, Bangdapkwi, and Sunchonkwi, respectively. As each name signify, they were under the command of the headquarters of Cholla Left Camp, Bangdapjin, and Sunchon, and also they were built in the shipyards of the headquarters, Bangdapjin, and Suncho, separately. That is, the turtle ships under the command of Admiral Yi were made in the shipyards of the headquarters, Bangdapjin, and Suncho, separately.

Designated as the commander of Cholla Left Camp 14 months before Imjin War, Admiral Yi started building one turtle ship around fall or winter of the Year Shinmyo (1951) when making all efforts to prepare for military previsions in anticipation of the Japanese invasion. It seems that early Year Imjin (1952) when the ship had almost been completed; he ordered Bangdapjin and Sunchonbu to build turtle ships. Thank to the urging, Youngkwi ship and Bangdapkwi ship were finished almost at the same time and participated in the second mobilization. Sunchonkwi ship was completed after that.

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2.Turtle ships and the Imjin War Turtle ships made a debut in Sacheon sea battle during Imjin War. Yi's first mobilization was made in Okpo sea battle only with board house ships. Thus it is assumed that it was not until then that turtle ships was not well prepared for active services. According to Nanjung Dairy, Admiral Yi received the sail clothes to be used as the anchor on February 8, the 25th of the Year of King Seonjo, just right before Imjin War, he got on the board and exercised shooting cannons on March 27, the same year. Also he made the anchor on April 11 and fire-tested Jijapo and Hyeonjapo on April 12. It happened just 3 days before Imjin War brought out and 20 days before the first battle mobilization. Therefore it is right to think that turtle ships were not in a perfect preparation for the active war participation but in test periods. The first record about turtle ships was found in the war report (Dangpopawaebyeongjang, on June 6, 25th Year of King Seonjo) Admiral Yi made after he defeated the Japanese enemy in Sacheon sea battle. The contents are like the followings.

"I early predicted the Japanese invasion and thus I have built turtle ships, war fighting ships out of the concern. I put the dragonhead in the front of the ship to fire the artilleries from its month. On the roof there are long iron spikes to prevent the Japanese soldiers from boarding on it. It is only one way to view through, from the insider to the outside. The enemy cannot see through us from the outside. No matter how many numbers of the enemy ships there are, turtle ships can break into the enemy lines and shoot fires. For this mobilization, the onrush commander was on board. Thus I ordered him to dash into the enemy ships and throw out 4 types of cannons and all of others: Cheon (heaven), Ji (earth), Hyeon (black), and Hwang (yellow).

At this point of "the onrush commander was on board." Signifies the function of the ship. That is, a turtle ship was a war ship specialized in dashing and rushing into the enemy line. It has a very strong advantage in a rushing war because it was an armored ship with bulletproof boards by which the crews were protected.

Also in the part of Dangpo battle, it reads

"After heard, I came to see the enemy ships berth by Dangpo Pier on June 2？？ The enemy had 9 ships as big as a board house ship and 12 middle or small-sized ships were staying close to the pier. In the middle of the ships, there was one big ship with stores on it, which looked as high as 3 or 4 height man were and curtained with red silks outside that. It was printed Hwangja (imperial prince). The Japanese commander stayed in it and didn't seem scared at all, holding up the ilsan in front of him. Admiral Yi ordered the turtle ship first to make an inroad under the stored ship and shoot the steels of Hyeonja, and then Cheongja, and Daejanggunjeon to break the enemy ship. Several war fleets in the back also started shooting the steels and throwing arrows to the enemy ship. In the course, the Japanese commander was shot by the arrows and fell down"

We can fully know from these passages that Geobukseon was excellent enough to lead the war situations in our favor, dashing this way and rushing that way into the many enemy ships. More detailed historic documents on the turtle can be found in the records of Admiral Yi's achievements written by his nephew Yi Bun.

"When all equipped, it was a big as a board house ship. It was covered with boards and there were narrow cross roads on the boards only enough for two persons to walk by. The rest of the areas were all studded with short swords and spikes and thus no other ways were for even footing. Also, it has a dragonhead in the front and its mouth plays a fire hole. At the backside it looked like a tail of a turtle and at the bottle it had fire holes and 5 or 6 fire holes at the left and right sides. Because its figure was very close to a turtle, it was named Geobukseon (turtle ship). When engaged in battles, mats hid its spikes. When the enemy soldiers tried to climb it up, they were pierced to death. Also when they surrounded us to make a surprise attack, the turtle ships shot all the guns at a time. Thus, no matter how many enemy ships, even like clouds covering the sea, there were, the turtle ships came in and went out of the enemy lines freely, and the Japanese soldiers could not help but fall down. This is how Joseon navy could gained many victories in the battles afterwards, regardless of minor or major scaled fights, "

After the first and second mobilizations, major sea battles had taken place: Hansan Battle of the third mobilization and Battle of the fourth mobilization during the periods of the Year Imjin. Hansan Sea Battle was different from that in Okpo or Dangpo because Hansan battle a fight where the main force units crashed against each other. In the battle, Admiral Yi employed the tactics of full winged crane battle formation to envelop the enemy fleets, thus set 47 ships on fire, and captured 12 ships. In the fourth mobilization in Busan (Busan Sea Battle), Admiral Yi dealt a heavy blow on the Japanese stronghold. It is recorded that the turtle ships moved out with the strategy to eradicate the Japanese maneuverings. In Hansan and Angolpo battle, at least two turtle ships participated as left and right -moving ships and also two turtle ships joined in Busan battle, on which Yi Ginam, the left-moving ship captain and Yi Eonryang were on board. Among the important battles after Jeongyu War, there were Chilcheollyang battle, Myeongryang battle and Noryang battle. Chilcheollyang battle among the major battles conflicts was the one at Chilcheon Bay near Island on July 1597 when was newly appointed as the of three navy commander after Admiral Yi was dismissed from the post on March, which was soon after Jeongyu War in February 1597. In the battle, Joseon navy under the new commander was nearly annihilated by the surprise attacks of the enemy due to untimely and unreasonable mobilization. The shameful defeat was the first and lasts that Joseon navy experienced for 7 years. All capabilities - soldiers and ships- of Joseon navy that had been fostered by Admiral Yi's entire efforts were lost in the one-time battle. It is also assumed that all the turtle ships sank to the bottom at Chilcheollyang battle because there were no records on the activities of the turtle ships in both Myeongryang and Noryang Sea Battle. Although Korea Navy currently leads the movement to find the relics such as the turtle ships submerged during Imjin War at the sea near the areas of Chilcheollyang battle, Happy news has not been heard yet.

■ Major Naval Battles of Admiral Yi

1.Major Naval Battles of Admiral Yi

Though the Imjin War lasted 7 years from 1592 till 1598, the battles were concentrated during the first year of the war (1592) and the last two years of 1597-98 when the Japanese army invaded Joseon again.

The remaining 5 years were a war of attrition in which the treaty between Ming and Japan was in progress.

We can divide the naval battles between Joseon and the Japanese navy into six periods according to Admiral Yi's record of the campaign.

Admiral Yi's first campaign: May 4-9, 1592 The battles of Okpo, Happo, and Jeokjinpo

The second campaign: May 29-June 10, 1592 The battles of Sacheonpo, Dangpo, Danghangpo, and Yulpo

The third campaign: July 5-13, 1592 The victory of Hansando and the battle of Angolpo

The fourth campaign: August 24 - September 2, 1592 Battles of Jangnimpo, Dadaepo, and Busanpo

The reinforcement of the navy and Yi's dismissal from his post: 1593-1597 The Battle of Ungpo, the second Danghangpo battle, battles of Jangmunpo, and Chilcheollyang

Yi's reinstatement as Chief Commander and the last campaign: 1597 and 1598 The victories at Myeongnyang and Noryang

2.The First Campaign Landing at Busan on April 14, 1592, the Japanese army took the capital city on May 2, and then Pyeongyang on June 18. They also took two princes of King Seonjo hostage.

Because Joseon had treated Confucian scholars better than the soldiers, the spirit of the Joseon army was down, and when the war broke out, the corrupted and disabled army lost one battle after another.

Admiral Yi first heard the news of the war on April 15 from official correspondence from Won Gyun, the commander of Gyeongsang Right Navy Camp.

Yi readied his ships and forces for the impending battle, and upon the order to move, he held a briefing and declared his resolution to fight.

Before the campaign, there was a rumor that reported the number of the enemy ships to 300 or 600 ships, so nobody was sure of Joseon navy's victory.

During the briefing, there was even an opinion insisting upon staying at the base instead of fighting. However, during the first campaign period, the Joseon navy destroyed a total of 42 enemy ships, while only one ship of Joseon sank.

This sweeping victory gave enormous confidence to the Joseon navy, raising the morale as well as proving the excellent quality of Panokseon.

3. The Second Campaign The Second Campaign (May 29 -June 10, 1592)

About 20 days after the battle of Okpo, Yi Sunsin started the second campaign, which lasted 11 days. In this campaign, 51 ships including 23 ships under the command of Yi, 3 ships of Won Gyun, and 25 ships under Yi Eokgi's command participated and also the turtle ship made its first appearance.

In this campaign, Yi's fleet fought at the battles of Sacheon, Dangpo, Danghangpo, and Yulpo, destroying 67 enemy ships altogether. Thus, Joseon gained command of the sea from Gadeokdo from the east to the west, the Yellow Sea.

■ Remains and Relics of Yi Sunsin 1.Remains and Relics of Yi Sunsin This section introduces the remains and sites related to Yi Sunsin with pictures. Also the portraits of Yi Chungmugong and paintings are also included.

2.Remains Among Yi Sunsin's remains, Nanjungilgi, a war diary, and the items on which many people wrote words of praise exist.

3.Relics This section introduces the historic sites related to Yi Sunsin, which are located around the south coast, and shrines for him.