Yang Manchun
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Yang Manchun | |
|---|---|
| Hangul: |
양만춘
|
| Hanja: |
楊萬春
|
| Revised Romanization: | Yang Manchun |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Yang Manch'un |
Yang Manchun is the name given to the Goguryeo commander of Ansi fortress in the 640s. Ansi fortress was located on the Goguryeo-Chinese border, probably present-day Haicheng. Yang is sometimes credited with saving the kingdom by his refusal to surrender the fortress to invading Tang forces.
[edit] Name
Whether "Yang Manchun" was his real name is unclear. Kim Busik, in his Samguk Sagi (Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms), laments that the name of the steadfast commander of Ansi Fortress was unknown. However, at least two later Korean sources give his as Yang Manchun. The Dong Chun-dang seonsaeng byeoljip (동춘당선생별집 同春堂先生別集) (The collected works of Master Dong Chun-dang), being the collected poems and writings of Song Jun-gil (송준길 宋浚吉) (1606-1672; pen name Dong Chun-dang), first compiled in 1768, includes the passage: "Someone asked, 'What was the name of the commander of Ansi fortress?' Jungil 浚吉 replied, 'It was Yang Manchun. He skillfully checked the army of Taizong and so might we very well call him seonsu seongja 善守城者 ("capable defender of fortresses").'" See Dong Chun-dang seonsaeng pyeoljip (book 6, "Gyeong’yeon ilgi 經筵日記", Eulyu 乙酉 year, month 4, day 26). Further, the Yeolha ilgi (열하일기 熱河日記) (“Jehol Diary”, a firsthand account of the voyage of the Korean scholar-official Pak Ji-weon (박지원 朴趾源) [1737-1805; pen name Yeon’am 燕巖] to Peking in 1780), includes the following: "It has been handed down that the commander of Ansi fortress, Yang Manchun, shot an arrow wherewith he hit the eye of the Yellow Emperor [here referring to Taizong]. The emperor sent soldiers beneath the fortress walls to present the fortress commander with silk in praise of his stalwart defense of the fortress." In time Yang Manchun came into general use as the name of the defender of Ansi Fortress.
[edit] Goguryeo-Tang Wars
In 642, Yeon Gaesomun killed King Yeongnyu and seized military control over the country. However, although Yeon had quickly gained control over the rest of the country, Yang Manchun refused to surrender Ansi fortress. After a lengthy siege and repeated unsuccessful attempts to storm the fortress, Yeon was forced to withdraw and allow Yang to keep his position as fortress commander. This proved to be to his advantage.
In 645, Taizong launched one of a series of punitive winter attacks on Goguryeo. Four Goguryeo border fortresses fell early, but Tang was unable to reduce Ansi fortress. Goguryeo sent a force reported at 150,000 to raise the siege of Ansi fortress, but the force was unable to reach it. Despite its siege of Ansi, the Tang army was unable to force its capitulation. Taizong eventually ordered the construction of a large earthen siege ramp, which collapsed. Meanwhile, Yang Manchun mobilized the remaining Goguryeo troops to defeat the Tang army. In the end, the Tang army retreated with heavy losses.
The siege of Ansi fortress is related in detail (but without the commander's name) in the Samguk Sagi, Goguryeo vol. 9.
