Battle of Imjin River (1592)

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For the similarly named battle during the Korean War (1950-1953), see Battle of the Imjin River.

The Battle of Imjin River was a battle during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598). It resulted in a Japanese victory.

[edit] The Retreat of the King and surrender of Hanseong

In the Fall of 1592, King Seonjo left Hanseong shortly before the arrival of Japanese vanguard led by Katō Kiyomasa, which forded the Han in what is today, Yongsan. At this time, the Korean public already abandoned the king and the minister and those who cooperate in a Japanese army occurred one after another. Moreover, when the Korean support army of Ming ran, most heads scattered all over the neighborhood were Korean people. Gyeongbokgung had already become ashes before entry into a castle of the Hideyoshi army, and Korean slaves greeted the Hideyoshi army as a liberation army, and set fire to the building which was keeping a slave's social position ledger.Following the sacking of the city, Katō built an imposing Japanese castle on the Namsan mountain overlooking Seoul on what is today the City Library. Seonjo and his court retreated north to Pyongyang and eventually China on foot being harassed by peasants who felt abandoned.

[edit] The burning of Yi I's retirement home

Reaching the Imjin, and hearing of Japanese pursuit, they forded the river at night. As it was dark, they decided to burn the pavilion near by the Imjin ford. The burning pavilion provided enough light to allow the King's party to ford the river and reach Gaeseong by the morning. Little did he know that the burning pavilion was the retirement home of Yi I the prominent scholar who had strongly petitioned for strengthening national security by enlarging the armed forces to 100,000 men, only ten yers ago. Yi Yi was dead by this time, but his retirement home provided for the King's safe retreat across the Imjin.

[edit] The Arrival of the Northern Border Cavalry

As the King reached Kaesong and continued north towards Pyeongyang, the northern cavalry from Hamgyeong province finally arrived. Being battle hardened veterans of numerous border clashes against the Jurchens of Manchuria, the cavalry forces quickly moved to the Imjin River, where the forces of Katō Kiyomasa in pursuit of the king had camped on the southern bank, awaiting to ford the river. There the forces faced each other in stalemate.

[edit] Katō Kiyomasa's Attack across the Imjin and the Feigned Retreat

Knowing the Korean dependence on the Cavalry charge as opposed to infantry melee from Chungju, and realizing that the northern cavalry forces had yet to be exposed to Japanese arquebus fire, Katō decided to break the deadlock by drawing the Koreans into a trap. Sending a small force of light infantry Ashigaru across the river, Katō caused the Koreans to gain unrealistic confidence, as they mowed down the Ashigaru spearmen with ease in a single cavalry charge. Noticing that the charge was uncoordinated and sensing a disunity of command, Katō ordered a feigned general retreat towards the direction of Munsan from the southern banks of the Imjin.

[edit] Defeat of the Korean Cavalry

Seeing the Japanese in an apparent general retreat, one of the two co-commanders of the Cavalry decided to ford the river in pursuit. In the dry season the Imjin River is very shallow river at various points which enabled the cavalry to cross without the use of barges. As the retreat drew them in, the Korean cavalry lost all semblance of order. The pursuit became disorganized, going uphill towards Munsan. Now, the battle turned into another episode of the Battle of Chungju.

Once the bulk of Korean cavalry had entered the small valley leading from the Imjin ford to Munsan, Katō's arquebusiers opened fire. This had a devastating effect on the morale of the Korean cavalry. As with nearly all Korean forces, Korean cavalry had no experience with gunfire. The horses of the cavalry began to panic, bucking many of the riders. As the Koreans lay in confusion, the samurai infantry attacked from their hidden positions within the valley and began routing the Koreans. The Korean cavalry suffered many casualties in this melee while others attempting to escape drowned while trying the cross back north using deeper parts of the river. The remaining co-commander of the Korean cavalry who had not crossed the river in pursuit, turned and escaped back to Hamgyeong province, and most or the remaining soldiers following suit. Katō Kiyomasa and his troops forded the Imjin unopposed, loaded with trophy armor and fine Korean horses.

[edit] Conclusion

The defeat of Korean cavalry at the Imjin lay open the road to Pyeongyang. There were no effective Korean maneuver units or defended castles between the Imjin and the Chinese border. Hearing of the collapse of the Imjin line, King Seonjo abandoned Gaeseong, and Pyeongyang and moved further north to Uiju, where he fnally met up with the first Ming contingent from China. After the Japanese began rapidly approaching north again, King Seonjo fled to China, from where he returned the following year with Chinese reinforements.

[edit] The Imjin River today

The fording site today has a small castlewall like structure on the riverbank to show the old ferry site. The northern bank is off limits to civilians. There is an "Old Ferry Restaurant" at the fording site. Yi Yi'retirement home is now restored, and is further up slope from the restaurant to the East, adjacent to the highway. northern bank is shallow and sandy, with a large beach. southern bank is mostly cliffs.

This battle is celebrated in Activision's "Shogun: Total War" under "Imjin". The historical error in the game is that the Koreans have infantry forces only, while Japanese have balanced combined armed forces. Also the game shows the river having a bridge, which was not the case until the 20th century.

[edit] See also

• Imjin War
• Battle of Chungju
• Battle of Sangju