Yi Sun-sin

Yi Sun-sin

The statue of Admiral Yi overlooking central Seoul.
Korean name
Hangul 이순신
Hanja 李舜臣
Revised Romanization I Sun-sin
McCune–Reischauer Yi Sun-shin
Courtesy name
Hangul 여해
Hanja 汝諧
Revised Romanization Yeohae
McCune–Reischauer Yŏhae
Posthumous name
Hangul 충무
Hanja 忠武
Revised Romanization Chung-mu
McCune–Reischauer Ch'ung-mu

Yi Sun-sin (April 28, 1545 – December 16, 1598, Korean: 이순신, Hanja: 李舜臣) was a Korean naval commander noted for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598) in the Joseon Dynasty. His title of Samdo Sugun Tongjesa (Hangul : 삼도수군통제사, Hanja :三道水軍統制使), literally meaning "Naval Commander of the Three Provinces" was to remain as the title of the commander of the operating arm of the Korean navy until 1896. Yi is also known for his innovative use of the turtle ship. He is reputed to be one of the few admirals to have been victorious in every naval battle (of at least 23)[1] in which he commanded.[2]

Yi was killed by a single bullet in the Battle of Noryang on December 16, 1598. And while he died, he said "Do not let my death be known" (lest the friendly forces lose morale/the enemy gain morale). The royal court eventually bestowed various honors upon him, including a posthumous title of Chungmugong (충무공, 忠武公, Martial Lord of Loyalty), an enrollment as a Seonmu Ildeung Gongsin (선무일등공신, 宣武一等功臣, First-class military order of merit during the reign of Seonjo), and two posthumous offices, Yeonguijeong (영의정, 領議政, Prime Minister), and the Deokpung Buwongun (덕풍부원군, 德豊府院君, The Prince of the Court from Deokpung). He also received the title of Yumyeong Sugun Dodok (유명 수군 도독, Admiral of the Fleet of Ming China) posthumously, by the Emperor of Ming. Yi remains as a venerated hero among Koreans today.

Contents

Early life

Yi was born in Geoncheon-dong Street of (Hangul: 건천동, Hanja: 乾川洞), Hanseong (then capital, present-day Inhyeon-dong, Jung-gu District, Seoul). His family was part of the Deoksu Yi clan, near present-day Daejeon. In 1552, after his father, Yi Jeong was convicted and punished for committing illegal rites for deceased criminals, the family moved from Seoul to Asan, in South Chungcheong province. King Seonjo later cleared his father's name in 1567.

One of the most important events of his early life was when Yi met and became friends with Yu Seong-ryong, a prominent scholar who held a key official position of Dochaechalsa (Hangul: 도체찰사, Hanja: 都體察) in command of the military during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598). During the war, Yu's support of Admiral Yi was critical to Yi's achievements.

As a young boy, Yi played war games with other local boys, showing excellent leadership talent at an early age and constructed and fletched his own bow and arrows as a teenager. Yi also became proficient in reading and writing Chinese.

In 1576, Yi passed the military examination (무과; 武科). Yi is said to have impressed the judges with his swordsmanship and archery, but failed to pass the test when he broke a leg during the cavalry examination. After he re-entered and passed the examination, Yi was posted to the Bukbyeong (Northern Frontier Army) military district in Hamgyeong province. However, he was the oldest junior officer at the age of thirty-two. There, Yi experienced battles defending the border settlements against the Jurchen marauders. Yi quickly became known for his strategy and leadership.

In 1583, he lured the Jurchen into battle, defeated the marauders, and captured their chief, Mu Pai Nai. According to a contemporary tradition, Yi then spent three years out of the army after hearing of his father's death. After his return to the front line, Yi led a string of successful campaigns against the Jurchen nomads.

However, his brilliance and accomplishments so soon in his career made his superiors jealous, and they falsely accused him of desertion during battle. The conspiracy was led by General Yi Il, who would later fail to repel the Japanese invasion at the Battle of Sangju. This tendency to downplay people was very common in the later years of the Joseon military and government. Yi's was stripped of his officer rank, imprisoned, and tortured. After his release, Yi was allowed to fight as an enlisted soldier. After a short period of time, however, he was appointed as the commander of the Seoul Hunryeonweon (a military training center) and was later transferred to a small county, to be its military magistrate.

Yi's efforts in northern Korea was rewarded when Yi was assigned as Commander of the Left Jeolla Province (전라 좌도; 全羅左道) Naval District. Within the span of a few months in late 1590, he received four military appointments, in rapid succession, with each subsequent post carrying greater responsibility than the last: Commander of the Kosarijin Garrison in Pyeongan province, Commander of the Manpo Garrison, also in Pyeongan province, and the Commander of the Wando Garrison, in Jeolla province, before finally receiving the appointment as Commander of the Left Jeolla Naval District. The royal court was in a state of confusion over the possibility of a war with Japan, now unified under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the unstable situation in Manchuria where a young Jurchen chieftain named Nurhaci was gathering strength. Nurhaci's descendants would become masters of China as founders of the Qing Dynasty in a few decades' time, after invading Korea in 1627 and 1637. Yi assumed his new post at Yeosu on the 13th day of the 2nd lunar month of 1591 (March 13, 1591). From there, he was able to undertake a buildup of the regional navy, which was later used to confront the Japanese invasion force. He subsequently began to strengthen the province's navy with a series of reforms, including the construction of the turtle ship.

Japanese Invasions of Korea (1592–1598)

Main article: Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598)

Yi is remembered for his numerous victories fighting the Japanese during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598). Among his twenty-three victories, the Battle of Myeongnyang and the Battle of Hansan Island are the most famous battles.

In 1592, Toyotomi Hideyoshi gave the order to invade Korea and use it as a forward base to conquer Ming China. After the Japanese attacked Busan, Yi began his naval operations from his headquarters at Yeosu. Reacting quickly, he won the Battle of Okpo, Battle of Sacheon, and several others. His string of victories made the Japanese generals suddenly wary of the threat at sea. Twenty-three battles took place during the war, with Admiral Yi taking victory in all of them.

Hideyoshi was fully aware of the need to control the seas during the invasion. Having failed to hire two Portuguese galleons to help him, he increased the size of his own fleet to 1700 vessels, assuming that the Joseon navy would fight hand-to-hand and be easily overwhelmed.

There were several reasons for Yi's success in fighting the Japanese fleets. First, Yi had prepared for the war that he saw as inevitable by checking the status of his soldiers, granaries, and supplies, replacing them when it was necessary. As part of this preparation, Yi resurrected and built the turtle ship, which was a considerable factor in his victories. Second, Yi had a secure knowledge of the southern coast and he planned his battles using the sea tides and narrow straits to his advantage. He also demonstrated his loyalty to the people by treating them with respect and fighting amongst them even when endangered. In some records, it stated that he showed deep regret and fulfilled his dying soldiers' requests. This was one of the reasons he came to be loved by the people. Furthermore, Yi showed strength of character as a leader, keeping his soldiers' morale up even when news of losses on land came. Another reason the Joseon navy outperformed the Japanese fleet was that Joseon panokseon were structurally stronger than Japanese ships at the time. Panokseon had stronger hulls and could carry at least 20 cannons, compared to the Japanese 1 or 2. Japanese ship-mounted cannons were inferior to the Koreans' in both range and power. Cannon development had been neglected by the government, so Yi developed more powerful cannons with longer range for the navy. He prepared an assault using different types of cannons for specific purposes.

Yi's brilliance as a strategist emerged during the war and his leadership broadened. For example, at the Battle of Myeongnyang, Yi proved victorious in the battle with 13 panokseon, while the Japanese had at least 333 ships (133 warships, at least 200 logistical). Yi also personally exercised command over his fleets, making the attack on Japanese ships coordinated and decisive.

It was largely due to Yi's command that the Japanese were eventually forced to retreat, keeping Joseon and Ming China safe from another Japanese invasion until the end of the war.

In 1593, Admiral Yi was appointed to command the combined navies of the three southern provinces with the title Naval Commander of the Three Provinces (Hangul : 삼도수군통제사, Hanja :三道水軍統制使) which gave him command over the Jeolla Right and Left Navies, the Gyeongsang Right and Left Navies, and the Chungcheong Navy.

Four Campaigns of Admiral Yi

A Japanese invasion force landed at Busan and Dadaejin, port cities on the southern tip of Joseon. The Japanese, without meeting any naval resistance, quickly captured these ports and began a lightning march north. They reached Seoul in just nineteen days, on May 2, 1592, due to the military inefficiency of the Joseon army, especially at the Battle of Sangju and the failure to defend Joryeong Pass.

The four campaigns of Admiral Yi included every single operation and at least 23 major battles, in all of which Yi was the victor. His campaigns resulted in hundreds of sunken Japanese warships, transports, supply ships and thousands of Japanese naval casualties.

Turtle Ships

Main article: Turtle Ship
Drawing of a 16th century turtle ship

Yi's most memorable accomplishment today is resurrecting and improving the turtle ship (거북선). With his creative mind and the support of his subordinates, Yi was able to devise the geobukseon, or Turtle Ship. Contrary to popular belief, the turtle ship was not actually invented by Admiral Yi; rather, he improved upon an older design that had been suggested during the reign of King Taejong.

The turtle ships designed by Yi held eleven cannons on each side of the ship, with two each at the stern and the bow. The ship's figurehead was in the shape of a dragon. The figurehead itself held up to four cannons, and emitted a smokescreen that, in combination with its fierce appearance, was meant to be used as psychological warfare. The sides of the turtle ship were dotted with smaller holes from which arrows, guns, and mortars could be fired. The roof was covered with planks and spikes.[3] The purpose of the spikes was to prevent the ship from being boarded by the enemy. The larger Japanese ships' sides were higher than the turtle ships' and thus, the spikes prevented boarders from jumping down onto the roof without risking impalement. There were two masts that held two large sails. The turtle ship was also steered and powered by twenty oars, which were pulled by two men during fair conditions and five in combat situations.

There is an ongoing debate as to whether the turtle ship had two decks or three; historians still have no definitive answer. Whichever is the case, it is clear that the turtle ship employed multiple decks to separate the rowers from the combat compartment. This enabled the turtle ship to be very mobile since wind and manpower could be used simultaneously. Most support the argument of two decks since that was what was drawn out in the first and second designs of the turtle ships. Some historians maintain that, since Yi was a unique individual and often pursued innovative ideas (contrary to the established wisdom of his peers), it is possible that he had the turtle ship built with three decks. It is known that his flag ship, a panokseon, had three decks during his campaigns, so there is support for the belief that the turtle ship had three decks.

Turtle ships are the most famous part of Admiral Yi's fleet; however, he never deployed more than five in any one battle. The reason for this was not that the cost or construction time of the ship was prohibitive; rather, it was the naval strategy employed at the time. Unlike anywhere else in the world at the time (with the exception of England), the Joseon Dynasty used cannons as its primary offensive naval weapon. Historically, they had often used guns and cannons against Japanese pirates as early as the 1390s. The Joseon navy did not implement the ship-boarding strategy that the Japanese navy did, so it was imperative that their warships remain "stand off" from Japanese vessels. Admiral Yi warned his sailors to avoid hand-to-hand combat, in which the Japanese navy specialized, at all costs, and to fire at enemies from a distance. The turtle ship was developed to support this tactic.

Turtle ships were first used in the Battle of Sacheon (1592) and were used in nearly every battle until the devastating Battle of Chilchonryang, when a Japanese double-agent plot nearly succeeded, resulting in every turtle ship and all but 13 panokseon being sunk. The turtle ships did not re-appear in battle until the Battle of Noryang. Turtle ships were mostly used to spearhead attacks. They were best used in tight areas and around islands rather than the open sea.

The Japanese Double-agent Plot

As Yi won battle after battle, Hideyoshi and his commanders became anxious as they neared Busan. Yi constantly attacked and delayed supply ships bringing food, weapons, and reinforcements to the Japanese. At one point, the entire invasion was halted just before attacking Pyongyang when supplies and troops failed to reach the First and Second Divisions.

Hideyoshi soon adjusted. At Busan, the Japanese warships were reinforced and some cannons added to larger ships. The fleet clustered beneath the harbor's defenses of heavy shore-mounted cannons that were acquired from the armory. But, above all, the Japanese knew that, for a successful invasion of Joseon, Yi had to be eliminated. Not a single Japanese ship would be safe for as long as he was commanding the sea.

Taking advantage of the many internal court rivalries of the Joseon Dynasty, the Japanese devised a plan. A Japanese double agent named Yoshira was sent to the Joseon general Kim Eung-su, and convinced the general that he would spy on the Japanese. Yoshira played this role until Kim began believing anything he would say.

One day, he told General Kim Eung-su that the Japanese general Katō Kiyomasa would be coming on a certain date with a great fleet for another attack on the south shores and insisted that Admiral Yi be sent to lay an ambush. General Kim agreed and sent the message to Field Marshal Gwon Yul, Commander-in-Chief (도원수, 導元帥) of the Joseon military, who in, turn sent the message to King Seonjo. King Seonjo, who was desperate for victories to loosen the Japanese grip on his kingdom, gave permission for the attack. When General Kim gave Admiral Yi his orders, the admiral refused to carry them out, for he knew that the location given by the spy was studded with sunken rocks and was thus extremely dangerous. Admiral Yi also refused because he did not trust the words of spies.

When General Kim informed the king of Admiral Yi's refusal, the admiral's enemies at court quickly insisted on his replacement by General Won Gyun, former commander of the Gyeongsang Province Western Fleet & Commander of the Jeolla Province Ground Forces. They advised that Admiral Yi be arrested. To worsen Admiral Yi's fate, Won Gyun claimed Yi was a drinker and an idler.

As a result, in 1597, Yi was relieved of command, placed under arrest, and taken to Seoul in chains to be imprisoned and tortured. Yi was tortured almost to the point of death by using simple torture tactics such as whipping, flogging, burning, the cudgel, or even the classic technique of leg breaking torture. King Seonjo wanted to have Yi killed, but the admiral's supporters at court, chiefly the minister Jeong Tak, convinced the king to spare him due to his past service record. The prime minister, Yu Seong-ryong, who was Yi's childhood friend and the his main supporter, remained silent during this deadly hour. Spared the death penalty, Admiral Yi was again demoted to the rank of a common infantry soldier under General Gwon Yul. This penalty was worse than death for Joseon generals at that time, since they lived by honor. However, Yi responded to this humiliation as a most obedient subject, quietly going about his work as if his rank and orders were appropriate. Despite his low rank, many officers treated him with respect, since they knew that the admiral did nothing wrong. Yi would stay under General Gwon Yul's command for a short while until Won Gyun's death at the Battle of Chilchonryang, which would lead to his reinstatement.

Reinstatement and the Final Campaign

With Yi stripped of any influence, and negotiations breaking down in 1596, Hideyoshi again ordered his army to attack Joseon. The second invasion came in the first month of 1597 with a Japanese force of 140,000 men transported to Korea in 1000 ships. Unfortunately for the Japanese, Ming China had sent down thousands of reinforcements to aid Joseon. With the help of the Chinese, the Joseon army was able to push the Japanese south during the winter of 1597. The Japanese failed to reach Seoul.

But in the naval arena, Joseon was doomed. Won Gyun again failed to respond quickly and allowed the Japanese to land. Had Admiral Yi been in command of the Joseon navy at that time, the Japanese would most likely never have landed on any shore again. Instead, the Japanese fleet landed safely at Sosang Harbor and began their activities.

Yi's successor, Won Gyun, decided to attack with the entire naval force of Joseon; a fleet consisting of 150 battleships operated by 30,000 men that had been carefully built and strengthened by Admiral Yi. Won Gyun left his headquarters at Yeosu with few apparent plans. The next morning, Won met the Japanese near Busan. At the Chilchon Straits on August 28, 1597, the Joseon fleet was massacred. As the tired-from-rowing soldiers stumbled, the Japanese launched a surprise attack. Grappling hooks were thrown and Japanese sailors jumped aboard the Joseon ships, engaged in melee combat, and began a wholesale slaughter. It was the kind of battle Yi had always won, with careful coordination of enemy movements and strategic moves. But Won Gyun allowed the Japanese to gain the upper hand, board his ships, and fight hand-to-hand combat, which was their primary strategy.

At the end of the battle, the Joseon navy was completely annihilated except for 13 battleships, which were saved by a general named Bae Seol. Bae Seol fled before the battle to save the ships because he predicted the outcome of the battle. After the destruction, Won Gyun and Yi Eok-gi, another Joseon commander, fled to an island with a straggling band of survivors, but were killed by waiting Japanese soldiers from the nearby fort. The Battle of Chilchonryang was the only naval battle the Japanese won during the war.

King Seonjo heard the terrible news and quickly reassigned Admiral Yi to his post. Yi found the abandoned 12 battleships and rallied the 200 surviving sailors. Adding his flagship, Admiral Yi's entire fleet totaled 13 ships, which would be the number for a while. At that time, King Seonjo, who judged that the Joseon navy had lost their power and would never be restored again, sent a letter to abolish the navy and join the ground forces under General Gwon Yul. Admiral Yi responded with a letter written "...I still own thirteen ships. As I am alive, the enemies will never gain the Western Sea (a.k.a. the Yellow Sea, the closest sea to Hanseong, or Seoul)." The Japanese navy made up their mind to eliminate the 13 battleships under Yi on their way to the capital. Encouraged by their great victory, Kurushima Michifusa, Todo Takatora, Kato Yoshiaki, and Wakisaka Yasuharu sailed out of Busan Harbor in hopes of squashing what they thought would be a minor annoyance.

Admiral Yi responded powerfully. In October 1597, Yi lured the Japanese fleet into the Myeongnyang Strait which was at the time called Uldolmok by Koreans.[4] He lured them in by sending a fast battleship near the Japanese navy base and quickly started to retreat when the Japanese navy mobilized themselves for a chase. The Japanese forces figured that this was a scouting ship and the pursuit of it would lead to the base of General Yi, meaning they could finally destroy General Yi forever. What they did not know was that the Myeongnyang Strait is very dangerous for ships to be entering in groups. Korean ships would only enter one by one, since the strong tide of it can cause the ships to lose control and collide with each other. Also, it was very misty, reducing visibility, which proved a major hindrance to the pursuing forces.
The Japanese navy of about 333 ships blindly entered this strait in large groups. Many ships were sunk, and those that survived had been shaken up. When the surviving Japanese ships reached the other end of the strait, they were met with 12 Korean war ships ready to bombard them in a round formation. About 33 of the 333 Japanese ships that entered the Myeongnyang Strait were destroyed, and over ninety others were damaged beyond repair. Korean losses on the other hand were but a handful, suffering around ten casualties and no ships lost. A Japanese general, Kurushima Michifusa, was killed by archers who got close to his flagship.

Admiral Yi's victory at the Battle of Myeongnyang demonstrated his effectiveness as a strategic commander. Today, the battle is celebrated in Korea as one of Admiral Yi's greatest victories, and no other naval battle of this size or bigger incurred such a one-sided victory for a numerically inferior force, making it one of the greatest naval victories ever achieved in world history.

The Final Battle and Admiral Yi's Death

A map showing the movements of the navies in the battle.

On December 15, 1598, a huge Japanese fleet under the command of Shimazu Yoshihiro, was amassed in Sachon Bay, on the east end of Noryang Strait. Shimazu's goal was to break the allied forces' blockade on Konishi Yukinaga, join the two fleets, and sail home to Japan. Admiral Yi, meanwhile, knew exactly where Shimazu was, after receiving reports from scouts and local fishermen.

At this time, the Joseon fleet consisted of 82 panokseon and three turtle ships, with 8,000 soldiers under Admiral Yi.[5] The Ming fleet consisted of six large war junks, 57 lighter war galleys [6] and two panokseon given to Chen Lin by Admiral Yi, with 5,000 Ming soldiers of the Guangdong squadron and 2,600 Ming marines who fought aboard Joseon ships.[6][7]

The battle began at two o'clock in the early morning of December 16, 1598. Like Admiral Yi's previous battles, the Japanese were unable to respond effectively as the cannons prevented them from moving. The tightness of Noryang Strait also prevented any maneuverability.

As the Japanese retreated, Admiral Yi ordered a vigorous pursuit. During this time, a stray arquebus bullet from an enemy ship struck Admiral Yi,[8] near his left armpit.[9] Sensing that the wound was fatal, the admiral uttered, "The battle is at its height; do not announce my death..."[8] He died moments later.

Only two people witnessed his death: Yi Hoe, Yi's eldest son, and Yi Wan, his nephew.[8] Admiral Yi's son and nephew struggled to regain their composure and carried the admiral's body into his cabin before others could notice. For the remainder of the battle, Yi Wan wore his uncle's armor and continued to beat the war drum to encourage the pursuit.[8]

During the battle, Chen Lin found himself in trouble many times and Yi's flagship rowed to his rescue. When Chen Lin called for Admiral Yi to thank him for coming to his aid, he was met by Yi Wan, who announced that his uncle was dead.[10] It is said that Chen himself was so shocked that he fell to the ground three times, beating his chest and crying.[11] News of Admiral Yi's death spread quickly throughout the allied fleet and both Joseon and Ming sailors and fighting men wailed in grief.[10]

Admiral Yi's body was brought back to his hometown in Asan to be buried next to his father, Yi Jeong (in accordance to Korean tradition). Shrines, both official and unofficial, were constructed in his honor all throughout the land."[12]

Joseon Government Reaction

Admiral Yi annihilated the Japanese invasion forces, while preserving and respecting his soldiers and their families. Yi was supported by many peasants for not only his victories, but his kindness and gratitude towards citizens affected by the war. They had much faith in Admiral Yi and he was regarded as more than just an admiral.[13]

On the other hand, King Seonjo had accomplished nothing to save his kingdom. At his greatest need, the Joseon Dynasty's king had failed to defend the kingdom and his rapid retreat to Uiju left his reputation in ruins. It is feasible to believe that King Seonjo and his royal court looked towards Admiral Yi's victories and rising support as the foundations for a revolt.[14] King Seonjo, who feared that Admiral Yi may hold political power and instigate a revolt against him, arrested and tortured him. Defended by his loyal friend, Prime Minister Yu Seong-ryong, Admiral Yi was spared the death sentence twice.

Nearly all awards to Admiral Yi and his deeds were awarded posthumously.[15]

Many royal advisors of the king played an important part in manipulating the king's opinion of Admiral Yi. The Joseon government was plagued by factional fighting, jealousy, and hatred. The ministers feared and hated the successful admiral, while the royal court sulked in despair and ingratitude. Along with other jealous contemporaries, the sporadic conspiracies against Yi succeeded in restricting his true capabilities to completely destroy the Japanese invasion forces and supply routes.

It should also be noted that according to a recent Choson Ilbo article, historians have discovered written government recordings of the Joseon government's reaction to Admiral Yi's death. The records show that King Seonjo expressed a "blank expression", offering no signs of sadness or shock.[16]

Entwined with the history of the Joseon Dynasty, extreme factional fighting eventually disrupted the peace and stability of the government, resulting in its eventual collapse to Imperial Japan in 1910.

Legacy

"If we are willing to fight to the death, we shall live, and if we are not, we will Perish." --Admiral Yi.

Today, Admiral Yi is considered one of Korea's greatest heroes of all time. Koreans look upon Yi as a man of courage, perseverance, strength, self-sacrifice, intellect, and loyalty to his country.

Admiral George Alexander Ballard of the Royal Navy considered Yi a great naval commander, and compared him to Lord Nelson of England:

It is always difficult for Englishmen to admit that Nelson ever had an equal in his profession, but if any man is entitled to be so regarded, it should be this great naval commander of Asiatic race who never knew defeat and died in the presence of the enemy; of whose movements a track-chart might be compiled from the wrecks of hundreds of Japanese ships lying with their valiant crews at the bottom of the sea, off the coasts of the Korean peninsula... and it seems, in truth, no exaggeration to assert that from first to last he never made a mistake, for his work was so complete under each variety of circumstances as to defy criticism... His whole career might be summarized by saying that, although he had no lessons from past history to serve as a guide, he waged war on the sea as it should be waged if it is to produce definite results, and ended by making the supreme sacrifice of a defender of his country. (The Influence of the Sea on The Political History of Japan, pp. 66–67.)

Admiral Tetsutaro Sato of the Imperial Japanese Navy mentioned the Korean admiral in his book published in 1908:

Throughout history there have been few generals accomplished at the tactics of frontal attack, sudden attack, concentration and dilation. Napoleon, who mastered the art of conquering the part with the whole, can be held to have been such a general, and among admirals, two further tactical geniuses may be named: in the East, Yi Sun-sin of Korea, and in the West, Horatio Nelson of England. Undoubtedly, Yi is a supreme naval commander even on the basis of the limited literature of the Seven-Year War, and despite the fact that his bravery and brilliance are not known to the West, since he had the misfortune to be born in Joseon Dynasty. Anyone who can be compared to Yi should be better than Michiel de Ruyter from Netherlands. Nelson is far behind Yi in terms of personal character and integrity. Yi was the inventor of the covered warship known as the turtle ship. He was a truly great commander and a master of the naval tactics of three hundred years ago. (A Military History of the Empire (Japanese: 帝國國防史論), p. 399)

During the time of the invasion, it was up to the admiral to supply his fleet. Yi's fleet was cut off from any helping hand from the king's court and had to fend for itself. The admiral often wrote in his war diary, Nanjung Ilgi War Diary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, about how concerned he was about the food supply during winters. His enemy was fully supplied, and always outnumbered him.

Yi himself had never been trained as a naval commander. Korea, called Joseon at the time, did not have any naval training facilities. Although Yi passed the military exams when he was young, he was never trained at an academy. Yi's only military experiences came from fighting foreign Jurchen tribes invading from Manchuria. In fact, the Battle of Okpo, his first victory against the Japanese fleet, was also his first sea battle ever. None of his subordinates, including his own staff, had ever fought at sea before.

One reason Admiral Yi was successful in his battles was because his cannons had longer range and power than the enemy's, with the Japanese heavily favoring troop transport over naval combat. His turtle ship, which had first set sail the day before the invasion, was very effective in leading the attack and breaking the enemy's formation. Yi won all of at least twenty-three naval battles fought while suffering very minimal losses, destroying over a thousand Japanese ships and killing tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers.

Admiral Yi used many different formations according to the situation, and capitalized on tides and ocean currents. Yi also took advantage of his knowledge of the surrounding sea. Many times, he lured the enemy to a place where his fleet would have the upper hand.

At the Battle of Hansando, the Japanese commander broke ranks and Yi routed his fleet. Yi's expertise on naval strategy is apparent in the fact that his successor, Won Gyun, even with all of Yi's ships and trained crew, could not defeat an enemy fleet of similar might. One of the greatest legacies of the admiral was the disruption of the Japanese supply line. Through his calculated attacks, he successfully burdened the Japanese navy and the supplies trying to reach their lines near the Chinese border.

Yi's naval reforms did not persist and disappeared soon after his death. The turtle ships faded into the annals of Korean history, reaching iconic legendary status today. The Joseon royal court decided on a reduced military, especially after the Manchu invasions in the 1630s.

Yi kept a careful record of daily events in his diary, and it is from these entries, along with the reports he sent to the throne during the war, that much about him has been learned. Also, much information about the turtle ships are written in his diaries. These works have been published in English as Nanjung Ilgi: War Diary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and Imjin Jangcho: Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Memorials to Court.

Among his direct male descendants, more than two hundred passed the military examination and pursued military careers, hence constituting a prominent family or military yangban of late Joseon. Although many of his male descendants did not play the kind of a vital role in the tumultuous factional politics of late Joseon, as did those of the Pyeongsan Shin and Neungseong Gu military yangban lines, the court seems to have treated them with respect. Many attained important high-level posts in the administration. Moreover, at the end of the Joseon Dynasty, at least several descendants are known to have become anti-Japanese independence activists. Today, most of Yi's descendants live in or near Seoul and Asan.

Rear view of the statue of Admiral Yi at Busan Tower, in Busan, South Korea.

In Korea, Admiral Yi is not only famous for the turtle ship, but also for his last words before his death. He told his nephew to wear his armor and to hide his death until the battle is over to avoid demoralizing his men in the middle of battle. His last words were, Do not let my death be known (나의 죽음을 알리지마라).

Admiral Yi's posthumous title, Lord of Loyalty and Chivalry (Chungmugong, 충무공; 忠武公) is used as Korea's third highest military honor, known as The Cordon of Chungmu of the Order of Military Merit and Valor. He was posthumously granted the title of Prince of Deokpung. Chungmuro (충무로; 忠武路); a street in downtown Seoul is also named after him. The city Chungmu, now renamed Tongyeong, on the southern coast of Korea is named in honor of his posthumous title and the site of his headquarters. There is a prominent statue of Admiral Yi in the middle of Sejongno in central Seoul. Korea's new KDX-II naval destroyer is named Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin.

Modern Depiction

Yi's life has been depicted in two motion pictures, both entitled Seong-ung Yi Sun-sin or "Seongwoong Lee Sun-shin" (The Saintly Hero Yi Sun-sin). The first is a 1962 black & white movie, and the second, based upon his war diaries, was made in color in 1971.

A 2005 Korean film, Cheongun (천군; 天軍) or "Heaven's Soldiers", directed by Min Joon Gi, portrayed a young Yi Sun-sin, played by Park Joong-hoon, fighting the Jurchen tribes, along with local villagers and North and South Korean soldiers who traveled in time, from 2005 to 1572, with Halley's Comet. Unusually, the film presented Yi as a cunning, slightly eccentric young man, rather than a distinguished austere hero, a couple of decades before Hideyoshi's Invasions of Korea. Some historical events were also distorted: most notably Yi's campaign against the Jurchens, which did not happen in 1572 but a few years later, after his 1576 military examination. The film, financed with a comfortable budget by Korean standards ($7–8 million), was a relative commercial success in 2005. The film's theme clearly uses the figure of Yi, venerated as a hero in both parts of contemporary Korea, to plead for Korean reunification.

From September 4, 2004 to August 28, 2005, a 104-episode drama series was aired on KBS. The show, titled Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin (불멸의 이순신), dealt mostly with the events related to the Japanese invasions of Korea, as well as the life of the admiral, played by Kim Myung-min, who later received the Best Actor's Award for this role. It became a popular drama in China and was re-aired in certain ethnic channels in the United States as well. The drama was criticized for the many artistic licenses taken, such as depicting Yi as weak and lonely in his early life and taking liberties with the events surrounding his death. On the other hand, many people complimented the way the drama portrayed the whole drama with a more human touch. It described the admiral as a true man who had to overcome many dangers and difficulties quite frequently alone, not just a hero among the clouds. This drama was a heated topic at the time since it overlapped with the time when the Koreans were offended by Japan declaring that Dokdo Island was theirs. The Liancourt Rocks dispute is ongoing and the series further strained relations between South Korea and Japan in the issue's most recent outbreak.

Yi also inspired literary works. In 2001, Kim Hoon's first novel, Song of the Sword, was a commercial and critical success in South Korea. In his book, the journalist-turned-novelist describes that Yi deliberately stood at the front of his ship in his final battle making himself a target for Japanese gunmen, thinking that ending his life in this honorable fashion could be better than facing another political ploys which was likely to wait him in the Joseon royal court after the war. For this poetic first-person narrative written from Yi's perspective, he received the Dongin Literature Award, the most prestigious literary prize in the nation.

Yi Sun-sin has an ITF-style Taekwondo pattern named after his posthumous name of Chungmu.

In popular culture

Yi and his turtle ships appear in the game Age of Empires II: The Conquerors. However, for the purpose of balance, the turtle ships are wrong in two areas of the game: they are slow (in reality they were quite fast) and they can only fire the cannon out of the dragon's mouth/bow (the turtle ships actually fired broadsides and used the front mostly as a sulfur smoke blower and ram).

Yi also appears in the RTS game Empires: Dawn of the Modern World where he and his ship, the turtle boat, are playable characters. Yi's character is only playable in the campaign devoted to his plight in the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598).

Yi is the main character in a new full-color graphic novel published in the United States titled YI SOON SHIN: WARRIOR AND DEFENDER available through Amazon.com. The series is drawn in a modern western style made popular by graphic novels such as Frank Miller's 300.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Admiral Yi Sun-sin A brief overview of his life and achievements" Korean Spirit and Culture, Series I, Diamond Sutra Recitation Group.
  2. ↑ Admiral Yi Sun-sin at Koreanhero.net
  3. ↑ Hawley, Samuel: The Imjin War. Japan's Sixteenth-Century Invasion of Korea and Attempt to Conquer China, The Royal Asiatic Society, Korea Branch, Seoul 2005, ISBN 89-954424-2-5, p.195f.
  4. ↑ War Diary (亂中日記), the autobiographical diary of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin
  5. ↑ Hawley (2005), p. 552
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hawley (2005), p. 553
  7. ↑ Choi (2002), p. 213
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Ha (1979), p. 237
  9. ↑ Hawley (2005), pp. 549–550
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Choi (2002), p. 222
  11. ↑ Hawley (2005), p. 555
  12. ↑ Hawley (2005), p. 557
  13. ↑ http://yisunsinkr.prkorea.com/
  14. ↑ http://www.choongmoogong.org/frame1.htm
  15. ↑ http://www.prkorea.com
  16. ↑ http://yisunsin.gaonsoft.com/01/02.asp

External links