Not neccessarily. Korea's preference for FTA with many countries will ensure that no single country will dominate Korea in the future. During the late 19th century, some people in the 이 Dynasy wanted Korea to have strong relations with many foreign powers, so that nobody could dominate Korea, but it didn't work because few countries cared about Korea. Today, Korea has a large economy, so many countries want to trade with Korea. I wouldn't consider Korea to be the puppet of the US. The US is the best partner for Korea because the US is very far away, unlike Japan, China, or Russia.
Yi Sun Shin is the greatest Korean hero. The man saved his country. He is not Drake, I would call him "Nelson of the East", I think this name fits him better than Togo.
I especially like the story how he shot Japanese admiral with the bow.
Following are some of the key
features of Admiral Yi Sun-sins leadership, which lay behind every
legendary naval victory that he won.
1. Thorough preparation and intensive training
Before the war and throughout
it, and even during the truce, Admiral Yi always subjected his men to
intensive training in archery, artillery, and the various standard
naval maneuvers and formations. He also tirelessly engaged himself in
manufacturing new weapons and building ships. For example, only a year
after the Battle of Myongnyang which he fought with a mere thirteen
ships, he had succeeded in building 70 more an astonishing rate of
one new ship every five days.
2. Careful study of the nature of the battlefield and its layout
The southern coast of Korea, the scene of many fierce sea battles between Korea and Japan
during the Seven Year War, was a maritime labyrinth, consisting of
countless isles and inlets. Furthermore, the current is very fast and
the long stretching coast provided a completely different appearance
with the rise and fall of every tide. Yi made a careful study of the
hourly changes of currents and winds, as well as the natural features
peculiar to each naval battlefield. Based on his investigations, he was
able to rely on a safe sea-route whenever he moved his fleet by night
escaping the eye of the enemy. As evident from the battles fought at
Hansan and Myongnyang, his foreknowledge allowed him to turn the
complex geographical features of the coast to his advantage when
pursuing or being pursued by an enemy.
3. Diverse use of naval tactics
Admiral
Yi used a wide variety of naval tactics in sea battles besides the
famous Crane Wing Formation. In his first battle at Okpo, he arranged
his fleet in horizontal line and made straight for the enemy fleet at
full speed, thus not allowing them the least room to maneuver or escape
and pressing them close with fierce cannon fire. In the sea battle at Pusan,
the Long Snake Formation (Kor. Chang Sa Jin) was used in order to deal
with the formidable odds 83 Korean ships against 480 Japanese. Yi
adopted this long, narrow formation to minimize the exposure of his
fleet to the enemys fire. Korea
emerged victorious from this battle, sinking 128 enemy ships and losing
none herself. In the Battle of Happo, Yis fleet droved the enemy fleet
into a confined harbor, and was thus able to destroy all of its ships.
In that engagement, Yi had no need to use formal naval formations, but
simply ordered his ships to dash forward individually against the enemy
as he judged fit.
4. Undermining enemy morale and winning the trust of his men
During
naval engagements, Yis navy subjected the enemy to a bombardment of
arrows and cannon shot from the outset, a tactic which proved highly
effective in weakening the enemys fighting morale, and finally getting
the better of them. As a consequence, Korean sailors developed an
absolute trust in their admiral, and their morale grew higher and
higher with every victory to which he led them.
5. Maintaining perfect discipline and strict principles
Lazy officers were
rewarded with strokes of the cudgel, regardless of their rank. Soldiers
who deserted the army were punished with death, as were officers who
accepted bribes and overlooked their desertion, and indeed any man who
was found to have committed the same crime more than once. At the
Battle of Myongnyang, Yi angrily reproved An Wi, who had fallen back
out of fear, threatening him with death under court martial if he did
not heed his call to advance, and his words
awakened An Wi to recover his spirit and fight. Admiral Yis emphasis
on strict obedience to martial law and the maintenance of absolute
discipline meant that the whole Korean Navy, from the supreme commander
to the common soldier, were firmly united as one and were thus able to
carry out naval formations and tactics which demanded strong unity
among crew members successfully.
6. Fellowship and Duty
Although
Chinese Admiral Chen Lien had attempted to hinder Yis plan to destroy
the retreating Japanese force, the admiral rescued Chen when he was
encircled by enemy ships at Noryang, and in danger of being captured.
In the Battle of Myongnyang, An Wi abandoned his loyalty to his
commander at the sight of the enemys overwhelming numbers, but was
later saved by the admiral when he fell into trouble. Yi was always
faithful to his principles and would not permit injustice or
irresponsibility in his men. But at the same time, he harbored a deep
sense of fellowship and obligation to them and so gained their trust,
respect and devoted service.
7. Leadership overcame the worst conditions
Throughout the Seven Year War, Admiral
Yi alone undertook to provide for every aspect of warfare, from
supplies and provisions to recruitment and shipbuilding, having no
support from the government. In battles where overwhelming odds were
involved, he led
his navy from the front to inspire his men with his valor and zeal. In
the desperate situation before the Battle of Myongnyang, when the
Korean Navy had only thirteen ships with which to fight, Yi was able to
re-arm his men, with the dauntless soldiers maxim He who seeks death will live, and he who seeks life will die.
Behind all these
methods and devices lie Yis unshakable loyalty and selfless dedication
to his country and people. In the course of abiding by them, Yi had to
endure endless trials and sufferings. He remained loyal to his country,
however, even after imprisonment, torture, and ignominious demotion to
the ranks, since he firmly believed that remaining at sea and defeating
the enemy was the one thing he could do for his nation. It is this
splendid patriotic devotion that could be seen as the most powerful and
important strategy of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
Naval Battles of Admiral Yi Sun-sin
During the Seven Year War, Yi Sun-sin had engaged in twenty-three naval battles against Japan and emerged victorious in all of them. The naval battles fought by the Admiral can be summarized in a chart as follows.
Won Kyun was instated as the Supreme Naval Commander in Yis place while he served as a common foot soldier, and led three sea battles which ended in the Korean Navys worst catastrophe.
Date
Location
Korean Ships
Japanese Ships
Outcome
1
07/07/1597
Cholyong-do
168
500
7 Korean ships
sunk & captured
2
07/09/1597
Kadok
161
1000
27 Korean ships
sunk & captured
3
07/16/1597
Chilchonnyang
134
1000
122 Korean ships
sunk & captured
All dates are based on lunar calendar, which was used in East Asia until the late nineteenth century.
In addition to the 23 sea battles, several minor engagements took place. These include an assault by the Korean Navy on the Japanese naval base, and its successful defense of its own camp from the Japanese.
Date Month/Day/Year
Location
Korean Ships
Japanese Ships
Outcome
1*
2/10/1593
~3/6/1593
Woongchon
89
40
Japan: 100 casualties
2
1594-10.-4.
Changmumpo
50
?
Japanese Retreat
3
8/28/1597
Eoranjin
12
8
Japanese Retreat
4
9/7/1597
Byukpajin
12
13
Japanese Retreat
5
11/13/1598
Chang-do
146
(Korea 83+
China 63)
10
Japanese Retreat
* The number of ships involved and the outcome of each naval engagement as shown in the charts have been taken from Admiral Yis War Diary and Memorials to Court, as well as from the Royal Archives of the Choson Dynasty, the official record of the government.
* Throughout the Seven Year War, the Korean Navy under Admiral Yi suffered some casualties but lost no ships; only two ships were lost by the mistake of captains on their way back to the base after the engagement at Woongchon. Such overwhelming victories by the Korean Navy may be attributed to the structural integrity of their ships, built in durable design and material, and the superior firepower and range of their naval artillery. The Japanese armed their vessels with only one to three cannons with much less firepower, and their main weaponry, muskets were effective in killing enemy sailors but not in destroying enemy ships. Yi thus utilized the strategy of sinking the enemy warship with concentrated cannon-fire before the distance between their ships had narrowed down to the musket range of 200m. In short, the Korean Navy could achieve successes unparalleled in the history of naval warfare due to Yis forceful strategy based on the superiority of Korean ships and guns.
* Of the twenty-three battles Yi had fought, the largest and the fiercest was the Battle of Noryang, the final engagement that put the 146 ships of Korea and China against the 500 of Japan carrying back their entire army on retreat home. The long, seven-year war, originating from the delusive ambition of a man in search for fame and territory, had taken away countless innocent lives and utterly destroyed their homeland. Boarding every supply and weapon he had onto warships, Yi headed for Noryang to carry out his final duty for his country and people. He took off his armor and helmet and fought at the heart of the battle, firing arrows and beating the war drums himself. He had never before taken off his armor or helmet in action. Perhaps it had been his resolve to end his difficult, arduous life with this last victory at sea. When he died by an enemy bullet, neither his crews nor the Chinese Navy knew of his death. They poured their hearts and souls into defeating the enemy till the very end and achieved the resounding victory that saw the sinking of 450 Japanese warships out of 500. It was the most honorable and precious victory for the Korean Navy earned in sacrifice of the admirals life.
With his last breath, he said, Tell no one of my death. He was concerned that his death might encumber the fighting against the enemy.
During the Seven Year War, the Korean navy used both Panokson and Kobukson warships. The Panokson was the mainstay of the navy, while one to three Kobukson at would be used as the main assault ships. The ships of the Japanese navy consisted of the large Atake, the medium-sized Sekibune and the smaller Kobaya. The Atake served as the flagship, carrying on board the commanding admirals, while the medium-sized Sekibunecomprised the greater part of the rest of the navy.
A key feature of the Korean Panokson was its multiple decks. The non-combatant personnel were positioned between the main-deck and the upper-deck, away from enemy fire. The combatant personnel were stationed on the upper-deck, which allowed them to attack the enemy from a higher vantage point. The Japanese fleet serviced mostly single-decked vessels, with the exception of a few large Atake.
In line with the traditional structure of Korean ships, the Panokson had a flat base. This feature was due to the nature of the Korean seacoast, which had a broad tidal range and flat, expansive tidelands. A level underside enabled a ship to sit comfortably on the tideland when the tide was out, after coming ashore or inside a wharf at high water. It also ensured greater mobility and a light draft and in particular allowed a ship to make sharp changes of direction at short notice. This Panokson was one of the main reasons why Admiral Yi was able to employ the Crane Wing formation at the Battle of Hansan with such success.
By contrast, the hulls of the Japanese vessels were V-shaped. A sharp underside was favorable for swift or long-distance travel because of lower water resistance. Since this variety of hull had a deep draft, however, the ships turning radius was considerable and changing direction was therefore a lengthy process.
Both Korean and Japanese ships used sails and oars. Of the two basic types of sail, square and lateen, the square gives a strong performance downwind but struggles windward, whereas the fore-and-aft lateen sail excels against the wind, though requiring a large crew to handle it. In the West, square sails were used in the galleys of Ancient Greece and the Viking longships, and the fore-and-aft variety later in the Mediterranean ships of the Late Middle Ages. When the Age of Exploration began in the fifteenth century, multiple-masted ships equipped with both types of sails eventually appeared. In Korea such ships had been in use since the eighth century. Koreas Panokson and Kobukson therefore had two masts by default, and their position and angle could easily be managed so that the sails could be used in all winds, whether adverse or favorable[2]. The Atake of the Japanese Navy also had two masts, but the main parts of its vessels were square-rigged and their sails limited to use in favorable winds.
It is worthwhile also to compare the hulls of the two nations respective warships, and their relative strength. The Panokson used thick, high density boards, giving an overall sturdiness to the ships structure. Japanese warships were weaker, due to the thin, lower density timber used to build them[3]. The Sekibune in particular, being the standard warship of the Japanese fleet, was built to be as light as possible, increasing its speed at the expense of structural integrity.
The Panokson was not only built using thicker timbers, but its general structure was held together by means of wooden nails, matching indentations, and interlocking teeth. This meant that as its boards absorbed water and expanded, the greater integrity of the hull was made stronger. The Japanese warships, on the other hand, relied on metal nails which, as time passed and corrosion and rust set in, eventually weakened the hull.
This difference in structural integrity, which also determined the number of cannons that could be carried on board, suited Japan and Korea to different types of naval combat. Because the Japanese ships lacked the strength to withstand the recoil of cannon, even the largest ship Atake could carry only three at the most. Since the hulls of Korean warships were strong enough, however, they were able to carry a large number of long-range cannons. These could be installed with ease on the large upper-deck of the Panokson ships, and their angle configured at will to increase the range.
Since the Japanese warships only allowed for a very limited number of cannons, their sailors mainly used muskets, which had a range of 100-200m (330-660 ft). Korea, on the other hand, had on board several varieties of cannon, such as Heaven, Earth, Black and Yellow. They fired daejon (a long, thick arrow in the shape of a rocket) with a range of 500m (1,650 ft), as well as chulwhan (cannon shot) which could travel up to a distance of 1km (3300 ft). Wangu, a kind of mortar, which fired stones or shells with a radius of 20cm (7.8 in), was also used by the Korean navy.
Another noteworthy aspect of Koreas heavy fire-arms is that they were not all invented to meet the sudden emergency of war. These weapons in fact made their appearance some 200 years prior to the Seven Year War. Thanks to the efforts of Choi Mu-son, a general and a chemist, Korea began manufacturing and developing gunpowder and power-based weapons. Korean cannons first saw action in 1380 against a large fleet of Japanese pirate ships, and were found to be a great success. In comparison, the first naval battle to have employed cannons in Europewas the Battle of Lepanto (1571), 200 years later.
In the 15th century, under the lead of King Sejong, who was himself a pioneer of scientific research, the performance of these heavy artillery improved dramatically. Having built a cannon range next to the Royal Court, and after much experimentation and study, King Sejong finally increased the extent of the cannons firepower from 300m (980 ft) to 1800m (60,000 ft). Naval canons were also developed at this time and among them, Heaven, Earth, Black and Yellow cannon were later employed by Yi Sun-sin. The development of artillery steadily continued after King Sejong, and saw the invention of the Bikeokjinchonlae, a time-bomb that flung out hundreds of metal shards upon explosion, and the Dapoki,a machine capable of firing many arrows at once.
The main naval strategy employed by the Japanese was that of "grapple-and-board", whereby sailors would attempt to board an enemy ship and fall to sword fighting on the decks. The Japanese Navy's concept of sea battle was therefore one of a fight between crews rather than the vessels themselves. This was the most common naval strategy in the world during this time, and was as common among the Europeans of the day. The Korean Navy, however, utilizing superior warships and firepower to burn and sink the enemy vessels, thus engaged in a more modern type of naval warfare.
Comparison between Korean and Japanese Warships
Korean Warship
Japanese Warship
Hull
U-shaped with level base. Quick to change direction thanks to small turning radius
V-shaped. Greater potential for speed, but large turning radius.
Crew
Panokson: 120-200 Kobukson: 150
Atake: 200-300 Sekibune: 100 Kobaya: 40
Speed
3 knots
3 knots minimum
Sail
Multiple-masts: sails could be used both windward and downwind
Square-sail: limited to downwind use
Timber
Pine and Oak
Japanese Cedar and Fir
Joints
Wooden nail: expands in water to strengthen overall structure
Metal nail: corrodes in water weakening overall structure
Main Weapon
Heavy artillery: range 500m (1,650 ft) Fire-arrows
Muskets: range 200m (660ft) Spears, swords, arrows
Method of Attack
Breaching enemy hulls Burning and sinking enemy ships
Grappling and Boarding Killing and wounding enemy crews
Yi Sun-sin: His Memories and Influence on Korea Today
Even after 400 years, the noble spirit of Admiral Yi, which saved a country from the brink of collapse, remains as the object of veneration and admiration. The following are a selection of different ways in which the Admiral has been remembered by his countrymen since his valiant death at the Battle of Noryang.
1. King Son Jo, expressing his apologies and praying for the soul of Yi, gave the following funeral address.
I abandoned you, and yet You did not once abandon me. The sufferings you underwent in this world, And those you take with you to the world after, How could one convey them in
Later, in 1604, the 37th year of Son Jos reign, Yi was honored posthumously as the Vice-Prime Minister. In 1643, the 27th year of King In Jos reign, he was awarded the posthumous title Chung Mu Gong (Master of Loyal Valor). In 1793, the 17th year of King Jung Jos reign, he was honored posthumously as the Prime Minister.
Under the Royal Ordinance of King Jung Jo, an exhaustive compilation of the deeds and achievements of Yis lifetime was undertaken in 1793. Entitled A Complete Collection on Chung Mu Gong Yi, it was published in 14 volumes after three years of research. Assigned and protected as the cultural heritage, the collection is an important historical source which illuminates all of Yis legacies to Korea.
2. Numerous shrines and monuments dedicated to the admirals memory have been built, including the Hyonchungsa Shrine at Asan. All over the southern part of Korea, where vestiges of his footmarks remain at the sites of his various battles, at Cholla Naval Station, at his training camps and so on the public continue to visit and pay their respects.
The worlds first ironclad warship, the Kobukson, was restored and reconstructed by the Korean Navy in 1980, and placed on exhibit in the Republic of Korea Naval Academy, the Asan Hyeonchungsa Shrine, the War Memorial and the JinjuNationalMuseum.
The scientific innovation behind Yis Kobukson is the spiritual foundation and driving force behind the shipbuilding industry in Korea today. Over 30% of the worlds ships are built in Korean shipyards, and its marine technology is regarded as the most sophisticated in the world. In terms of order volume, it continues to stay ahead of its nearest competitor Japan as it has done for many years.
3. Admiral Yi is one of the most respected figures in Korean history and there are no fewer than 200 books written on him, with 74 published in 2004 and 2005 alone. The biographical novel Song of the Sword, based on the story of the admirals life, became a bestseller and was even singled out as recommended reading by Koreas President Roh Mu-hyun.
4. Since the beginning of the 21st century, many Koreans have become keen to learn the attitude and methods of Yi Sun-sin for their own development. His integrity, loyalty and devotion, his fine strategies, creative thinking, painstaking forward-planning and emphasis on the gathering of information through contacts all fulfill the criteria demanded of a leader in modern times. The field of economics and management is just one area in which the study and application of Yis strategies and leadership has taken root. Professor Ji Yong-hee, author of In Times of Economical Warfare: A Meeting with Yi Sun-sin, is currently giving lectures under the series title Yi Sun-sin on Business Management. Regarding Yi as a model for 21st century leadership, he argues there are many lessons we can learn from him, including being faithful to basics, establishing trust between individuals, striving for innovation, valuing information, and not falling victim to pride.
Yi, above all, was strict with his own self, and he stood by his principles till the very end, thereby earning the trust of those around him. Today this might be called Transparent Management. Since he founded himself on morality, his subordinates believed and trusted him absolutely. He was moreover very modest. And since modest, he was always prepared. Prof. Ji Yong-hee
5. Even in the sphere of culture, Yi has emerged as an iconic figure of 21st century Korea. The television show The Immortal Yi Sun-sin had its debut on September 4, 2004, went on to receive the record ratings of almost 30%, and was voted as one of the most popular broadcasts of the year. Its success in the East generated considerable interest in the United States, and a subtitled version was soon released for American audiences.
6. Admiral Yi is before all else a symbol of pride and inspiration to the Korean Navy. To this day, much research takes place on his tactics and leadership methods at the Republic of Korea Naval Academy, Republic of Korea Navy, the Naval Education & Training Command and the Republic of Korea Marine Corps.
[1]According to Right Naval Station Warfare Formations with Illustrations published in 1780, over ten naval formations were used by the Korean Navy such as the Command, the Crane Wing, the Little Crane, the Straight, the Diamond, the Wedge, the Right Left Chal, the Circle, the Curvature and the Two Line.
[2]Korea employed multiple-masted ships from the Silla period (BC 57 AD 935). A Japanese record states that the ships used by Baekje and merchant ships of Chang Bo-Go of Silla had multiple masts.Thesuperior performance of such ships came to be known to China also, and anancient Chinese text Defending the Seas: A Discussion explains that The turtle-shaped ship of Korea can raise and lay down its sail at will, and it can travel with equal ease whether the wind is adverse or the tide low.
[3]The main type of timber traditionally used in Korea for shipbuilding is pine; to increase its strength oak, in particular the evergreen, was often used. Korean pine often has knots and bends, and because it was dangerous to process such a tree into thin timber, it was processed thickly to reinforce the strength. Traditional Japanese ships were commonly made out of the Japanese cedar or fir, which are lighter and easier to process than pine. Capitalizing on this, traditional Japanese ships have been built out of timber processed thinly and accurately. But strength-wise, cedars and firs suffer from the drawback of being weaker than pine. This in the end meant that Japanese ships were built out of weak material processed thinly, while Korean ships with strong material processed into thick timber
If Korea has Ming's support there is no way Japan could have won, the resource and manpower of Ming is inexhaustable and
even if ming is toppled by internal rebellion the Manchus would then
help Korea since Japan would have been a threat.
I agree about the Chinese manpower advantage,
but the ability of a Portugeuse squadron to counter or negate the
Korean naval threat would have freed up the Japanese on land, and even
if they still ultimately had to pull out, it would likely have
lengthened the war.
Actually, the Ming were routed in Vietnam, just as the Qing
were. Both armies were about 200,000 vs Dai Viet's
100,000. Western historians have observed from Chinese records
that once China invaded Vietnam, sooner or later, they were vexed with
the question of how to get out of Vietnam, because the war there was
bankrupting the China. (In both Japanese invasions of Korea, the
Ming only sent about 100,000 to help the Koreans. And they were
effective!)
Both the Ming and Qing invasions were opportunistic ones in the
sense that Dai Viet was internally divided and one side actually
invited in the Ming to help them maintain power. The Ming and
Qing came to help--themselves!
Originally posted by Landsknecht_Doppelsoldner
He's often considerd the "Francis Drake of Asia".
Wasn't Sir Francis Drake a pirate?!?
Anyway, this Admiral Yi seems truly extraordinary.
Originally posted by demon
It all started after Japanese unification under Doyotomi Hideyoshi. He
was an ambitious men, he watned to conquer india. He also needed to
give land to his warriors who served under him. So, he decided to
invade Korea.
Wow, this Hideyoshi has some balls!
I thought it was China that he really wanted to conquer? After
all it was the Yuan (Mongols) that twice invaded Japan. When did
India ever do such a thing to Japan?
Originally posted by demon
The first wave reached Busan. The soldiers, never seen a musket in
their life, thought that these Japanese were using spears and so
brought longer spears to "deal" with them. Of course, they failed
miserably.
Did Ming soldiers have muskets? They certainly had cannons.
Originally posted by demon
The T cross tactic was later used by a Japanese general who studied Yi to defeat the Russians in Japo-Russian war.
Admiral Togo?
Originally posted by demon
By this time, Won Kiun(mentioned before Yi started) got jealous
of Yi and decided to incriminate him for a crime ne never commited.
Yi was soon exiled to death, and on his way, it is said that his father
died...and he could not visit the place because he was in exile (It was
a bad thing due to the fact that Korea at that time was confusious).
Then, by persuation of another brilliant terrestrial general, Wol Kiun,
Yi was back on duty, but under the title of ChoongMuGong, meaning "loyal but without honor". During that time, the battle of Chil Chul Riang waged on, under leadership of Won Kiun.
No good deed goes unpunished!
Originally posted by Landsknecht_Doppelsoldner
Originally posted by Tobodai
oh hes more than
that, I think if you add all enemy ships sunk and battles would ,
statisitcally, be the best admiral in history.
OK let's not get carried away...
I dunno, but he's certainly a good candidate for it!
If demon's data is accurate, then I would say Yi is!
Think about it:
1. Yi's undefeated.
2. He's was often outnumbered.
3. He was terribly innovative.
4. His victories were so staggeringly lop-sided.
5. He practically saved a country. His navy was to Korea, what the RAF was to Britain in WWII.
Perhaps the only thing against him is the geographically narrow
confines of the Imjin War: He didn't romp all over the world like
Alexander, Ghenghis or Napoleon.
I saw Korean television series about Yi Sun Shin 2 years ago. It wasn't good enough in terms of drama but interesting in regard og history. But I'm not sure whether the scenes are true because I don't now much about Yi Sun Shin...
I saw Korean television series about Yi Sun Shin 2 years ago. It wasn't good enough in terms of drama but interesting in regard og history. But I'm not sure whether the scenes are true because I don't now much about Yi Sun Shin...
An important history lesson is that drama series in any nationality should not be taken seriously unless you are familiar with the facts.
Admiral Yi is probably the greatest admiral in east asia and plz tell me if there are any better, cuz I doubt you ever will
He gained support of the ppl so badly that Seonjo had him imprisoned twice, tortured, sentenced to death, rank stripped etc. Yet he still fought for Korea, even by being a common soldier.
I saw Korean television series about Yi Sun Shin 2 years ago. It wasn't good enough in terms of drama but interesting in regard og history. But I'm not sure whether the scenes are true because I don't now much about Yi Sun Shin...
An important history lesson is that drama series in any nationality should not be taken seriously unless you are familiar with the facts.
I'm actually gonna have to say that Yi Sun Shin was historically good compared to other Korean dramas, which just.....
He's often considerd the "Francis Drake of Asia".
I always thought he was considered the "Horatio Nelson of Asia"...
Some quotes
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. 6667.)
And even surpassing Nelson
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 iron-clad warship known as the Turtle Ship (Geobukseon). 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)
Perhaps you should read the arguments in this website, where I eventually gave up.
Earlier post:
debated about this in http://www.occidentalism.org/?p=255.
It was a difficult debate this this website heavily favors Japan over Korea. I gave up in the end because people no longer bothers to respond.
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