Battle of Chilchonryang
Encyclopedia
The naval Battle of Chilcheollyang took place before dawn on August 27th, 1597 (July 15th according to the Chinese lunisolar calender) during the Imjin War in Chilcheollyang, which is a narrow strait near Geoje island. It took place during the second invasion of the Japanese. This was the only naval victory for the Japanese during the War.
At one point, the agent brought reports of Katō Kiyomasa
planning to invade Korea to Gim Eung-seo, a commander of Gyeongsang province. The agent brought the exact place and time of where the Japanese fleet would come. The agent insisted that Admiral Yi go out and intercept the Japanese fleet and destroy it. Gim sent the message to General Gwon Yul
, who sent it to Seoul in March 1597. King Seonjo
ordered Admiral Yi to attack but Admiral Yi refused, reportedly not trusting a lone letter delivered by an agent and feeling he was unable to prepare for battle in time. Admiral Yi may also have believed that there was a trap at Chilchonryang; the hazardous area was containing sharp rocks.
For his refusal, King Seonjo ordered Admiral Yi to be court martialed and stand for trial in Seoul. In addition, Won Gyun
accused Admiral Yi of drinking and idling. He was spared the death sentence due to his combat record and prime minister Yu Seong-ryong
's support. The decision to remove him may have significantly affected further historical events.
He decided to look for the enemy navy with the entire Korean fleet that Admiral Yi had carefully built and strengthened. Won Gyun left Hansando on August 27, 1597, and soon met a very large enemy fleet near Pusan. Won Gyun was shocked to see the Japanese navy of a size of at least 500 to 1000 ships. Even though his troops were tired, Won Gyun ordered the attack. At the moment of the attack, a commander named Bae Seol quickly ran away with 13 ships under his command knowing the results of the battle ahead. Of note, it was these 13 ships that Admiral Yi would use to defeat the Japanese at Myeongnyang Straits upon his reinstatement. (Commander Bae Seol deserted with his single ship before that battle as well.) The Koreans advanced quickly with barely any strategy when the Japanese returned fire with arquebus
es. The Japanese destroyed at least 30 Korean ships by rowing close to the Korean ships and jumping aboard to begin melee combat. The Koreans had no chance to fire with cannons.
Won Gyun retreated back to nearby Gadeok island suffering even more damage to his ships. Apparently, Gadeok island was under Japanese control and when Won Gyun landed with his troops in search of food and supplies, the Japanese commander Chikushi Hirokado of the fort and the island attacked the Koreans and killed 400 Korean marines. Won Gyun quickly retreated and left Gadeok Island.
The Japanese were surprised at this terrible performance of the Korean navy and set out at once to attack the Koreans at night. It was a disaster for the Koreans and the Japanese used their traditional grapple and board attack to overwhelm the Koreans. Admiral Yi had always kept hold of the upper hand by blasting the Japanese from a distance, but Won Gyun had allowed the Japanese to attack the Koreans with swords and spears. After a surprise attack, 200 Panokseon
s and other Korean ships sank to the bottom of the ocean. Won Gyun was shocked at this attack and retreated quickly again while the Koreans were struggling.
Won Gyun and Yi Eok-gi, another general, struggled ashore at a nearby island with a few survivors. Again, there was another fort with a garrison of Japanese soldiers who rushed outside and killed every single Korean, including Won Gyun and Yi Eok-gi.
Although he had a disadvantage, Admiral Yi would emerge as a hero and victor at the Battle of Myeongnyang
when he destroyed a Japanese fleet of 330 ships with only 13 ships (minus the ship captained by the once again fleeing Bae Seol).
The immediate consequences was a near complete collapse of the allied defenses in Southern Korea, as the Japanese forces were now able to surge forward without having to worry about their logistics being destroyed by the Korean navy. key southern defensive fortress such as Namwon
were now left completely exposed.
Within weeks, the Japanese forces took much of Jeolla province and surrounded the fortress of Namwon, and then took it in the insuing siege of Namwon
.
Prelude
A Japanese double agent was dispatched by the Japanese commanders to bring false information to Admiral Yi and move him into a trap where he could be killed. For a time, the double agent brought what appeared to be important information to the Koreans.At one point, the agent brought reports of Katō Kiyomasa
Kato Kiyomasa
was a Japanese daimyō of the Azuchi-Momoyama and Edo period.-Origins and early career:Kiyomasa was born in Owari Province to Katō Kiyotada. Kiyotada's wife, Ito, was a cousin of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mother. Kiyotada died while his son was still young...
planning to invade Korea to Gim Eung-seo, a commander of Gyeongsang province. The agent brought the exact place and time of where the Japanese fleet would come. The agent insisted that Admiral Yi go out and intercept the Japanese fleet and destroy it. Gim sent the message to General Gwon Yul
Gwon Yul
Kwon Yul was a Korean Army General and the Commander-in-chief of the Joseon Dynasty, who successfully led the Korean forces against Japan during the Japanese invasions of Korea...
, who sent it to Seoul in March 1597. King Seonjo
Seonjo of Joseon
King Seonjo ruled in Korea between 1567 and 1608. He was the fourteenth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He is known for encouraging Confucianism and renovating state affairs at the beginning of his reign, although political chaos and his incompetent leadership during the Japanese invasions of Korea...
ordered Admiral Yi to attack but Admiral Yi refused, reportedly not trusting a lone letter delivered by an agent and feeling he was unable to prepare for battle in time. Admiral Yi may also have believed that there was a trap at Chilchonryang; the hazardous area was containing sharp rocks.
For his refusal, King Seonjo ordered Admiral Yi to be court martialed and stand for trial in Seoul. In addition, Won Gyun
Won Gyun
Won Gyun was a Korean general and admiral during the Joseon Dynasty. He is best known for his campaigns against Japanese during Hideyoshi's Invasions of Korea. Won was a member of Wonju Won family, which was well known for its members' military accomplishments. He was born in 1540 near Pyeongtaek,...
accused Admiral Yi of drinking and idling. He was spared the death sentence due to his combat record and prime minister Yu Seong-ryong
Yu Seong-ryong
Yu Seong-ryong , also often spelled Ryu Seong-ryong, was a scholar-official and Prime minister of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea...
's support. The decision to remove him may have significantly affected further historical events.
Chilcheollyang
Won Gyun replaced Admiral Yi as the naval commander of the entire Korean fleet. Won Gyun decided to attack a large Japanese flotilla of which he did not know the size, strength, or location.He decided to look for the enemy navy with the entire Korean fleet that Admiral Yi had carefully built and strengthened. Won Gyun left Hansando on August 27, 1597, and soon met a very large enemy fleet near Pusan. Won Gyun was shocked to see the Japanese navy of a size of at least 500 to 1000 ships. Even though his troops were tired, Won Gyun ordered the attack. At the moment of the attack, a commander named Bae Seol quickly ran away with 13 ships under his command knowing the results of the battle ahead. Of note, it was these 13 ships that Admiral Yi would use to defeat the Japanese at Myeongnyang Straits upon his reinstatement. (Commander Bae Seol deserted with his single ship before that battle as well.) The Koreans advanced quickly with barely any strategy when the Japanese returned fire with arquebus
Arquebus
The arquebus , or "hook tube", is an early muzzle-loaded firearm used in the 15th to 17th centuries. The word was originally modeled on the German hakenbüchse; this produced haquebute...
es. The Japanese destroyed at least 30 Korean ships by rowing close to the Korean ships and jumping aboard to begin melee combat. The Koreans had no chance to fire with cannons.
Won Gyun retreated back to nearby Gadeok island suffering even more damage to his ships. Apparently, Gadeok island was under Japanese control and when Won Gyun landed with his troops in search of food and supplies, the Japanese commander Chikushi Hirokado of the fort and the island attacked the Koreans and killed 400 Korean marines. Won Gyun quickly retreated and left Gadeok Island.
The Japanese were surprised at this terrible performance of the Korean navy and set out at once to attack the Koreans at night. It was a disaster for the Koreans and the Japanese used their traditional grapple and board attack to overwhelm the Koreans. Admiral Yi had always kept hold of the upper hand by blasting the Japanese from a distance, but Won Gyun had allowed the Japanese to attack the Koreans with swords and spears. After a surprise attack, 200 Panokseon
Panokseon
Panokseon was an oar- and sail-propelled ship that was the main class of warship used by the Korean Joseon Dynasty during the late 16th century. The first ship of this class was constructed in 1555...
s and other Korean ships sank to the bottom of the ocean. Won Gyun was shocked at this attack and retreated quickly again while the Koreans were struggling.
Won Gyun and Yi Eok-gi, another general, struggled ashore at a nearby island with a few survivors. Again, there was another fort with a garrison of Japanese soldiers who rushed outside and killed every single Korean, including Won Gyun and Yi Eok-gi.
Aftermath
The Battle of Chilcheollyang resulted in the destruction of the Korean navy and a huge loss of life. When King Seonjo and the Korean court heard of the battle on July 22, they were left shocked and devastated, the many advisors couldn't even find words for many moments., they pardoned Admiral Yi (who had spent some time as a common foot soldier under General Gwon Yul), and put him back as the commander of the now small and weak Korean fleet on exactly the same day. With only 200 men, and the 13 ships that Bae Seol had fled with, Admiral Yi now had to fight the Japanese with overwhelming odds against him.Although he had a disadvantage, Admiral Yi would emerge as a hero and victor at the Battle of Myeongnyang
Battle of Myeongnyang
In the Battle of Myeongnyang, on October 26, 1597, the Joseon admiral Yi Sun-sin fought the Japanese navy in the Myeongnyang Strait, near Jindo Island. With only the 13 ships remaining from Won Gyun's disastrous defeat at the Battle of Chilchonryang, Admiral Yi Sunsin held the strait against a...
when he destroyed a Japanese fleet of 330 ships with only 13 ships (minus the ship captained by the once again fleeing Bae Seol).
The immediate consequences was a near complete collapse of the allied defenses in Southern Korea, as the Japanese forces were now able to surge forward without having to worry about their logistics being destroyed by the Korean navy. key southern defensive fortress such as Namwon
Namwon
Namwon is a city in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. Namwon is about 45 minutes from the provincial capital of Jeonju, which is three hours away from Seoul....
were now left completely exposed.
Within weeks, the Japanese forces took much of Jeolla province and surrounded the fortress of Namwon, and then took it in the insuing siege of Namwon
Siege of Namwon
The Siege of Namwon was one of the battles of the Imjin War.- Ming-Chinese forces 3,000 men :Yang Yuan Middle Army : Li Xin FangMao Cheng Xian Jiang Biǎo- Korean forces 1,300 men :...
.