Yang Manchun
Encyclopedia
Yang Manchun is the name given to the Goguryeo
Goguryeo
Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....

 commander of Ansi fortress in the 640s.
Ansi fortress was located on the Goguryeo-Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

 border, probably present-day Haicheng. Yang is sometimes credited with saving the kingdom by his refusal to surrender the fortress to invading Tang
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...

 forces.

Name

Whether "Yang Manchun" was his real name is unclear. Kim Busik, in his Samguk Sagi
Samguk Sagi
Samguk Sagi is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The Samguk Sagi is written in Classical Chinese and its compilation was ordered by Goryeo's King Injong Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of...

(Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms), lamented that the name of the steadfast commander of Ansi Fortress was unknown:
However, at least two later Korean sources give his name as Yang Manchun. The Collected works of Master Dongchundang (동춘당선생별집, 同春堂先生別集) by Song Jungil (송준길, 宋浚吉), first compiled in 1768, includes the passage: "Someone asked, 'What was the name of the commander of Ansi fortress?' Jungil replied, 'It was Yang Manchun. He skillfully checked the army of Taizong
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...

 and so might we very well call him seonsu seongja (선수성자, 善守城者, "capable defender of fortresses"). Further, the Yeolha Ilgi
Yeolha Ilgi
Yeolha Ilgi, or Jehol Diary, is the work of the Joseon silhak scholar Pak Jiwon 朴趾源 . Pak, also known by his pen name of Yeon'am 燕巖, made an extensive tour of what was then northern Qing territory in 1780 in the company of his cousin...

(열하일기, 熱河日記), written by Pak Jiwon, 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
Yellow Emperor
The Yellow Emperor or Huangdi1 is a legendary Chinese sovereign and culture hero, included among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Tradition holds that he reigned from 2697–2597 or 2696–2598 BC...

 [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.

Involvement in the First Goguryeo–Tang War

In 642, Yeon Gaesomun
Yeon Gaesomun
Yeon Gaesomun was a powerful and controversial military dictator and Generalissimo in the waning days of Goguryeo, which was one of the Three Kingdoms of ancient Korea. Yeon is also remembered for a number of successful resistance in military conflicts with Tang Dynasty under Emperor Li Shimin and...

 killed King Yeongnyu
Yeongnyu of Goguryeo
King Yeongnyu of Goguryeo was the 27th king of Goguryeo, the northernmost of the Three Kingdoms of Korea.-Background:He was the younger half-brother of the 26th king Yeong-yang, and son of the 25th king Pyeongwon...

 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 massive winter attacks on Goguryeo. Some 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 Yang instead captured and used as part of his defense. When winter approached, Tang forces were forced to withdraw.

The siege of Ansi fortress is related in detail (but without the commander's name) in the Samguk Sagi
Samguk Sagi
Samguk Sagi is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The Samguk Sagi is written in Classical Chinese and its compilation was ordered by Goryeo's King Injong Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of...

, Goguryeo vol. 9. (vol. 21 overall).

See also

  • History of Korea
    History of Korea
    The Korean Peninsula was inhabited from the Lower Paleolithic about 400,000-500,000 years ago. Archeological evidence indicates that the presence of modern humans in northeast Asia dates to 39,000 years ago. The earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC, and the Neolithic period began...

  • List of Korea-related topics
  • Military history of Goguryeo
    Military history of Goguryeo
    The Military history of Goguryeo involved wars with other Korean kingdoms; Baekje and Silla, several Chinese dynasties, and Yamato Japan. Goguryeo finally fell to a Silla-Tang alliance in 668 from exhaustion and internal strife.-Goguryeo-Baekje Wars:...

  • First Goguryeo–Tang War
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