Siege of Dongnae

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=The Siege of Dongnae


caption=The Siege of Dongnae
partof=Imjin War
date=April 14th-15th, 1592 (according to Lunar calendar)
place=Dongnae
result=Japanese victory
combatant1=Japan under Toyotomi Hideyoshi
combatant2=Korea under the Joseon Dynasty
commander1=Konishi Yukinaga
commander2=Song Sang-hyeon†
Jo Yung Gyoo†
Yi Gak
Park Hong
strength1= 18,000 (est.)
strength2= at least 3,000 (est.)
casualties1= Unknown
casualties2= at least 3,000 (est.)|

The siege of Dongnae, was one of the first battles of the Imjin War (1592-1597).

Background

After the fall of Pusan, the Japanese army had to secure their bridgehead, because few miles to the north of Pusan lay the fortress of Dongnae,a certain type of castle that was situated within a very strong position atop a hill , that dominates the main road north towards Hanseong.

The march and the Siege of Dongnae

After resting overnight at Pusan, the First Division left at 6:00 AM the following morning, marched around the bay without delay, and began the attack on Dongnae two hours later. Its prefect, Song Sang-hyeon, hurriedly gathered all the town-people and what soldiers he could find such as Jo Yung Gyoo, the magistrate of Yangsan. As soon as the Japanese completed the investment of the fortress surrounding it in five lines, with other troops crowding on the nearby fields and prepared to storm the fortress. The brave prefect took up his position in the upper storey of the great gate of the fortress where, in accordance with the Korean custom, he beat upon a great drum and urged on his soldiers in the fight. Like he had done previously at Pusan, Konishi Yukinaga presented the Japanese demands erected a certain message saying, "Fight if you want to, or let us pass", for a clear road through to China. It was again rejected by the brave prefect with the words, "it is easy for me to die, but difficult to let you pass”".Konishi Yukinaga then followed in personally leading the attack against Dongnae during the 15th day of fourth month, in which he ordered for the commander to be captured alive.

The approach of reinforcement and the cowardice of Yi Gak

General Yi Gak, the commander of all the forces in Gyeongsang province, was approaching from the north; but hearing the fate of the garrison of Pusan, he halted abruptly and said "“As commander of all the provincial forces I must not risk my life in actual battle but must stand outside where I can direct affairs”". So he turned about and put six miles between his precious person and the beleaguered town of Dongnae, encamping at Sonsan.

The Battle

After Pusan, for a second time the ramparts of a Korean castle were swept with bullets. Even though the men that Song Sang-hyeon wielded were rather ill-equipped and poorly trained, the gallant defenders fought for eight hours before the enemy effected an entrance over their dead bodies. An assault was made and at least 3000 of the defenders were slaughtered, but only after a fight lasting twelve hours.

The Fall

When Yi Gak, the cautious, and Gen. Park Hong who was with him, heard the fall of Dongnae, they took their heels and consequently their force did likewise. After the fall of Dongnae many peoples were killed, which implies a massacre similar to that which happened at Pusan.

Aftermath

With the fall of Dongnae the Japanese bridgehead was secured and the road to the north was open. Pusan and Dongnae fortress were quickly garrisoned, and the harbour of Pusan began to provide a safe and almost unchallenged landing stage to disembark more than 100000 Japanese soldiers with their equipment, horses and supplies over the next month.

Legend

The Japanese general in command was so impressed with the bravery of this prefect that he had his body decently buried and erected over his grave a wooden monument on which he wrote "“A Loyal Subject”", an epitaph than which none could be more grateful to a true Korean gentleman.

The cool defiance of Song Sang-hyeon has become a legend in Korea, and in the Chungnyolsa shrine at the foot of the castle hill in Dongnae, where he is honoured beside Chong Pal and Yun Heung-sin, there is a dramatic painting of him sitting impassively in his chair as the fierce Japanese approach.

References

*"Annals of Joseon Dynasty"
*"The Samurai Sourcebook"

See also

* List of castles in Korea

External links

* [http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Images/Pusan/cnyol033.jpgThe assaut of Dongnae]
* [http://www.greatopen.net/gb/200307/gisa/res/column_03.gifThe grave of the assaut of Dongnae]
* [http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Images/Pusan/cnyol035.jpgThe Siege of Dongnae]
* [http://www.dongnae.go.kr/culture/img/chunp6.jpgThe Painting of Song Sang-hyeon sitting impassively in his chair]