For the similarly named battle during the Korean War (1950-1953), see Battle of the Imjin River.

The Battle of Imjin River was a battle during the Imjin War (1592-1598). It resulted in a Japanese victory. Events January 30 - The death of Pope Innocent IX during the previous year had left the Papal throne vacant. ... Events January 7 - Boris Godunov seizes the throne of Russia following the death of his brother-in-law, Tsar Feodor I. April 13 - Edict of Nantes - Henry IV of France grants French Huguenots equal rights with Catholics. ... Korea (Korean: 한국 or ì¡°ì„ , see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ... The Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) (also Chosun, Choson, Chosŏn), sometimes known as the Lee Dynasty, was a dynasty founded by General Lee Sung-gye in what is modern day Korea, and lasted for five centuries as one of the worlds longest running monarchies. ... Korea (Korean: 한국 or ì¡°ì„ , see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ... For other uses, see Ming. ... Portrait of Toyotomi Hideyoshi drawn in 1601 Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Shinjitai (modern Japanese) writing: ; KyÅ«jitai (historical) writing: 豐臣秀吉; born Hiyoshi-maru ; coming of age (Genpuku) as Kinoshita Tōkichirō and later made Hashiba and martial nobility in the style of Hashiba Chikuzen no Kami Hideyoshi ; 1536 - September 18, 1598), was a... Yi Sun-sin (April 28, 1545 – December 16, 1598), also commonly transliterated Yi Sun-shin or Yi Soon Shin, was a Korean naval leader noted for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598) during the Joseon Dynasty. ... Kwon Yúl (권율, 權慄, 1537-1599) was a Korean Army General during the Joseon Dynasty, who led his forces in the Battle of Haengju. ... Won Kyun (1540 - 1597) was a Korean general and admiral during the Joseon Dynasty]. He is best known for his campaigns against Japanese during the Korea-Japan Seven Year War. ... Sin-Lip lived from 1546 to 1592, and was a Korean general during the Seven-Year War (임진왜란) (壬辰倭亂). He passed the Korean national military exam at the age of 22. ... General Gwak Jae-u (1552 – 1617) was a Korean patriot; in 1592, ten days into Hideyoshis invasions of Korea, he formed a militia to fight against the Japanese army. ... Li Ru-song (Chinese: ; pinyin: Lǐ Rúsòng) (1549-1598) was the Commander-in-chief of the Chinese Ming Empires salvage force to defend Korea at the Korean King Seonjos request in the Imjin War against the Japanese invasion headed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. ... Statue of Katō Kiyomasa in front of Kumamoto Castle Katō Kiyomasa (, July 25, 1562-August 2, 1611) was a daimyō during the Sengoku and Edo periods of Japanese history. ... Konishi Yukinaga (小西 行長 Konishi Yukinaga, born 1555 and died November 6, 1600) was a Japanese Kirishitan (Christian) daimyo under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. ... Kuroda Nagamasa (1568-1623) Kuroda Nagamasa, the son of Kuroda Kanbei. ... Todo Takatora )(1556-1630) was Japanese Lord, Daimyo following the Azuchi-Momoyama period of the 16th century. ... Katō Yoshiaki )(1563-1631) was one of Toyotomi Hideyoshis top generals, and commanded elements of Hideyoshis fleet in his invasions of Korea and campaigns in KyÅ«shÅ« at the end of the Sengoku period of Japanese history. ... Mōri Terumoto (毛利 輝元) (January 22, 1553 – April 27, 1625) was the son of Mori Takamoto, fought against Toyotomi Hideyoshi but was eventually overcome, participated in the Kyushu campaign (1587) on Hideyoshis side and built Hiroshima Castle. ... Ukita Hideie (宇喜多秀家, 1573-1655) was the daimyo of Bizen and Mimasaka provinces (modern Okayama Prefecture), and one of the council of five regents appointed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. ... Kuki Yoshitaka (九鬼 嘉隆; 1542 - November 17, 1600) was a naval commander during Japans Sengoku Period, under Oda Nobunaga, and later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. ... Combatants United Nations: Republic of Korea  Australia  Belgium Canada  Colombia Ethiopia  France Greece  Netherlands  New Zealand  Philippines South Africa  Thailand  Turkey  United Kingdom United States Medical staff:  Denmark  Australia  Italy  Norway  Sweden Communist states: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea People’s Republic of China  Soviet Union Commanders Syngman Rhee... The Battle of the Imjin took place between April 22 – April 25, 1951 during the Korean War. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The Retreat of the King and surrender of Hanseong

In the Fall of 1592, King Seonjo left Hanseong shortly before the arrival of Japanese vanguard led by Katō Kiyomasa, which forded the Han in what is today, Yongsan. At this time, the Korean public already abandoned the king and the minister and those who cooperate in a Japanese army occurred one after another. Moreover, when the Korean support army of Ming ran, most heads scattered all over the neighborhood were Korean people. Gyeongbokgung had already become ashes before entry into a castle of the Hideyoshi army, and Korean slaves greeted the Hideyoshi army as a liberation army, and set fire to the building which was keeping a slave's social position ledger.Following the sacking of the city, Katō built an imposing Japanese castle on the Namsan mountain overlooking Seoul on what is today the City Library. Seonjo and his court retreated north to Pyongyang and eventually China on foot being harassed by peasants who felt abandoned. Seoul is the capital of South Korea and was, until 1945, the capital of all of Korea. ... Statue of Katō Kiyomasa in front of Kumamoto Castle Katō Kiyomasa (, July 25, 1562-August 2, 1611) was a daimyō during the Sengoku and Edo periods of Japanese history. ... Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. ... Hideyoshi at his old age. ...

The burning of Yi Yi's retirement home

Reaching the Imjin, and hearing of Japanese pursuit, they forded the river at night. As it was dark, they decided to burn the pavilion near by the Imjin ford. The burning pavilion provided enough light to allow the King's party to ford the river and reach Gaeseong by the morning. Little did he know that the burning pavilion was the retirement home of Yi Yi (Yi Yul-gok) the prominent scholar who had strongly petitioned for strengthening national security by enlarging the armed forces to 100,000 men, only ten yers ago. Yi Yi was dead by this time, but his retirement home provided for the King's safe retreat across the Imjin.

The Arrival of the Northern Border Cavalry

As the King reached Gaseong and continued north towards Pyeongyang, the northern cavalry from Hamgyeong province finally arrived. Being battle hardened veterans of numerous border clashes against the Jurchens of Manchuria, the cavalry forces quickly moved to the Imjin River, where the forces of Katō Kiyomasa in pursuit of the king had camped on the southern bank, awaiting to ford the river. There the forces faced each other in stalemate.

Katō Kiyomasa's Attack across the Imjin and the Feigned Retreat

Knowing the Korean dependence on the Cavalry charge as opposed to infantry melee from Chungju, and realizing that the northern cavalry forces had yet to be exposed to Japanese arquebus fire, Katō decided to break the deadlock by drawing the Koreans into a trap. Sending a small force of light infantry Ashigaru across the river, Katō caused the Koreans to gain unrealistic confidence, as they mowed down the Ashigaru spearmen with ease in a single cavalry charge. Noticing that the chrge was uncoordinated and sensing a disunity of command, Katō ordered a feigned general retreat towards the direction of Munsan from the southern banks of the Imjin. The Japanese Ashigaru (足軽) were foot-soldiers of medieval Japan. ... Munsan is an eup in Paju City, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. ...

Defeat of the Korean Cavalry

Seeing the Japanese in an apparent general retreat, one of the two co-commanders of the Cavalry decided to ford the river in pursuit. In the dry season the Imjin River is very shallow river at various points which enabled the cavalry to cross without the use of barges. As the retreat drew them in, the Korean cavalry lost all semblance of order. The pursuit became disorganized, going uphill towards Munsan. Now, the battle turned into another episode of the Battle of Chungju. Combatants Japanese army Korean cavalry division Commanders Konishi Yukinaga So Yoshitoshi Matsuura Shigenobu Arima Harunobu Omura Yoshiaki Gen. ...

Once the bulk of Korean cavalry had entered the small valley leading from the Imjin ford to Munsan, Katō's arquebusiers opened fire. This had a devastating effect on the morale of the Korean cavalry. As with nearly all Korean forces, Korean cavalry had no experience with gunfire. The horses of the cavalry began to panic, bucking many of the riders. As the Koreans lay in confusion, the samurai infantry attacked from their hidden positions within the valley and began routing the Koreans. The Korean cavalry suffered many casualties in this melee while others attempting to escape drowned while trying the cross back north using deeper parts of the river. The remaining co-commander of the Korean cavalry who had not crossed the river in pursuit, turned and escaped back to Hamgyeong province, and most or the remaining soldiers following suit. Katō Kiyomasa and his troops forded the Imjin unopposed, loaded with trophy armor and fine Korean horses.

Conclusion

The defeat of Korean cavalry at the Imjin lay open the road to Pyeongyang. There were no effective Korean maneuver units or defended castles between the Imjin and the Chinese border. Hearing of the collapse of the Imjin line, King Seonjo abandoned Gaeseong, and Pyeongyang and moved further north to Uiju, where he fnally met up with the first Ming contingent from China. After the Japanese began rapidly approaching north again, King Seonjo fled to China, from where he returned the following year with Chinese reinforements.

The Imjin River today

The fording site today has a small castlewall like structure on the riverbank to show the old ferry site. The northern bank is off limits to civilians. There is a "Old Ferry Restaurant" at the fording site. Yi Yi'retirement home is now restored, and is further up slope from the restaurant to the East, adjacent to the highway. northern bank is shallow and sandy, with a large beach. southern bank is mostly cliffs.

This battle is celebrated in Activision's "Shogun: Total War" under "Imjin". The historical error in the game is that the Koreans have infantry forces only, while Japanese have balanced combined armed forces. Also the game shows the river having a bridge, which was not the case until the 20th century.

See also

• Imjin War
• Battle of Chungju
• Battle of Sangju
• Yi Sun-sin
• Turtle Ship
• Hwacha
• Battle of Haengju
• Battle of Hansando
• Battle of Okpo
• Battle of Myeongnyang
• Toyotomi Hideyoshi