Hamgyong campaign
Encyclopedia
The Hamgyong Campaign also known as Kato Kiyomasa
's Northern Campaign, is Kato Kiyomasa's invasion of the North-Eastern part of Korea
, during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), which occurred mainly in the former Hamgyong
Province but included his fight with the Jurchen in the South-eastern part of Manchuria
in the actual Jilin
Province. The campaign was largely successful for the Japanese, however after the campaign, the Japanese army eventually retreated because of supply problems (largely due to Admiral Yi's logistical attacks), uprisings of irregular Korean forces, and the help of the allied Ming China.
After crushing small Korean armies, Katō's first real resistance was at Haejungchang. Katō met Northern Korean Contingents, who were renowned as elites among the Korean army. Korean cavalry charged the field and smashed Kato's army as a whole, inflicting much damage upon the Japanese army.
Katō fell back to Haejungchang, a rice storage, built cover from rice pouches and kept the Koreans at bay with arquebuse fire. Feeling confident about the first victory, the Korean commander ordered the cavalry to charge and harass the enemy under cover. Katō replied by heavy arquebus fire behind a 'rice wall' and forced the Koreans back to a nearby hill. After nightfall, Katō silently led his troops to the foot of the hill. He then ordered an attack from three sides and destroyed the Korean army.
Katō then marched north, leaving the coast, and after the Battle of Songjin
, captured two Korean princes, Prince Imhae and Prince Sunhwa, who were sent down south with an escort of 1,000 Japanese soldiers as a negotiation condition. After crossing the Tumen River, Katō arrived in southeastern Manchuria, which was outside the reach of Chinese authorities and where the Jurchens ruled. Here Katō attacked a Jurchen fortress and took it by heavy arquebus fire. The next day the Jurchens retaliated against the Japanese with 10,000 troops. The Japanese were practically surrounded by the Jurchen cavalry and after managing to pull out of the Jurchen attacks, Katō quickly retreated back across the Tumen River. This would be the first and last time Katō and the Japanese ever stepped outside Korea during the war.
Japanese was victories in the early battles. However, Korean general Jeong Mun-bu, Yi Bong-su and Choe Bae-cheon formed the Righteous army
that won eight victories between 1592 and 1594 against an army of 20,000 Japanese troops in the Hamgyeong Province. After the Japanese withdrawal, General Jeong erected the Bukgwan Victory Monument
.
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...
's Northern Campaign, is Kato Kiyomasa's invasion of the North-Eastern part of Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), which occurred mainly in the former Hamgyong
Hamgyong
Hamgyŏng was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. Hamgyŏng was located in the northeast of Korea. The provincial capital was Hamhŭng.-History:...
Province but included his fight with the Jurchen in the South-eastern part of Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
in the actual Jilin
Jilin
Jilin , is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. Jilin borders North Korea and Russia to the east, Heilongjiang to the north, Liaoning to the south, and Inner Mongolia to the west...
Province. The campaign was largely successful for the Japanese, however after the campaign, the Japanese army eventually retreated because of supply problems (largely due to Admiral Yi's logistical attacks), uprisings of irregular Korean forces, and the help of the allied Ming China.
After crushing small Korean armies, Katō's first real resistance was at Haejungchang. Katō met Northern Korean Contingents, who were renowned as elites among the Korean army. Korean cavalry charged the field and smashed Kato's army as a whole, inflicting much damage upon the Japanese army.
Katō fell back to Haejungchang, a rice storage, built cover from rice pouches and kept the Koreans at bay with arquebuse fire. Feeling confident about the first victory, the Korean commander ordered the cavalry to charge and harass the enemy under cover. Katō replied by heavy arquebus fire behind a 'rice wall' and forced the Koreans back to a nearby hill. After nightfall, Katō silently led his troops to the foot of the hill. He then ordered an attack from three sides and destroyed the Korean army.
Katō then marched north, leaving the coast, and after the Battle of Songjin
Battle of Songjin
The Battle of Songjin in 1640 was fought at Songshan and Jinzhou , hence the name "Song-Jin". It spelled the end of the Ming Dynasty. Hong Chengchou's 130,000 elite troops, which was sent to break the siege of Jinzhou, were crushed by the Eight banner armies of the Qing Dynasty at Songshan...
, captured two Korean princes, Prince Imhae and Prince Sunhwa, who were sent down south with an escort of 1,000 Japanese soldiers as a negotiation condition. After crossing the Tumen River, Katō arrived in southeastern Manchuria, which was outside the reach of Chinese authorities and where the Jurchens ruled. Here Katō attacked a Jurchen fortress and took it by heavy arquebus fire. The next day the Jurchens retaliated against the Japanese with 10,000 troops. The Japanese were practically surrounded by the Jurchen cavalry and after managing to pull out of the Jurchen attacks, Katō quickly retreated back across the Tumen River. This would be the first and last time Katō and the Japanese ever stepped outside Korea during the war.
Japanese was victories in the early battles. However, Korean general Jeong Mun-bu, Yi Bong-su and Choe Bae-cheon formed the Righteous army
Righteous army
Righteous armies, sometimes called irregular armies or militias, have appeared several times in Korean history, when the national armies were in need of assistance....
that won eight victories between 1592 and 1594 against an army of 20,000 Japanese troops in the Hamgyeong Province. After the Japanese withdrawal, General Jeong erected the Bukgwan Victory Monument
Bukgwan Victory Monument
The Pukkwan Victory Monument is a stone stele written in Classical Chinese commemorating a series of Korean military victories between 1592 and 1594 against the invading army of Japan during the Imjin War...
.
Hamgyong Campaign
Below is a list of the Korean castles captured by Kato.- Battle of Haejeongchang (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 해정창) (18 July 1592*), or Kuradokoro (now Kimch'aekKimchaekKimch'aek, formerly Sŏngjin , is a city in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea. It has a population of 196,000...
) - Capture of KilchuKilchuKilju, sometimesromanized as Kilchu, is a county in North Hamgyong province, North Korea. The county seat is Kilju Town.-History:The area around Kilju was part of the ancient Goguryeo kingdom, and was long inhabited by various Jurchen tribes. In 1107 it was annexed by Goryeo, who gave it its...
(HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 길주, HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 吉州) - Capture of Myŏngch'ŏn, HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 明川) - Capture of PuryŏngPuryongPuryong is a kun, or county, in North Hamgyong province, North Korea.Most of the county is mountainous, being traversed by the Hamgyong Range and its outlying spurs. The highest point is Kosŏngsan , 1,754 meters above sea level. Many other high peaks are also found in the county. The chief stream...
(HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 부령, HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 富寧) - Capture of HoeryŏngHoeryongHoeryŏng is a city in North Hamgyŏng Province, North Korea. It is opposite Jilin Province, China, with the Tumen River in between. Sanhe , in Longjing prefecture, is the closest Chinese town across the river. Hoeryŏng is said to be the birthplace of Kim Il Sung's first wife and Kim Jong Il's...
(HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 회령, HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 會寧) (23 July 1592*) - Kato Kiyomasa's fight with the Jurchen : The "Battle of Yanji" (24 July 1592*).
- Capture of OnsongOnsongOnsŏng is a county in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, located near the border with China. The administrative center is the town of Onsong...
Righteous army activities
Below is a list of the recaptured by Jeong Mun-bu.- Capture of KyŏngsŏngKyongsongKyŏngsŏng is a kun, or county, on the central coast of North Hamgyong, North Korea. The administrative center is located in Kyŏngsŏng-ŭp.-Physical features:...
(HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 경성, HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 鏡城) (September 16, 1592*) - Battle of KilchuKilchuKilju, sometimesromanized as Kilchu, is a county in North Hamgyong province, North Korea. The county seat is Kilju Town.-History:The area around Kilju was part of the ancient Goguryeo kingdom, and was long inhabited by various Jurchen tribes. In 1107 it was annexed by Goryeo, who gave it its...
(HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 길주, HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
:吉州) (October 30, 1592*) - Battle of HamhungHamhungHamhŭng is North Korea's second largest city, and the capital of South Hamgyŏng Province. In late 2005, nearby Hŭngnam was made a ward within Hamhŭng-si. It has a population of 768,551 as of 2008.-Geography:...
(HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 함흥) (November 10, 1592*) - Capture of IwonIwonIwon may refer to:*Riwon, an alternative spelling of the North Korea province*iWon.com, an internet portal and search engine...
(HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 이원) (November 12, 1592*) - Battle of Ssangpo (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 길주 쌍포) (December 10, 1592*) - Battle of Kilchu (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 길주 남문밖) (January 19, 1593*) - Capture of Tanch'ŏn (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 단천, HanjaHanjaHanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 端川) (January 23, 1593*) - Battle of Baektap Bridge (HangulHangulHangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
: 백탑교) (January 28, 1593*)