Choong-Moo - Loyalty Chivalry

30 Moves 1st Kup

Choong-Moo is the given name of the great Admiral Yi Sun-Sin of the Yi Dynasty.  He was reputed to have invented the  first armoured battleship (Kobukson) which was the precursor to the present day submarine in 1592 AD.  The reason why this pattern ends in a left handed attack is to symbolise his regrettable death, having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality, checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the King.

Admiral Yi Sunsin's statue towers over Seoul's Sejong Avenue. The admiral's "turtle ships," believed to have been the world's first ironclads, routed Japanese invaders in the 1590s.

 -- John Holstein

KOBUKSON

 A restored model of a 'Kobukson' or Turtle Ship invented by Admiral Yi Sun-shin in 1592.

Admiral Yi Sun-shin, also spelled YI SUN-SIN (b. April 28, 1545, Seoul, Korea [now in South Korea]--d. Dec. 16, 1598, off Noryang), Korean admiral and national hero whose naval victories were instrumental in repelling  Japanese invasions of Korea in the 1590s.

After passing the government examinations to become a military officer in 1576, Yi served at various army and navy posts.

Although he was twice discharged after being falsely accused by jealous colleagues, in 1591 he was appointed commander of the naval forces in Left Cholla province, where he concentrated on training his men, stocking equipment and supplies, and developing the renowned kobukson ("turtle ship"). The kobukson is thought to have been the first  ironclad battleship in history. Its upper deck was covered with armoured plates to protect its crew, and spikes and knives were attached to the plates to discourage enemies from boarding. The ship's bow was equipped with a dragon head through which cannon could be fired and clouds of smoke could be emitted to obscure the ship's position. Cannon and guns could also be fired from the stern and the sides of the ship.

As a result of Yi's preparations, his forces, unlike most of the Korean military, were ready to fight when the Japanese invaded in 1592. Yi's victories off the southern coast effectively cut off the Japanese troops in Korea from supplies and

reinforcements and prevented the Japanese from pressing their initial advantage. In 1593 Yi was given command of the entire Korean fleet, but, following peace negotiations, in 1597 he was again falsely accused of disloyalty and demoted to the rank of common soldier. The Japanese then launched a second invasion and succeeded in destroying almost all of the Korean navy. Yi was reinstated as commander of the few remaining ships and, continuing his undefeated battle record, soon restored Korea's control of the seas. He was killed by a stray bullet as he pursued the retreating Japanese forces during the final campaign of the war.

A number of refinements in the years following converted the ironclad into the battleship

 Foreign invasions.

 In 1592  Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Japanese military leader who had just reunified  Japan, sent a large force to Korea in an alleged attempt to invade China. The Korean land forces suffered a series of defeats, but Korean naval forces, led by Admiral  Yi Sun-shin, secured full control of the sea. Yi won the greatest naval victories in Korean history, over the Japanese squadrons off Korea's southern coast. The national crisis brought people of almost all ranks, including Buddhist monks, to volunteer in fighting the Japanese. Ming China also dispatched troops to aid Korea. After one year the Japanese were forced to retreat, although another invasion followed in 1597. After Toyotomi's sudden death in 1598 the Japanese withdrew. The war left most of Korea in ruins. Palaces, public buildings, and private homes were burned, and many cultural treasures were lost or destroyed. Scholars and artisans were kidnapped to Japan, where they were forced to teach Korea's advanced technology.

In the early 17th century nomadic  Manchu violated the borders of both Ming China and Korea. Ming and Korean punitive attacks on Manchu strongholds in 1619 were beaten back, and in 1627 the Manchu overran northern Korea. Only after Korea had agreed to recognize their demand for "brotherhood" did the Manchu withdraw from the occupied territory. In 1636 the Manchu captured Seoul and wrested an unconditional surrender from the king. The Manchu then overthrew the Ming and in 1644 established the  Ch'ing dynasty; the tribute that Korea had paid to the Ming was switched to the Ch'ing.

THE SHRINE OF ADMIRAL YI SUN-SIN

(Hyonch’ungsa)

  A general view of Hyonch'ungsa s hrine at Asan, Ch'ungch'ongnam-do.

Located at Asan, near the hot springs resort of Onyang, is the country's most impressive shrine. Hyonch'ungsa, as it is called, is dedicated to one of the greatest military heroes of history, Admiral Yi Sun-shin, who has been likened to Sir Francis Drake or Lord Nelson of England. When the Japanese fleet defeated the Russian navy in 1905, the Japanese admiral was quoted as saying, "You may wish to compare me with Lord Nelson, but do not compare me with Korea's Admiral Yi Sun-shin.. He is too remarkable for anyone."

Admiral Yi is credited with the invention of the world's first ironclad warships, called Kobukson, or "Turtle Ships," with which he defeated the Japanese fleets during the invasions of 1592 - 98.

At the shrine are preserved Admiral Yi's war diaries as well as some of his personal belongings. Near the shrine stands a gnarled old gingko tree under which the admiral practiced archery during his youth. A replica of a Kobukson as well as other articles of that period are displayed in a small museum.

He was born in Seoul. In 1576, He passed triennial Military Examinations and held a low office. In 1591, he got promtoed to a commander-in-chief of naval forces on the recommendation of Ryu Seong-ryong. And he tried his best to expand armaments for a war in the left naval headquarter. When war of Japanese Invasion 1592 happened in 1592, he defeated Japanese naval forces in Okpo, Sacheon and Dangpo. Then, he defeated about 100 ships of Japan in Danghangpo and about 70 ships in Hansando. Also, he defeated naval forces in Angolpo and about 100 ships of Japan in Busan on September. At last, he intercepted a supply route of Japanese army. He became a Lord High Admiral of three provinces by this merit. But he was sentenced to death by entrapment of Won Gyun. When Won Gyun was defeated by Japanese army because of war of Japanese Invasion 1597 in 1597, he was designated as a Lord High Admiral of three provinces again. After that, he reinforced 12 ships and military power. As the result, he won in the sea battle. In 1598, 500 ships of Japan gathered in Noryang. So, he defeated them. But he died in this naval battle with being shelled. His posthumous title was Chungmu.