Yi Sun-sin kept a careful record of daily events in his diary. This diary, when completed, contained some 2539 entries, both private and official, together comprising an account of his life in the camps during the period of the Seven Years War, the first entry appearing on January 1, 1592, the day of his appointment as Admiral of the Left Cholla Province, and the last on November 17, 1598, two days before his death at the battle of Noryang. Two copies of the diary have survived to us: one is the original diary (designated National Treasure No.76), and is housed at the Asan Memorial Shrine, and the second is to be found in The Complete Works of Yi Sun-sin, a work edited and published by Yun Hang-im by Royal Command in the 19th year of King Jung Jo’s reign, 1795. Admiral Yi did not give an official title to his diary, but it has been known as War Diary (Kor. Nangjung Ilgi) since Yun conceived it as a convenient title when compiling his Complete Works.
War Diary is a source of the utmost historical importance, as its detailed pages provide for us the most reliable information about the course of events during the Seven Years War. Not only this, but it is from its entries that we have learned much of what we know today about the mind and character of a hero who saved Korea almost half a millennium ago. War Diary presents a vivid description of Admiral Yi’s daily life, military affairs, secret strategic meetings, of social visits from friends, family, colleagues and celebrities, of rewards and punishments, correspondence, personal reflections on the state of the country, and so on. Like a warrior’s writing, the Diary was written in a simple yet sincere language, and its bold brush strokes illustrate the gallant spirit of the author, making the War Diary a true work of art.
Excerpt from Admiral
Yi’s “War Diary” and “Memorials to Court”
The English
versions of Admiral Yi Sun-sin's War
Diary and Memorials to Court have
been published by Yonsei University Press. Written from the admiral’s own
perspective, they give a vivid description of his life at sea and the
situations he faced during the war. Because these records were written by a man
of strict integrity, who lived in a society where the progression of the war
was reported meticulously to the king by his overseers, they provide
trustworthy accounts of the events of the battles and are free from the
exaggerations and inaccuracies so typical of historical records of wars. Here
are a few selected entries of the diary and memorials, a clear mirror that
reflects Yi’s noble life and profound spirit in various aspects.
Memorials to
Court: 1. Emergency Measures Against Japanese Invasion
Yi, Your Majesty’s
humble subject, Commander of Cholla Left Naval Station, addresses the throne
about some emergency measures against the enemy attack. Today, on the 15th
of fourth moon at 8:00 p.pm., I received from Won Kyun, Commander of Kyongsang
Right Naval Station, an official dispatch with the information that urgent
reports from Commandant Chon Ung-nin of Kadok Fort and Captain Hwang Chong-nok
of Ch’onsongp’o had reached him on the 14th at 10 a.m., relaying the
alarms given by Yi On, the lighthouse keeper at Ungbong [in Ch’onka-myon, Ch’angwon-gun]
and So Kon, the beacon watch in Naesan-myon, Kimhae-gun, that on the 13th
at 4 p.m., about ninety Japanese vessels, having passed by Ch’ugido [Sodo
Islet, Saha-myon, Tongnae-gun], sailed toward Pusanp’o in a long line of battle
and that the said commandant ordered his right-wring captain at Tadaep’o, Pusan
to lead his warships out to sea to watch the movements of the Japanese vessels.
In the above
dispatch Won Kyun saw these vessels as the Japanese trading boats coming to our
land annually, but the continuous arrival of such a larger merchant fleet of
ninety vessels is an uncommon event. In order to cope with the worst possible
condition that might befall us, I sent official dispatches of warning to all
ports under my command to watch carefully in full war-alert day and night, and I
also stand on the watchtower at the entrance of the sea with my battleships in
martial array.
I report as above
for today. I must add that in another official dispatch on the same day Won
Kyun stated that he had received a special dispatch at 4 p.m., from Pak Hong,
Commander of Kyongsang Left Naval Station, based on an urgent report from
Commandant of Kadok Fort - “One hundred and fifty Japanese vessels are entering
the harbors of Haeundae and Pusan.”
Won Kyun expressed his grave concern, saying that these are not the Japanese
trading boats on their annual visit to Korea. It will take a long time to analyze
the individual items of the messages, so here I transmit their main points only
and will report on the coming developments of the situation. I will maintain
battle-ships at the entrance of the sea to meet any emergency that might arise.
At the same time, I sent round circular letters to the Provincial Governor, the
Army Commander, and the Commander of Cholla Right Naval Station in addition to
the keepers of coastal towns and ports, calling upon them to be on the alert.
Yi, Commander
8:00 p.m., 15th of Fourth Moon, 20th
Year of Wan-li [Imjin1592]
Memorials to
Court: 9. Defeating the Japanese at Kyonnaeryang [the Hansando Battle]
I memorialize the
throne about the capture and slaughter of the enemy. Before the arrival of the
royal orders, the Japanese robbers, roving on the sea of Kyongsang Province,
gradually encroached upon the coastal areas under the jurisdiction of the
Kyongsang Right Naval Station, burning and plundering everywhere until the
invaded Sach’on, Kongyang, and Namhae. Therefore, I sent official dispatches to
both Cholla Right Naval Station Commander Yi Ok-ki and Kyongsang Right Naval
Station Commander Won Kyun to take united action with me. As a result, we
captured the enemy vessels and cut off the heads of his officers and men and
destroyed them altogether before we returned to our respective headquarters on
the 10th of sixth moon as I have already reported.
When I received from
the Joint Border-Defense Council an official letter transmitting Your Majesty’s
written orders I pledged anew with the two Commanders and sent official dispatches
to annihilate the individual raiders who frequent our shores and islands, as I
assembled my warships in battle formation.
As a result of
reconnaissance of the enemy movements in Kyongsang
Province, it has come to my knowledge
that the Japanese vessels in groups of ten to thirty frequent the islands of
Kadok and Koje, and I have also heard that the Japanese ground troops invaded
Kumsan in Colla Province. In this way, the enemy is
extending his attacks on land and sea, but no one rises to resist. Should
things go on this way, the enemy will march farther and deeper north through
the heartland of our country. Therefore, in the evening of the 4th
of seventh moon I led my fleet to the appointed rendezvous agreed upon with Yi
Ok-ki, Commander of Cholla Right Naval Station. On the fifth we renewed our
pledge to fight, and on the sixth I led our united fleet to Noryang on the
boundary of Konyang and Namhae, and saw Won Kyun, Commander of Kyongsang Right
Naval Station, who had been staying there with seven damaged warships barely
repaired. We met at sea for a strategic conference, and sailed to Ch’angsin-do
[an island in Chinju
county], where we passed the night. On the seventh a strong easterly wind arose
and navigation was difficult. On reaching Tangp’o [an island in Kosong county]
at nightfall our men gathered wood and drew water, when Kim Ch’on-son, a
cowherd on that island came running toward our warships and reported, “Over
seventy enemy vessels large, medium, and small, sailed from the sea off
Yongdungp’o today at 2:00 p.m., and entered Kyonnaeryang (Tokho-ri, Sadungmyon,
Koje-gun), where they are now riding at anchor.” I ordered my ships’ captains
to be on the alert, and early on the morning of the eighth we set out to sea.
As we looked toward the enemy anchorage, two enemy vanguard vessels, large and
medium, came out, spied our ships and returned to their positions. We
immediately chased them and found eighty-two enemy vessels (36 large, 34
medium, 12 small) lined up in a long row, but the channel of Kyonnaeryang was
narrow and strewn with sunken rocks so it was not only difficult to fight in
the bay for fear our border-roofed ships might collide with one another but
also the enemy might escape to land by jumping ashore when driven into a
corner. For these reasons, I adopted the tactic of luring the enemy out to the
sea in front of Hansando [Island] where we
could capture his vessels and slaughter his men in strike, because Hansando
lies between Koje and Kosong, separated all round from land to swim to, and
even those who landed would die of starvation.
First, I ordered
out five or six board-roofed vanguard ships to make chase, feigning a surprise
attack. When the enemy vessels under full sail pursued our ships, they fled
from the bay as if returning to base. The enemy vessels kept pursuing ours
until they came out to open sea. Immediately I commanded my ships’ captain to
line up in the “crane-wing” formation so as to surround the enemy vessels in a
semi-circle. Then I roared “Charge!” Our ships dashed forward with the roar of
cannons “Earth,” “Black,” and “Victory,” breaking two or three of the enemy
vessels into pieces. The other enemy vessels, stricken with terror, scattered
and fled in all directions in great confusion. Our officers and men and local
officials on board shouted “Victory!” and darted at flying speed, vying with
one another, as they hailed down arrows and bullets like a thunder storm,
burning the enemy vessels and slaughtering his warriors completely...
…In addition,
the remaining enemy vessels (20 large, 17 medium, and 5 small) were broken and
burnt by the united attacks of scores of our warrior from the Right and Left
Naval Stations. Countless numbers of Japanese were hit by arrows and fell dead
into the water.
However, about four
hundred exhausted Japanese, finding no way to escape, deserted their boats and
fled ashore, while the remaining Japanese boats (one large, seven medium, and
six small) which had fallen behind during the battle, seeing from afar the
horrible sight of burning vessels and falling heads, rowed their boats very
fast and fled in all directions.
Both officers and
men on our ships were exhausted by the fierce day-long battle, and the
gathering dusk made it impossible for us to pursue the escaping Japanese to the
end, so we returned to our position in the inner sea of Kyonnaeryang
to rest for the night…
…I fear that the
enemy might return in a second invasion with reinforcements and attack us from
both flanks. Therefore, before breaking up our combined fleet, I agreed with Yi
Ok-ki, Commander of Cholla Right Naval Station, to keep our sailors on the
alert, with bows and spears beside them, waking for sleeping, to be ready when
an emergency rises once again.
I also gave
instructions to the local officials to give relief to the persons who have been
recaptured and to send them home when peace is restored.
The recent
victories were won thanks to the united strength of commanders, sailors and
local officials. At the present time, the Royal Headquarters is far away, and
traffic is blocked. If the war exploits of our valiant officers and men are
graded and announced after the arrival of the government orders, the delay
would not be good for morale. Therefore, in consideration of what they achieved
in battle I have marked the order of their individual merit by three classes –
A, B, & C… on the list of their names in the appendix. The officers and men
are placed on the record with marks they deserve in line with my promise, even
though they did not cut off many enemy heads.
Yi, Commander
15th of Seventh Moon in the 20th Year of Wan-li, [Imjin, 1592]
Memorials to
Court: 20. Request for Order to Settle War Refugees on Tolsando Farms
I memorialize the throne on the
following matter for reference.
There are about two hundred families of
wandering war refugees who fled from Kyongsang
Province and live in the
districts under the jurisdiction of my Navy Headquarters. These refugees were
given accommodations in temporary quarters to pass the winter, but there is no
way to get supplies for their relief, and even though they can return to their
native homes when peace is restored no one can bear to see them die of
starvation in the meantime. Following my letter addressed to Chief State
Councilor Yu Song-nyong, an official dispatch arrived from the Border Defense
Command, “If there are arable lands on the islands suitable for agriculture,
send the refugees to those islands to cultivate crops and make a living
thereon. Take proper measures for the establishment of farm villages as you
deem fit.” After careful survey I have found that no other islands are
preferable to Tolsando (Tolsan-myon, Yoch’on-gun), because this island lies
between my naval station (in Yosu) and Pangtap, which is protected by high
mountains all around its vast fertile plains, and inaccessible to thieves or
sea-rovers. I have instructed the refugees to enter the island and to commence
the spring plowing, which they did with gladness.
When former Royal Supreme Commissioner
Hong Chong-nok, Governor Yun Tu-su, Naval Commanders Pak Son, Yi Ch’on, and Yi
Yong memorialized the throne about farm cultivation by border guards at my Navy
Headquarters, the Ministry of War objected to the plan for the reason that
agriculture would interfere with horse-breeding on that island. Now that the
country is at war and many people have lost their livelihood, and in any case,
the tilling of soil by wandering refugees with not do any harm to
horse-breeding, it is earnestly hoped that a royal decree be issued to facilitate
both horse-breeding and refugee relief.
Yi, Commander
26th
of First Moon in the 21st Year of Wan-li [Kyesa, 1593]
War Dairy: September
3, 1594
Mu-in Drizzled. At
dawn I received a confidential letter from the King’s court. It says “The
generals on land and the admirals at sea have folded their arms as they look at
each other’s faces without making any single plan to proceed or to attack the
enemy.” I should like to reply, “No such thing in my sea-life during the past
three years. Though I swore with other captains of war to avenge our
slaughtered countrymen upon the enemy by risking our own lives, and we pass
many days on land and at sea in this resolution, the enemy has taken his
positions in deep trenches and high fortresses on steep hills inaccessible to
us. It is not wise to proceed frivolously. A wise captain of war should keep to
the rule “Knowing yourself and knowing the enemy is the surest way to secure
success in a hundred battles.” A strong wind blew all day. From early in the
evening I sat in candle light all alone. As I think of the state affairs in
utter confusion and disturbance, there seems nobody in the central government
who could save the nation from danger. What should be done? Seeing that I sat
up alone until ten o’clock, Hungyang came in and talked with me deep into
midnight before he retired from my presence.
War Diary: July 1,
1595
Im-sin Showers. Being a national
memorial service day (for King In-jong) I did not attend office; sitting alone
in my pavilion, I thought of the nation power as if as ephemeral as the morning
dew; there does not seem to be any eminent minister who can make positive
decisions within, nor is there a general who can save the nation without. I
cannot even guess what will become of the nation. My thoughts are perplexed; I
tossed and rolled in deep thought.
War Diary: September
15, 1597 [A day before the Battle
of Myongnyang]
Kye-sa Clear. With
the tide flowing, I entered the sea
of Usuyong, leading our
ships after me, and there I passed the night. I saw many queer portents in my
dream at night.
l.v.
Clear. By riding the rising tide I led the Captains of all ships to move to the
sea off Usuyong [Munnae-myon, Haenam-gun], because it was not right for a small
fleet to take a fighting position with its back against Myongnyang (Ultolmok,
the Roaring Channel), whose swift current falls like a cataract behind Pyokp’ajong
(the Sea-Viewing Pavilion). Calling my Staff Officers and all ships’ Captains, I
gave the following instruction: “According to the principles of strategy, ‘He
who seeks his death shall live, he who seeks his life shall die.’ Again, the
strategy says ‘If one defender stands on watch at a strong gateway he may drive
terror deep into the heart of the enemy coming by the ten thousand.’ These are
golden sayings for us. You Captains are expected to strictly obey my orders. If
you do not, even the least error shall not be pardoned, but shall be severely
punished by Martial Law.” In this way I showed them my firm attitude. In my
dream this night a spirit appeared before me and declared, “If you do in this
way, you shall win a great victory; if you do in that way you shall suffer a
tragic defeat.”
War Diary: September
16, 1597 [The day of the Battle
of Myongnyang]
Kab-o Clear. Early
in the morning our watchmen reported “About two hundred odd enemy vessels,
having passed the Channel of Mongnyang [Ultolmok, in Munnae-myong, Haenam-gun],
are sailing up straight to our position, Called all Captains of warships to
swear to fight. We weighed anchor and put out to sea. 133 enemy crafts
enveloped us. The Flagship dashed alone into the midst of the fleet of the
advancing enemy and poured gun-fire and arrows on him like a hail-storm, but
the other ships only looked at this fray and did not move forward, even though
their Admiral on the Flagship was in danger. As our timid sailors on board were
terror-stricken and stood motionless, I spoke to them in a soft voice “Though
the enemy may boast of his thousand warships, he does not dare to come near us.
Have no fear! Shoot the enemy with all your might!” Then I looked around for
our ships, but they had already fallen astern about half a li and the ship on which Kim Ok-ch’u (Commander of the Cholla Right
Naval Station) rode had dropped far behind, hovering on the horizon, I felt
like turning the bow of the Flagship to sail straight to the ship of Kim
Ung-ham, Captain of the middle wing, to whip off his head, and hang it up high,
but I thought that if I should turn the bow of the Flagship, all the other
ships would drop farther and farther, behind the fleet formation and the enemy
vessels would come forward nearer and nearer, making it more disadvantageous to
our side. Keeping this idea on mind, I raised my military command flag and
hoisted a call signal toward the direction of Kim’s ship. It then came nearer
to me, and the ship of An Wi, the Magistrate of Koje, also drew near. Standing
on the bridge of my Flagship, I called An Wi and roared “Do you wish to be
hanged under the court martial? Do you wish to die at a military command? Do
you think you can live by falling astern?” As An Wi dashed in great haste
against the enemy line, the enemy’s flagship and two other enemy boats
surrounded him. Seven or eight sailors plunged into the water and swam round in
the waves, but they were beyond the hands of salvation. I had my ship swung
round to approach An Wi’s to rescue him. The sailors on An Wi’s ship shot
desperately at the enemy and the officers on my ship hailed cannon balls and
arrows on him until we destroyed two of his vessels with the help of heaven.
Our ships rammed into thirty odd enemy vessels, which surrounded us, and broke
them into pieces. At this tragic sight, all other enemy vessels, being
disheartened, gave up the fight and fled far away and did not return to attack
any more. We wished to stay overnight on the scene of the battle, but the swift
current of the ebbing tide made it difficult for out ships to ride at anchor.
Therefore, in the moonlight we moved our sea-camp to –p’o [some letters dropped
before ‘p’o’ in the original diary] on the opposite side, then to Tangsado (Amt’ae-do
in Muan) to put up for the night.
l.v.
Clear. Early in the morning, a special scouting unit reported “The enemy
vessels in countless numbers, having passed the Channel of Myongnyang, enter
the area where we have our positions.” At once I ordered all ships in my fleet,
including my Flagship, to weigh anchor and I led them out to sea. Soon after,
one hundred and thirty odd enemy vessels enveloped us. Our ships’ Captains lost
their fighting morale at the sight of the enemy’s overwhelming strength of
numbers, and used various devices to fall out from the line of battle. In
particular, the ship of Kim Ok-ch’u, Commander of the Cholla Right Naval
Station, had already fallen away to a distance of over one mile. I had our
oarsmen row the Flagship swiftly and dash forward like an arrow while our
gunners at my signal poured down fire on the enemy vessels from our “Earth” and
“Black” type Cannons. The cannon balls burst on the enemy vessels like a
hailstorm, and the fire arrows flying from the bows of men standing on the
Flagship fell like rain. Before this attack the enemy only milled around and
did not dash against us. Being surrounded two and three deep by the enemy
vessels, however, the officers and men on our ship looked at each other with fear.
At this time I reassured them once again in a quiet voice “The enemy vessels
are many, but they cannot come to attack us. Have no fear, but shoot at them
with all your might.” Then I looked around for out ships, which had fallen far
astern. I thought of turning the bow of my Flagship to issue my commands, but
if I did, the enemy vessels will come nearer and I would find myself between
the devil and the deep sea – impossible to advance or turn back. Just then a
fresh idea flashed in my mind. I blew a horn and ordered my Staff Officers to
raise a military command flag together with a call signal, accompanied by shell
trumpets, then the ship of Kim Ung-ham, Commandant of Mijohang and the leader
of the central squadron drew nearer to my Flagship, preceded by the ship of An
Wi, the Magistrate of Koje. Standing on the bridge of my Flagship, I roared, “An
Wi! Do you wish to die at my order? An Wi, do you wish to die under court
martial? If you escape, where can you find a place to live?” Then An Wi,
inspired, plunged into the line of battle. Next, I called Kim Ung-ham, and
roared “As leader of the central squadron, you fell far astern and would not
come to the rescue of you Commanding Admiral. How can you escape from your
guilt?” I wanted to execute him right away, but since the attacking enemy was
so near and so dangerous, I gave him an opportunity to redeem himself with a
fine military feat. As the two ships were darting toward the enemy position,
the enemy’s flagship ordered two boats under its command to attack, then the
enemy hordes like black ants climbed up An Wi’s ship. Seeing this, An Wi’s
sailors fought them off desperately with sharp-edged clubs, long spears, or
sea-washed stones until all the fighters were exhausted. I ordered my men to
turn the bow of my Flagship and to dash forward under cover of gunfire and
fire-arrows. In a moment three enemy vessels were burnt and turned over. Then
the ships of Nokto (Song Yo-jong, captain) and P’yongsanp’o Acting Captain Cong
Ung-tu, came to reinforce our ships and killed off the enemy warriors remaining
on board. On my Flagship there was a surrendered Japanese named Toshisuna, who
came from the enemy’s camp in Angol. When he looked down at the enemy soldiers
and sailors swimming in blood on the surface of the sea, he caught sight of a
man wearing a red brocade uniform embroidered with flower crests, and cried “It
is, it is Matashi (Kurushima Toso?), the Japanese general in Angol!” I ordered
Kim Tolson, a water carrier on my ship, to hook up the floating body onto the hatchway.
Then Toshisuna leaped with joy and shouted “I am positive, it is he – Matashi!”
I commanded my men to cut the body into pieces and, from that time the morale
of the enemy was greatly affected. Knowing that the enemy could come to fight
us no more, our ships, beating drums and shouting battle cries, darted forward,
and attacked the enemy vessels, shooting of cannons marked “Earth” and “Black,”
whose bursting detonations shook the seas and the mountains. Together with the rain
of arrows, they destroyed thirty-one enemy vessels in this single battle. The
enemy scattered and fled to return no more. We wished to pass the night on the
field of battle, but the waves were extremely rough and an adverse wind was
blowing hard, making the area dangerous. Therefore we moved out formation to
Tansado [Amt’aemyon, Muan-gun] to stop overnight. The victory was really made
with heavenly aid.
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