MONGOLS

As early as the 1340s, Mongol garrisons were being transferred from the Korean Peninsula to vital areas in China. The only large expedition by Mongol forces during this period was a 10,000 man raid in support of a Korean noble, Ch'oe Yu. Most actions between Mongols and Koreans were ambushes and scouting raids conducted by rebels against the Mongols and their remaining Korean supporters.

MING DYNASTY CHINA

The MING dynasty forces began as one of the Sung restoration claimant groups. It was more successful than others and captured Nanking in 1356. For the next few years, Ming leaders gathered and trained forces around their Nanking stronghold. In 1368, Ming forces began a concerted campaign to drive out the Mongol troops and eliminate the Chinese pro-Mongol Yuan dynasty. The campaign lasted until 1382 with Ming troops establishing garrisons in forts along the southern Yalu river. The Koryu leaders protested and sent a retaliatory expedition under General Yi (aka King Taejo) in 1388. General Yi refused to engage Ming troops and returned to the capital and began replacing the current leaders. The new Yi dynasty in Chosun, recognized Ming supremacy and arranged to make tribute payments. The relationship remained cordial but friction would occur over refugees from China fleeing to Chosun and the nomadic tribal raiders which sometimes passed through Korean territory on their way to China. The Ming conducted several expeditions into Manchuria beginning in the 1370s.

JURCHEN

This refers to the independent tribes which dominated Manchuria. Some of these tribes raided China, northern Korea and continued to attack the Mongols. They were active against the Koreans throughout but launched several large raids in the 1430s and 1440s. Some tribes allied temporarily with Korean Generals during some of the revolts and fighting between factions in Korea. The Jurchen remained a limited threat until the were united under Nurhachi in 1589. From this time the united tribes were known as the Manchus.

JAPANESE PIRATES

Most Japanese pirates, called Waegun by the Koreans, came from the island province of Tsushima but some raiders came from as far away as NW Kyushu. One of the reasons for the large number of pirates was that the Korean government severely limited foreign trade which made some Korean products, like ceramics, very valuable and hard to get. Many pirates could actually be considered privateers since they were sanctioned by the local daimyos. Another reason to regard them as having some military organization is the fact that some raids were not limited to the coast. Privateer troops would march several miles inland and conduct skirmishes with Korean response forces along the way. A unorganized pirate mob would not be expected to conduct successful inland marches.

JAPAN SHOGUNATE

The major war of the Yi Dynastic era was the IMJIN War. The Japanese were united under Shogun Hideyoshi Being united the Japanese, decided to invade China. In part to expand their influence west and in part out of revenge for the earlier Mongol controlled YUAN dynasty invasion of Japan. In order to support an expected extended campaign in China, the need for a substantial base of operations on the mainland was recognized. As a result the need to secure Korea to use as the base lead to the invasion of Korea in 1592. The war produced victories and setbacks for both sides. The Japanese ground forces with their technological advantage in firearms achieved significant victories. However, several well constructed Korean forts delayed the Japanese timetable. In addition the use of the Korean Turtle ironclads, gave the Koreans superiority on the seas for vital periods of time. The delays resulted in a Japanese army with a severe supply problem. The lack of supplies which was a Japanese concern for an invasion of China, caused the Japanese to withdraw from Korea. The Japanese launched another invasion but it too suffered from the lack of supplies. The plan was canceled with the death of Hideyoshi, as Japan entered another era of fighting between factions.

MANCHUS

The united tribes of Manchuria produced a formidable force. It contained mounted mobile troops who did not need a base of operations. This allowed them to outmaneuver the Chinese armies and pin the Korean armies in their forts. Hwn it became evident that the Manchus rather than the Ming now provided the most consistent threat to the Koreans, they shifted their tribute payments from the Ming to the Manchus. Thus producing another extended period of stability along the northern border.

Chosun: The Isolationists of East Asia

Introduction
Military Organization and Notes
The Neighbors of Chosun Korea
Uniforms of the Yi Dynasty Era
Chronology of Military Actions in Chosun/Korea 1340-1700