Battle of Jiksan
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Jiksan was a battle fought on September 7, 1597, as part of the Imjin War , fought by Ming forces against the Japanese invaders.
It was the turning point on land for the second Imjin war, as the Japanese had just overran much of Southern Korean topped off by the Siege of Namwon
. Bolden by their success, they moved towards the capital city of Seoul.
Although the Korean and Ming sources cite the Japanese as being led by Kato Kiyomasa
, it was in fact led by Kuroda Nagamasa
under the command of Mori Hidemoto
.
The Ming forces were ordered to defend the Seoul area under the orders from the Administrator Yang Hao
, commander Ma Gui ordered 4 of his generals, Xie Sheng, Nui Boying, Yang Dengshan, Po Gui to lead an elite group of chosen cavalries, and decided to set up battle around the Jiksan area.
Meanwhile, the forces under Kuroda Nagamasa
was spearheading the Japanese forces northward, a small group of vanguard was sent out ahead of their forces, while the larger host under Mori Hidemoto
was marching about a day behind them.
The Japanese scouting party spotted the Ming forces , while at first the Ming forces thought they were Korean insurgents, the Japanese scouting party calculated that by retreating now they would be giving up the key positions around the area to the Ming forces, thus they decided to open fire while notifying the main Kuroda forces.
The Ming forces launched a charge on the Japanese forces and was able to beat back the relatively small scouting party without much trouble, Kuroda Nagamasa
ordered one of his general, Goto Mototsugu, to relieve the scouting party. The main Kuroda forces reached the area by around sunset and the two sides set up for a showdown on the next day.
The Ming then received a reinforcement of 2,000 cavalry under Bai Sai during the night, on the next day the two sides clashed again, from the Ming sources it appeared that they were able to out flank the Japanese forces with their superior mobility and eventually forced the Japanese to pull back, although the Ming forces did not give chase
The Japanese forces under Kuroda Nagamasa
fell back and met up with the main host led by Mori Hidemoto
, upon seeing the large host approaching the area, the Ming forces retreated further back towards Seoul again. The Japanese army entered the Jiksan area but was unable to push further, and not long after decided to abandon the campaign and retreated back south.
turned the tide against the Japanese again and they remain on the defensive for the remainder of the war.
It was the turning point on land for the second Imjin war, as the Japanese had just overran much of Southern Korean topped off by the Siege of Namwon
Siege of Namwon
The Siege of Namwon was one of the battles of the Imjin War.- Ming-Chinese forces 3,000 men :Yang Yuan Middle Army : Li Xin FangMao Cheng Xian Jiang Biǎo- Korean forces 1,300 men :...
. Bolden by their success, they moved towards the capital city of Seoul.
Although the Korean and Ming sources cite the Japanese as being led by Kato Kiyomasa
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...
, it was in fact led by Kuroda Nagamasa
Kuroda Nagamasa
was a daimyo of Japan. He was the son of Kuroda Kanbei.In 1577, When Nagamasa was a small child, his father was condemned as a spy by Oda Nobunaga. Nagamasa was kidnapped and nearly killed as a hostage. Takenaka Hanbei ended up rescuing him....
under the command of Mori Hidemoto
Mori Hidemoto
was a senior retainer beneath the clan of Toyotomi throughout the latter Sengoku Period of Feudal Japan. Hidemoto was the eldest son of Mōri Motokiyo and initially began service under the Toyotomi at the time at which he was of the age to become a military commander under his cousin Terumoto, the...
.
Battle
According to the combined version of events recorded in the Annals of Seonjo and the Kuroda KafuThe Ming forces were ordered to defend the Seoul area under the orders from the Administrator Yang Hao
Yang Hao
Yang Hao is a Chinese female volleyball player.She was a member of the Chinese team that won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.-Major titles:* World Grand Champion Cup 2001...
, commander Ma Gui ordered 4 of his generals, Xie Sheng, Nui Boying, Yang Dengshan, Po Gui to lead an elite group of chosen cavalries, and decided to set up battle around the Jiksan area.
Meanwhile, the forces under Kuroda Nagamasa
Kuroda Nagamasa
was a daimyo of Japan. He was the son of Kuroda Kanbei.In 1577, When Nagamasa was a small child, his father was condemned as a spy by Oda Nobunaga. Nagamasa was kidnapped and nearly killed as a hostage. Takenaka Hanbei ended up rescuing him....
was spearheading the Japanese forces northward, a small group of vanguard was sent out ahead of their forces, while the larger host under Mori Hidemoto
Mori Hidemoto
was a senior retainer beneath the clan of Toyotomi throughout the latter Sengoku Period of Feudal Japan. Hidemoto was the eldest son of Mōri Motokiyo and initially began service under the Toyotomi at the time at which he was of the age to become a military commander under his cousin Terumoto, the...
was marching about a day behind them.
The Japanese scouting party spotted the Ming forces , while at first the Ming forces thought they were Korean insurgents, the Japanese scouting party calculated that by retreating now they would be giving up the key positions around the area to the Ming forces, thus they decided to open fire while notifying the main Kuroda forces.
The Ming forces launched a charge on the Japanese forces and was able to beat back the relatively small scouting party without much trouble, Kuroda Nagamasa
Kuroda Nagamasa
was a daimyo of Japan. He was the son of Kuroda Kanbei.In 1577, When Nagamasa was a small child, his father was condemned as a spy by Oda Nobunaga. Nagamasa was kidnapped and nearly killed as a hostage. Takenaka Hanbei ended up rescuing him....
ordered one of his general, Goto Mototsugu, to relieve the scouting party. The main Kuroda forces reached the area by around sunset and the two sides set up for a showdown on the next day.
The Ming then received a reinforcement of 2,000 cavalry under Bai Sai during the night, on the next day the two sides clashed again, from the Ming sources it appeared that they were able to out flank the Japanese forces with their superior mobility and eventually forced the Japanese to pull back, although the Ming forces did not give chase
The Japanese forces under Kuroda Nagamasa
Kuroda Nagamasa
was a daimyo of Japan. He was the son of Kuroda Kanbei.In 1577, When Nagamasa was a small child, his father was condemned as a spy by Oda Nobunaga. Nagamasa was kidnapped and nearly killed as a hostage. Takenaka Hanbei ended up rescuing him....
fell back and met up with the main host led by Mori Hidemoto
Mori Hidemoto
was a senior retainer beneath the clan of Toyotomi throughout the latter Sengoku Period of Feudal Japan. Hidemoto was the eldest son of Mōri Motokiyo and initially began service under the Toyotomi at the time at which he was of the age to become a military commander under his cousin Terumoto, the...
, upon seeing the large host approaching the area, the Ming forces retreated further back towards Seoul again. The Japanese army entered the Jiksan area but was unable to push further, and not long after decided to abandon the campaign and retreated back south.
Aftermath and implication
This battle marked the high watermark of the Japanese army in the second invasion, as Jiksan was as far as they got and their only real chance to threaten Seoul, soon after this battle the latest exploits of Yi Sun Sin in the battle of MyeongnyangBattle of Myeongnyang
In the Battle of Myeongnyang, on October 26, 1597, the Joseon admiral Yi Sun-sin fought the Japanese navy in the Myeongnyang Strait, near Jindo Island. With only the 13 ships remaining from Won Gyun's disastrous defeat at the Battle of Chilchonryang, Admiral Yi Sunsin held the strait against a...
turned the tide against the Japanese again and they remain on the defensive for the remainder of the war.