General yi biography
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He led the victories as the Commander of Combined Fleets (Samdo Sugun Tongjesa) of the Korean Naval fleet during Japan's April 1592 invasion.
Yi's posthumous title, Lord of Loyalty and Chivalry (Chungmu-gong, 충무공; 忠武公) is used in Korea’s third highest military honor, the Cordon of Chungmu of the Order of Military Merit and Valour. Posthumously he has been honored with the title of Prince of Deokpoong. Chungmuro (충무로; 忠武路), a major street in downtown Seoul, has been named after him.
The Joseon court decided to reduce the military, especially after the Manchu invasions in the 1630s. A chance to further mend his degraded situation came in December of that year when he was visited by his old time friend, Yu Seongnyeong. Whichever the case, the turtle ship employed multiple decks to separate the rowers from the combat compartment.
<http://www.e-sunshin.com/e-sunshin/life/life_05.jsp>.
Unlike the Japanese navy which used ship-boarding strategy, the Joseon navy relied on cannon.
Early life in Seoul and Asan
Yi Sunshin was born on April 28, 1545, in the Geoncheondong[3] area near Seoul. In 1592, Toyotomi Hideyoshi gave the order to invade Korea, to sweep through the peninsula and create a forward base to conquer Ming China. 한국일보. The turtle ships actually fired broadsides and used the front mostly as a flamethrower and ram.
That conflicts with the historical record of Yi as a distinguished austere hero.
Including his flagship, Admiral Yi's entire naval force comprised 13 ships.
Yi responded powerfully. The four campaigns of Admiral Yi included every single operation and at least 23 major battles, all of which Yi won. Web. 28 July 2008. Yi also inspired literary works.
History of Korea. New York: Hillary House Publishers. He is noted for deploying the heavily-armed turtle ships and the "crane-wing formation," as well as his decisive "fire tactics" using cannons and arrows to overwhelm the enemy. Bang of Sangju),[22] who was the only daughter of Sangju Bangjin.[23] With the backing of his father-in-law, who was a high-ranking military official, Yi quit his Confucian studies and began preparing for the military exam.[24][25] During the 6 years that he trained, Yi fathered 2 sons: his first son, Yi Hwae,[26] in February 1567 and in February 1571, Yi Ull,[27] whom the father would rename as Yi Yer during the war.[28][19]
Yi took the Byeolshi[29] exam in August, 1572, in Seoul.
Admiral Yi always studied his battle plans many times over to ensure victory and minimize casualties; he refused to act rashly. <http://www.e-sunshin.com/e-sunshin/life/life_05_05.jsp>.
Reactions by Joseon government: Admiral Yi repeatedly defeated the Japanese invasion force in battle, while preserving the lives of his soldiers and respecting their families.