Battle of Pyongyang (1593, Bunroku Campaign)
February 5–8, 1593 (Bunroku 2, 1st month, 5th–8th day)
Pyongyang Castle, Pyongan Province, Korea (present-day North Korea)
- Date
- February 5–8, 1593 (Bunroku 2, 1st month, 5th–8th day)
- Location
- Pyongyang Castle, Pyongan Province, Korea (present-day North Korea)
- Result
- Victory for the allied Ming and Joseon army. The Japanese force abandoned Pyongyang Castle and withdrew to Hanseong.
Forces
Japanese army
Allied Ming and Joseon army
About 3 min read
Overview
From the 5th to the 8th day of the 1st month of Bunroku 2 (February 5–8, 1593), the allied Ming and Joseon army and the Japanese army fought over Pyongyang Castle in Pyongan Province, Korea. The allied force under Li Rusong attacked the castle held by Konishi Yukinaga and retook it.
The Two Armies
The Japanese side included Konishi Yukinaga, Sō Yoshitoshi, Matsura Shigenobu, Arima Harunobu, Ōmura Yoshiaki and Gotō Sumiharu, and numbered no more than about 16,000. The allied side included Li Rusong, Li Rubai, Yang Yuan, Kim Eung-seo and the warrior monk Hyujeong, and consisted of about 43,000 Ming troops, about 8,000 Joseon troops, and about 2,200 irregulars and warrior monks.
The First Day
On the first day, the 5th, Hyujeong's warrior monks attacked the Japanese troops posted on the hills north of Pyongyang. Konishi Yukinaga was nearly surrounded for a time but was rescued by Sō Yoshitoshi. Matsura Shigenobu withdrew to Pyongyang.
The General Assault and Abandonment of the Castle
On the 8th, Li Rusong's army launched a general assault and the north gate was breached. The Japanese fell back to an earthwork and log fort on the north side, but their food ran out. They abandoned the castle at night and crossed the frozen Taedong River toward Hanseong, and many soldiers drowned. Konishi's force reached Hanseong.
Aftermath
After the battle, Kuroda Nagamasa demanded Konishi's removal. Konishi, however, went on to become a central figure in the peace negotiations.