Battle of Noryang (1598, Keichō Campaign)

Overview

In the 11th month of Keichō 3 (lunar calendar), an allied fleet under Yi Sun-sin of Joseon and Chen Lin of Ming fought a Japanese fleet at Noryang, off the southern coast of Korea. The Veritable Records of King Seonjo place the engagement on "the nineteenth of this month," though it is also described as a two-day battle on the 18th and 19th.

The Two Sides

According to the Veritable Records, more than 300 Japanese ships from Sacheon, Namhae and Goseong gathered at Noryang. The Records name Konishi Yukinaga as a Japanese commander. On the allied side were Yi Sun-sin, the Joseon naval commander, and Chen Lin, the Ming naval commander.

The Battle

The Records say that Chen Lin at first refused to allow the sortie, but gave permission when Yi Sun-sin pleaded with him in tears. Konishi Yukinaga, seeing the Japanese ships being badly beaten, is said to have slipped away to the open sea.

Result

The Records say that more than 200 Japanese ships were defeated and sunk, and that the remaining hundred or so withdrew toward Namhae. Another account has more than 200 Japanese ships burned and sunk or damaged and more than 100 captured. The great allied victory brought the renewed war of the Jeongyu year to an end.

The Death of Yi Sun-sin

The Records state that Yi Sun-sin was struck in the chest by an enemy bullet in the midst of the fighting and fell on the deck. Yi Yeong-nam, the commander at Garipo, and others were also hit and killed. Yi Mun-uk is said to have covered Yi Sun-sin's body with a garment and kept beating the drum to carry on the fight.