JAPAN AND KOREA 81 are however largely supposititious; and the facts which figure in the records which survive must be accepted with caution. It is known that owing to her situation, midway between China and Japan, Korea was viewed with envious eyes by both, and that at various times she tried her strength against the forces of each. China, desirous of adding the peninsula to her dominions, waged war against Korea during the Sisi and the Han dynasties; and the Emperor Yangti, who became famous as the constructor of the Grand Canal in China (605-17, a.d.), invaded the country with a prodigious force, exceeding a million men, which was discomfited and repulsed by the Koreans. The challenge thus offered by the Chinese was not withdrawn on their defeat, and a war which lasted for half a century followed, without enabling them to obtain possession of the country. The advent of the Empress Wu in 684, however, marked a change in the fortunes of Korea. A fresh expedition was despatched to the peninsula, with the result that the greater part of the country was conquered, and the whole submitted to China's suzerainty, which continued with few periods of intermission, until 1894. While the Chinese urged their frequent attempts on the independence of Northern and Western Korea, the Japanese made frequent descents on her Eastern provinces. Repeated expeditions were made on Southern Korea, in one of which the husband of the famous Empress Jingu was killed. The masterful widow thereupon decided on an invasion of the country, with the result that the province of Shinra was taken, and its ruler proclaimed "the dog of Japan." On the strength of this success Japan claimed a suzerainty over Korea, which was repeatedly maintained, and only finally abandoned in 1876, when a treaty of mutual rights was concluded between the two countries. In the beginning of the seventh century Japan declared war against China in support of Korea; but the Japanese were surprised by the sudden arrival of the Chinese fleet, and had to retire with heavy loss. Shortly after this G episode occurred the descent of Kublai Khan, who, with a fleet of 300 ships, sought to invade and seize the archipelago. The Japanese, however, succeeded in defeating the all-conquering Mongol, and, exalted by the success of their arms, hastened to harry the Koreans and Chinese, who had been compelled to aid the invader. The Japanese accordingly sent out large numbers of pirates who haunted the coasts of China and Korea, and committed such ravages that Hung-wu, the first Ming emperor, was driven to organise a force for coast defence against the despoilers. The rise of Hideyoshi has been chronicled by more than one historian.1 In point of ambition and ability his equals have been few, and his conquests supply an exciting chapter in the archives of Japan. When at the height of his fame, he conceived the idea of subjugating China and parcelling that country out among his protégés. He accordingly made overtures to the King of Korea, whom he desired as an ally in the undertaking. The king declined to co-operate with Hideyoshi as he considered the scheme ridiculous, and the Japanese warrior changed his plan, and determined on the conquest of Korea as a preliminary to his more extensive scheme. He thereupon raised a large army, stated to have comprised 150,000 men, and landed these at Fusan in 1592. The success of the invaders was from the outset remarkable. Southern Korea was overrun, and the towns captured with ease. The natives fled everywhere on the approach of the Japanese; and Seoul, the capital, was occupied within eighteen days of the landing at Fusan. The invasion took the Koreans by surprise, and they were everywhere defeated.2 But a change came over the fortunes of Hideyoshi. He became so gratified at his easy conquest of Korea that he decided on pushing his forces on and invading China, and to this end ordered his fleet to hasten to embark an army for the crossing of 1 See Life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, by Walter Dening. 2 See Hideyoshi's Invasion of Korea, by W. G. Aston, Asiatic Society Transactions. LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY 83 OF HIDEYOSHI INVADES KOREA CALIFORNIA the Yellow Sea. The Koreans were, however, better sailors than the Japanese, and they opposed the passage of the squadron and drove it back into Fusan harbour with considerable loss. Eagerly availing himself of this turn in fortune, the King of Korea fled to Liaotung, where he begged the support of the Chinese, who promptly despatched an army against the invader. Notwithstanding the approach of a superior force, the Japanese held their ground, and a fierce battle was fought at Seoul, where the Japanese, after being nearly overcome, succeeded in vanquishing the Chinese and putting them to flight. By this time both sides had had enough of fighting, and overtures were made towards a peaceful agreement, the Chinese offering to cede the three southern provinces of Korea to Japan. Hideyoshi delayed the negotiations and raised all sorts of difficulties, which caused a postponement of the negotiations without any result being attained. The Japanese then withdrew to the coast, and peace reigned for a while in Korea. After a brief armistice, the Japanese recommenced their attacks on the Koreans, and Hideyoshi advanced his reinforced army up country once more. This time the defenders were better prepared. A large Chinese force was already in the country waiting for the invaders. The Japanese advanced as far as the capital. But they could make no impression on the force posted there. After stubborn fighting, the invading army deemed it wise to retire, and they returned to the sea, burning and looting all the towns they came to, and laying the country waste along their path. Arrived in the vicinity of Fusan, the retreating Japanese were attacked by a large force of Chinese and Koreans. Finding themselves overwhelmed, refuge was taken in the town of Urusan, where they fortified themselves and stood a siege during the whole winter. It was not until the beleaguered force had suffered heavily, and nearly been reduced to starvation, that a fresh army arrived at Fusan and marched to their relief. The besiegers were at last dispersed, and the Japanese released, too greatly exhausted to carry on the struggle. The death of Hideyoshi in 1598 put an end to the attempted conquest of Korea. A period of constrained peace ensued, during which negotiations between the countries concerned resulted in the consent of Korea to pay tribute to the governments of Peking and Yedo every year. Besides this, the only gain to Japan for her six years' bloodshed was the occupation of Fusan, which she continued to hold as a monument of her prowess in her neighbour's territory. The descent of the Manchus on China involved Korea in trouble, owing to her refusal to transfer her allegiance to the new dynasty. The conquerors of China twice invaded the peninsula in order to persuade the Koreans to better their manners; and after being overun in 1637, the king acknowledged the validity of the Chitsou's claim to the Chinese throne, and resumed the payment of tribute to Peking. The incidents of the eighteenth century in connection with Korea are mainly concerned with the attempts of missionaries to obtain a footing in that country.1 The first Christian missionary entered Korea in 1777, and he was followed by others who, with varying fortunes, taught their creed to the people with moderate success. The efforts of these visitors were regarded with marked suspicion by the authorities; but they were upon the whole well received by the people, many of whom underwent baptism. This fact was resented by the king and his ministers, and edicts were issued in 1784 prohibiting the presence of foreigners, and interdicting the introduction of Christianity. One Kim, an early preacher of the Gospel, was seized, tortured and imprisoned. On the 8th December, 1791, two Christians, after refusing to recant, were decapitated. During the ensuing forty years a considerable number of missionaries suffered torture and death for their ministrations; and while the teaching of Christianity undoubtedly made progress among the 1 See Dallet's Histoire de l'Eglise de Corée. |