The book provides a telling of the Japanese invasion of Korea--the Imjin War--from 1592 to 1598. It includes the political and military background necessary to understand both the genesis and execution of that conflict as well as the war's impact upon Northeast Asia and the world.
The Imjin War of 1592-98 represented a turning point in the history of Northeast Asia and, though few realized it at the time, the world. The animosities generated nearly five centuries ago continue to burn brightly today, affecting national and ethnic identities, geopolitics, and the use of military force in the region and beyond. Yet all the angst that has become so familiar to us today began with a massive conflict in a little known kingdom; Joseon Korea.The long-reigning Yi Dynasty that ruled Joseon oversaw the establishment and maintenance of 200 years of relative peace, a noteworthy achievement coming on the heels of Mongol domination. Yet it was that very peace, and the resultant inattention to matters of security, that contributed most to the catastrophic losses of 1592. Hideyoshi's unification of Japan curtailed the cyclical violence of the Sengoku Era, but what followed burned a trail of destruction up the Korean Peninsula to the very border with China. In the end seven years of warfare and massive loss of life brought Japan little if any real benefit yet the damage done to Joseon and the antagonism engendered with China set that corner of the world on a collision course with ever more destructive conflagrations to come.This book will appeal to the casual student of military history as well as those more familiar with warfare as it developed in Northeast Asia. It draws from Korean, Japanese, and Chinese sources and features unique analysis by a professional military officer with decades of experience in the region.
