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The Priest Wonho's Memories
of Admiral Yi
tells the tale of the greatest warrior of his day (and one of the most
astounding in all of world military history) as seen through the eyes of an always humble but ever-surprising Buddhist priest.
Through the Memories of the Buddhist Priest Wonho we see the whole Imjin War occur.
In 1592 Japan invades Korea on its way to China at the order of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the
Taiko. Most of the Confucianist kingdom of Choson Korea collapses. China
comes to help Korea, but slowly, arrogantly, almost as dangerous to have as an ally as it is to have Japan as a foe.
Yet one man remains unconquered. Admiral Yi, himself a Confucianist prepares, is ready to spring at the
earliest opportunity, a dragon coiled. From a forgotten corner of Korea this naval commander's ports have emerged free unconquered.
The Japanese samurai have focused on taking the major cities of Korea, hopefully on capturing the king,
and on preparing for battle with the forces of China, whose armies must come to meet them. They will not know what a
mistake they have made until it is too late. With bands of Buddhist monks providing valuable help, this Confucianist
commander molds sailors and farmers into a naval and marine force which, using his fabulous warship, the kobukson, stops the
samurai of Hideyoshi, the Taiko, quite literally dead in their tracks (texcept a sunken ship or a drowned
warrior leaves no footprints).
Hideyoshi
Toyotomi and his samurai found out, though, that it was not the king who was really important. In fact, the armies
and naval forces of the Taiko, who was the predecessor of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun in a line that would rule for
250 years, had encountered a hero they could not defeat. Admiral Yi, with his kobukson, unsurpassable courage,
and impeccable leadership,was going to stand out to the ages. Sad for them, he was their sworn enemy. He
had one very basic goal. This was to slay every Japanese invader he could, and that the few survivors who made it back to
the Land of the Rising Sun were resolved never to return.
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Admiral
Yi Sun-sin was never to be defeated.
The samurai could not have known, but those who survived the "Imjin War"
to fight in the wars of the Shogun would never forget him or his fearsome kobukson. The "Turtle Ship"
was armor plated, armed with cannon personally designed by Admiral Yi, and was covered with huge spikes for any samurai who
tried to board her. The kobukson was the greatest warship of its ear, and Admiral Yi the supreme master of
its use. In all of military history, it could be argued there was never a more effective combination of commander and weapon.
The Priest Wonho's Memories of Admiral Yi tells of the greatest feats of this magnificent
hero, and much more. These writings of
the Priest Wonho show why.that following
the Imjin War, the leaders of what would soon be the Japan of the Shogun did not choose to return to Korea for over 300 years.
The fact they did not return for so long might be the highest compliment Admiral Yi ever received.
There are other pages about Admiral Yi, of his place in military history, about the Imjin War, the Priest Wonho, and more on this M. F. Sawyer
website.
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The Priest Wonho's
Memories of Admiral Yi
is available
from M. F.'s publisher
here
and is also available at
Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com,
and at other on-line and neighborhood bookstores.
Why does Mark write as M. F.?
To help web searchers who get thousands
of Mark Twain and Tom
Sawyer entries
when they type in Mark Sawyer.
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To find out about M. F. Sawyer's other books, Married
To Islam (co-written with Dalia
Shah)and (upcoming) The Shiva Paradoxplease
go to: www.marksawyerbooks.com
Shoud you wish a response
regarding
The Priest Wonho's Memories
of Admiral Yi,
Married To Islam,
(co-written with Dalia
Shah)
or the upcoming
The Shiva Paradox
please contact:
info@mfsawyer.com
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