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Yi Sun-shin was admiral of the [[Joseon]] Korean navy in the 1590s, and is celebrated as one of Korea's greatest national heroes for his role in repelling [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Toyotomi Hideyoshi's]] [[Korean Invasions|invasions of Korea]].
Yi Sun-shin was admiral of the [[Joseon]] Korean navy in the 1590s, and is celebrated as one of Korea's greatest national heroes for his role in repelling [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi|Toyotomi Hideyoshi's]] [[Korean Invasions|invasions of Korea]].
==Biography==
==Early Career==
Yi was born on [[1545]]/5/8 in [[Seoul]]. He married the daughter of Bang Jin, the magistrate of Boseong, in [[1565]], and began his formal study of martial arts the following year, at the age of 22. The couple had their first son, Hoe, in [[1567]], and their second, Yeol, in [[1571]]. Their third son, Myeon, was born in [[1577]].
Yi was born on [[1545]]/5/8 in [[Seoul]]. He married the daughter of Bang Jin, the magistrate of Boseong, in [[1565]], and began his formal study of martial arts the following year, at the age of 22. The couple had their first son, Hoe, in [[1567]], and their second, Yeol, in [[1571]]. Their third son, Myeon, was born in [[1577]].
Yi tried out for a position in the military in [[1572]] but fell off his horse and failed the exam. Trying again in [[1576]], however, he passed and was appointed as a chief in the Northern Frontier Army in Hamgyeong-do. Three years later, in [[1579]], he became an officer in the Military Training Center and then a staff captain to the Army Commander in Chungcheong.
Yi tried out for a position in the military in [[1572]] but fell off his horse and failed the exam. Trying again in [[1576]], however, he passed and was appointed as a chief in the Northern Frontier Army in Hamgyeong-do. Three years later, in [[1579]], he became an officer in the Military Training Center and then a staff captain to the Army Commander in Chungcheong.
Yi joined the navy in [[1580]] and was appointed commander of the Left Jeolla-do Naval District. After being falsely accused of desertion, however, he was forced to leave the navy and returned to being an officer in the Military Training Center in [[1582]]. His father passed away the following year, and Yi left the military to enter into a three-year formal period of mourning.
Yi returned to the military in [[1586]] as an officer in Hamgyeong-do, contributing to a campaign against the [[Jurchens]].
==Imjin War==
Yi led the Korean navy in a number of decisive victories against the samurai forces. These began as early as [[1592]], as he defeated Japanese fleets at Okpo, and again at Hansando. Yi is celebrated in Korea for his strategic or tactical genius, but the technologies employed in these battles also feature prominently, and include highly-armored [[turtle ships]], and various forms of cannon. In addition to merely winning victories, Yi succeeded in cutting off Japanese supply lines in the waters on the western side of the Korean peninsula, and simultaneously protecting the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming Chinese]]/Korean supply lines.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 76-78.</ref>
Yi led the Korean navy in a number of decisive victories against the samurai forces. These began as early as [[1592]], as he defeated Japanese fleets at Okpo, and again at Hansando. Yi is celebrated in Korea for his strategic or tactical genius, but the technologies employed in these battles also feature prominently, and include highly-armored [[turtle ships]], and various forms of cannon. In addition to merely winning victories, Yi succeeded in cutting off Japanese supply lines in the waters on the western side of the Korean peninsula, and simultaneously protecting the [[Ming Dynasty|Ming Chinese]]/Korean supply lines.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 76-78.</ref>