Imjin War was the biggest invasion of Japanese raiders in middle Joseon and also an international war with three East Asian countries, Joseon, Ming, and Japan involved in it. During the war, a variety of firearms were used in Asia. Joseon made various...
Imjin War was the biggest invasion of Japanese raiders in middle Joseon and also an international war with three East Asian countries, Joseon, Ming, and Japan involved in it. During the war, a variety of firearms were used in Asia. Joseon made various uses of small and large firearms with the former and latter usually used in ground and maritime warfare, respectively. Japan was in possession of advanced firearm called Jochong, and Ming used Bulanggipo and Hojunpo in war. Once Imjin War broke out, the Joseon forces gave another thought to the firearms that had been forgotten and put them in another development process. Their weapons used during the war were improved further and put to more useful purposes in other countries. Joseon eventually won the war thanks to those firearms.
In South Korea, active researches on those important firearms started with Heo Seon-do in the 1960s and were followed by diverse studies on the subject. This study set out to arrange the firearms used in Imjin War once more based on those researches.
Chapter 2 discussed small firearms including Seungjachongtong, Samhyeolchong, Baekjachong, Bulanggi, Hojunpo, Bijincheonroi, and Jilryeopo and sorted out the data and uses of those firearms.
Chapter 3 reviewed large firearms including Cheonjachongtong, Jijachongtong, Hyeonjachongtong, Hwangjachongtong, Byeolhwangjachongtong, Wangu, Shingijeon, and Hwacha and sorted out the data and uses of those firearms.
The present study sorted out differences between the firearms used in Imjin War and those examined in the previous studies by looking into those firearms.
The findings of the study will hopefully help to arrange the firearms of Joseon better and instill pride in the firearms of Korea.