+4vsgorillas-Apebane
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Considering the size and scope of this war, Im surprised that not many people knows or talks about it.
From what Ive read so far from 'A dragons head and a serpents tail' by Kenneth M Swope,
Ming China did not send overwhelming numbers (although they could have) and were in fact severely outnumbered by the Japanese who numbered up to 200,000.
Ming troops were a motley group of Northerners, Southerners and minorities from all over the empire but possessed massive artillery.
japanese troops relied on primitive firearms (arqubuses) and were proficient melee fighters but lacked cavalry.
Korean troops were hopeless (shoot 2 arrows and flee) but their warrior monks and bandits wrecked havoc on Japanese flanks and lines.
The Chinese fleet led by Chen Lin at the battle of Noryang straits played a decisive role in the defeat of the Japanese but credit is claimed almost in its entirety by the Koreans and their one legendary Admiral Yi Sunsin. A chronicler in Swopes book claims "With respect to warships, those of China are the best followed by the Ryukyus and then Korea"
Can anyone in this forum provide more information about the Ming military weapons and armour and also participation of tributary states such as the Ryukyus and Thailand in the war? That would surely be an interesting read.
From what Ive read so far from 'A dragons head and a serpents tail' by Kenneth M Swope,
Ming China did not send overwhelming numbers (although they could have) and were in fact severely outnumbered by the Japanese who numbered up to 200,000.
Ming troops were a motley group of Northerners, Southerners and minorities from all over the empire but possessed massive artillery.
japanese troops relied on primitive firearms (arqubuses) and were proficient melee fighters but lacked cavalry.
Korean troops were hopeless (shoot 2 arrows and flee) but their warrior monks and bandits wrecked havoc on Japanese flanks and lines.
The Chinese fleet led by Chen Lin at the battle of Noryang straits played a decisive role in the defeat of the Japanese but credit is claimed almost in its entirety by the Koreans and their one legendary Admiral Yi Sunsin. A chronicler in Swopes book claims "With respect to warships, those of China are the best followed by the Ryukyus and then Korea"
Can anyone in this forum provide more information about the Ming military weapons and armour and also participation of tributary states such as the Ryukyus and Thailand in the war? That would surely be an interesting read.
