• The Book of Corrections
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The Book of Corrections

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The Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, known as the Imjin War, was one of the most tragic and traumatic experiences in Korean history. The magnitude of this tragedy was unprecedented. Hundreds of ...
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  • 01 January 2002
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The Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592, known as the Imjin War, was one of the most tragic and traumatic experiences in Korean history. The magnitude of this tragedy was unprecedented. Hundreds of thousands died, and the country was devastated. It took many years for Korea to recover. Looking back upon this tragedy from start to finish, Yu Sŏngnyong, who served as chief state councilor during most of the crisis, vividly portrays all the major developments of the crisis, as well as the men who were involved in it, persuasively demonstrating what went wrong. The purpose of writing Chingbirok (The book of corrections), as the author professes in his preface, was to prevent similar disasters from taking place in the future. His book, however, is much more revealing; it provides a lively perspective of the relationship, which has been often marked by conflicts and wars, of the three neighboring countries involved in the war—Korea, Japan, and China.
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Price: $28.00
Pages: 270
Publisher: Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley
Imprint: Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley
Series: Korea Research Monograph
Publication Date: 01 January 2002
Trim Size: 9.00 X 6.00 in
ISBN: 9781557290762
Format: Paperback
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Yu Sŏngnyong (1547–1607) was a neo-Confucian scholar of Korea.

Choi Byonghyon is professor of American literature at Honam University, Korea.

Abbreviations Used in the Notes 
Translator's Preface 
Illustrations 

Introduction 

Author's Preface 

BOOK I 

1. The Envoys from Japan 
2. Japanese Envoy Sō Yoshitoshi 
3. Korean Envoys Meet with Toyotomi Hideyoshi 
4. Korea Informs Ming of the Japanese Plot 
5. Controversies over Rebuilding the National Defense 
6. Yi Sunsin Appointed as the Navy Commander 
7. Generals Unable to Foresee the Imminent War 
8. Invasion of the Japanese 
9. Our Fortresses Fall One after Another 
10. Urgent Reports Come In 
11. Criminal Charges against Kim Sŏng'il for His Report 
12. The Court Appoints Kim Nŭk to Stabilize Public Feeling 
13. Commander Yi Il Flees as Sangju Falls 
14. Debates on the Defense of Seoul and the Departure of the King 
15. The Defeat of Sin Ip's Army 
16. The Day of Moaning and Wailing 
17. Seoul Falls into Enemy Hands 
18. The Collapse of Our Joint Forces at Yong'in 
19. Sin Kak's Victory and His Tragic End 
20. The Collapse of the Defense Line at the Imjin River 
21. The Japanese Enter Hamgyŏng Province and Capture Our Two Princes 
22. Yi Il Arrives at P'yŏngyang after Losing His Battle 
23. The Visit of Lin Shilu to P'yŏngyang 
24. The Royal Carriage Leaves P'yŏngyang 
25. The Fall of P'yŏngyang 
26. Anger and Frustration of the People 
27. The King Arrives at Ŭiju and Ming Sends Its Relief Army 
28. The Vanguard of the Ming Relief Army Arrives 
29. Ming Relief Army Fails to Recapture P'yŏngyang 
30. Yi Sunsin Defeats the Japanese Navy with His Turtle Ships 
31. Cho Hoik, a Man of Loyalty and Patriotism 
32. The Defense of Chŏnju and the Brave Battles of Chŏng Tam 
33. An Attempt to Recapture P'yŏngyang 
34. Shen Weijing Visits the Japanese Camp 
35. The Tragic Death of Governor Sim Tae 
36. General Wŏn Ho Defeats the Japanese 
37. Kwŏn Ŭngsu and Others Recapture Yŏngch'ŏn 
38. Pak Chin Recaptures Kyŏngju 
39. The Rise of the Righteous Volunteer Armies 
40. Yi Il Becomes a Commander 
41. Spies and Traitors 

BOOK II 

42. New Ming Relief Army Recaptures P'yŏngyang
43. The Court Replaces Yi Il with Yi Pin 
44. The Ming Army Retreats to Kaesŏng after Losing the Battle of Pyŏkche 
45. Victory at Haengju Fortress
46. Efforts to Save the Starving People 
47. Shen Weijing's Efforts to Make Peace with the Japanese
48. Recapturing Seoul 
49. Devastating Defeat at the Battle of Chinju 
50. The King Returns to Seoul 
51. The Imprisonment of Yi Sunsin 
52. The Breakdown of the Peace Talks and a New Relief Army from Ming China
53. The Collapse of the Navy Led by Wŏn Kyun 
54. The Battle of Hwangsŏk Mountain Fortress