Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, notable, early modern

Battle of Myeongnyang

Battle of Myeongnyang was a naval engagement fought on 26 October 1597 at Myeongnyang Strait, in what is now South Korea. It was part of Second Japanese Invasion of Korea, which ran from 1597 to 1598. The recorded result: Joseon victory. Recorded strength: 133-330 warships against 13 warships; 32 scouting ships (Yi's report, likely did not participate in combat).

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『朝鮮戦役海戦図屏風』／昭和16年前後／太田天洋（海軍発注の戦意高揚画であり、特定の戦役を描写したものではないことに注意）
『朝鮮戦役海戦図屏風』／昭和16年前後／太田天洋（海軍発注の戦意高揚画であり、特定の戦役を描写したものではないことに注意）. 太田天洋(1884～1946), CC BY 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought26 October 1597
WhereMyeongnyang Strait, South Korea34.568N, 126.308E
OutcomeJoseon victory
BelligerentsJapan; Fleet of Toyotomi HideyoshiagainstJoseon; Joseon Navy
Part ofSecond Japanese Invasion of Korea1597 to 1598

Where it sits in Second Japanese Invasion of Korea

Battle of Hwangseoksanseong Fortress, 1597Siege of Namwon, 1597Battle of Jiksan, 1597Battle of Myeongnyang, 159715971597Battle of Myeongnyang, 1597
4 placed engagements of Second Japanese Invasion of Korea in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date26 October 1597
PlaceMyeongnyang Strait, South Korea
34.568N, 126.308E
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength133-330 warships13 warships; 32 scouting ships (Yi's report, likely did not participate in combat)
Casualties and losses31 ships rammed open; More than 30 ships destroyed (Hawley); About 30 ships destroyed (Lewis); Half of the elders (Tōdō clan memoirs).; Half of the Japanese (prisoner's testimony)No ships lost; At least 2 killed and 3 wounded aboard Yi Sun-sin's flagship (Yi's record); At least 8 drowned from An Wi's ship
Commanders
  • Yi Sun-sin
  • Kim Ŏkch'u
  • Kim Ŭngham
  • An Wi
  • Song Yŏchong
  • Pae Hŭngnip
Battle of MyeongnyangBattle of MyeongnyangSiege of SuncheonSiege of NamwonBattle of NoryangHadong AmbushSiege of SuncheonSiege of NamwonHadong AmbushJejuYeosuMokpo100 km34.568N, 126.308E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1597

Battle of Myeongnyang is one of 1,390 engagements of the 16th century in the atlas and one of 113 in present-day South Korea.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q385677, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Myeongnyang, revision 1383827024, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.