The JianzhouJurchen pincer movement was the first concerted operation by Joseon and Ming China. Joseon had conquered Jurchens several times, but for Ming China this was the first subjugation of Jurchens. Joseon had been planning an independent conque ...
The JianzhouJurchen pincer movement was the first concerted operation by Joseon and Ming China. Joseon had conquered Jurchens several times, but for Ming China this was the first subjugation of Jurchens. Joseon had been planning an independent conquest of the JianzhouCommandery area because of the Jurchens’ attack on Uiju before the request from Ming, but Yi Siae’s rebellion had prevented Joseon from conquering the JianzhouCommandery area. However, Joseon sent troops to Pyeongan Province as soon as the rebellion was suppressed. In that period,Ming sought to conquer the JianzhouCommandery together with Joseon.
According to earlier research, Ming Chinasought an attack on the JianzhouJurchens so to restrict these Jurchens’presentation of tribute. This paper also argues that the restriction oftribute contributed to the creation of “fake envoys.” Ming’s restrictions on tribute accelerated the outbreak and expansion of “fake envoys” which used false names for delivering tribute. Problems occurred as “fake envoys” mingled with the “real envoys” in the conduct of real diplomacy. After limiting tribute, the three commanderies in Jianzhou pretended to be the MaolianCommandery and received gifts for their tribute. When the real MaolianCommandery people presented tribute, they were forbidden to do so. As a result, Ming’srestrictions onJurchentribute generated “fake envoys,” and those who were prevented from normal diplomacy due to “fake envoys” were brought to violate borders. Ming’s conquest of the JianzhouCommandery in 1467 should also be considered in these contexts.
Joseon’s army during the 1467 attack totaled 10,000 men, and it killed 286 Jurchens, captured 23, and recaptured seven prisoners of war. On the other hand, the Ming army totaled 50,000 men, and it killed 638 Jurchens, captured 253, and recaptured 1,165 prisoners of war. Ming’s accomplishments seemoutstanding compared to those of Joseon, but the difference in military power should be taken into consideration. Joseon’s army killed the heads of the principal commanders of Jianzhou, such as Yi Manju, Yi Gonaphap, and Yi Duri. Joseon’s conquest routes were not only limited to two, the Bazhu River and Wumi-fu, but the army also achieved effective accomplishments by accurately finding where the head of the GunjiCommandery lived.
Joseon and Ming JianzhouCommandery pincer attack brought great harm to Jurchens. Joseon and Ming killed and captured about 1,200 people, (924 killed, 276 captured) which was about 5-10% of the total population of the three commanderies of Gunji. Also, economic damage was severe asfarms, houses, and mountains were burned and destroyed. Horses, cows, and 1,172 captives were used for labor. Jurchens living in Jianzhou received enormous damage. With the loss of the will to fight, the three commanders of Gunji were not able to concentrate on rehabilitation and were unable to plan revenge.
Ming China prepared for the response from Jianzhou by building the eastern part of the Liaodong defense wall. Ming also accepted requests from Jurchens and restored the three commanderies of Jianzhou in two or three years after the conquest, reviving the traditional tribute system. Joseon also divided Pyeongan Province into three parts, middle, west, and east, for defense. As the relationship between Ming and the three Jianzhoucommanderies was revived, Joseon resumed its relationship with the three Jianzhoucommanderies, too. However, without changes in the basic structure of Ming China’s restrictionof tribute and installation of trading posts, it was impossible to fulfill the Jurchen society’s progress and urge development toward agriculture that had been already started. Eventually, the three Jianzhoucommanderies’ invasion of Liaodong intensified, and the victory of the Ming-Joseon pincer attack in 1467 was reproduced 12 years later, in 1479.