Yang Manchun is the name given to the

Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...

commander of Ansi Fortress in the 640s. Ansi Fortress was located on the Goguryeo–

Tang Tang or TANG most often refers to: * Tang dynasty * Tang (drink mix) Tang or TANG may also refer to: Chinese states and dynasties * Jin (Chinese state) (11th century – 376 BC), a state during the Spring and Autumn period, called Tang (唐) b ...

border, probably present-day Haicheng. Yang is sometimes credited with saving the kingdom by his successful defense against Tang Taizong.

Name

The real name of the defender of Ansi Fortress is unclear.

Kim Busik Kim Bu-sik, or Gim Busik (; 1075–1151) was a statesman, general, Confucian scholar and writer during Korea's Goryeo period. He was a scion of the Silla royalty and a member of the Gyeongju Kim clan. Later he was the supreme chancellor from 1136 ...

, in his ''

Samguk Sagi ''Samguk Sagi'' (, ''History of the Three Kingdoms'') is a historical record of the Three Kingdoms of Korea: Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. The ''Samguk Sagi'' is written in Classical Chinese, the written language of the literati of ancient Korea, ...

'' (Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms), lamented that the name of the steadfast commander of Ansi Fortress was unknown:''

'', vol. 21. However, an author by the name of

Xiong Damu Xiong Damu (熊大木) ( fl. sixteenth century) was a Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Min ...

from the

Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

used the name Liang Wanchun (梁万春) to refer to the defender in his Historical Fiction novel ''Tangshu Zhizhuan Tongsu Yanyi''. During the

Japanese invasions of Korea Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

, the Ming generals Wu Zongdao and Li Shifa said to

Yun Geun Su Yun may refer to: *Yǔn, Chinese name of Xionites, a nomadic tribe of Central Asia *Yun (Chinese name) (云/雲), a Chinese family name *Yun (ancient surname), an ancient Chinese surname *Yeon, or Yun, Korean (or Dutch given name) family name *Yun ...

that the defender's name is Liang Wanchun. In 1669, Hyeonjong of Joseon asked

Song Jungil Song Jun-gil (Hangul: 송준길, Hanja: 宋浚吉; 28 December 1606 – 2 December 1672), also known by his pen name Dongchundang, was a Korean politician and Neo-Confucian scholar, who lived during the Joseon Dynasty. Born in Okcheon, North Chu ...

for his name and he gave his name as Ryang Manchun, the Korean way of pronouncing the Hanja "梁万春". ''The Collected works of Master Dongchundang'' (동춘당선생별집, 同春堂先生別集) by (송준길, 宋浚吉), first compiled in 1768, includes the passage: "Someone asked, 'What was the name of the commander of Ansi fortress?' Jungil replied, 'It was Ryang Manchun. He skillfully checked the army of

Taizong Taizong is the temple name used for several Chinese sovereign, monarchs of China. It may refer to: * Tai Jia ( 16th-century BC), king of the Shang dynasty * Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Heng (202 BC–157 BC, reigned 180 BC–157 BC), also known as E ...

and so might we very well call him "seonsu seongja" (선수성자, 善守城者, "capable defender of fortresses").'" However, due to the Korean Pronunciation rule called Tu'eum Beopchik (두음법칙), Ryang Manchun (량만춘) was pronounced as Yang Manchun (양만춘). As such, his name slowly began to be mistakenly interpreted as (楊萬春). In ''

The Jehol Diary ''The Jehol Diary'' (''Yeolha Ilgi'') is the work of the Joseon dynasty silhak scholar Bak Jiwon, written in classical Chinese. Bak, also known by his pen name of Yeon'am (燕巖), made an extensive tour of what was then the northern territory o ...

'' written by Park Ji-won in the 18th century includes the following: "When Yang Manchun, the master of Anshi-sŏng Fortress, shot an arrow and put out the eye of the Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty, the emperor assembled his army under the wall. This was not the signal for an immediate attack, but to demonstrate the Emperor's generosity in granting Yang Manchun one hundred p'il roll of silk, praising him for defending the Fortress successfully for his own

Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...

king King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the tit ...

."''

'', translated with notes by

Yang Hi Choe-Wall Yang Hi Choe-Wall (; born 1932) is a Korean Australian academic, writer and researcher specialising in Korean literature of Chosŏn period (1392–1910). She was Associate Professor in the Division of Pacific and Asian History, the Australian N ...

(Folkestone, UK: Global Oriental), pp. 38-39. In time Yang Manchun came into general use as the name of the defender of Ansi Fortress.

Involvement in the Goguryeo–Tang War

In 642,

Yeon Gaesomun Yeon GaesomunSome Chinese and Korean sources stated that his surname was Yeongae () and personal name was Somun (), but the majority of sources suggest a one-syllable surname and a three-syllable personal name. (594–666) was a powerful militar ...

killed King Yeongnyu and seized military control over the country. However, although Yeon had quickly gained control over the rest of the country, Yang Manchun refused to surrender Ansi fortress. After a lengthy siege and repeated unsuccessful attempts to storm the fortress, Yeon was forced to withdraw and allow Yang to keep his position as fortress commander. This proved to be to his advantage. In 645, Taizong led a campaign against Goguryeo. Some Goguryeo border fortresses fell early, but Tang was unable to reduce Ansi fortress. Goguryeo sent a force reported at 150,000 to raise the

siege of Ansi The siege of Ansi was a battle between Goguryeo and Tang forces in Ansi, a fortress in the Liaodong Peninsula, and the culmination of the First campaign in the Goguryeo–Tang War. The confrontation lasted for about 3 months from 20 June 645 to ...

fortress, but the force was unable to reach it. Despite its siege of Ansi, the Tang army was unable to force its capitulation. Taizong eventually ordered the construction of a large earthen siege ramp, which Yang instead captured and used as part of his defense. When

winter Winter is the coldest season of the year in polar and temperate climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Different cultures ...

approached, Tang forces were forced to withdraw. The siege of Ansi fortress is related in detail (but without the commander's name) in the ''

'', Goguryeo vol. 9. (vol. 21 overall).

In popular culture

* Portrayed by Im Dong-jin in the 2006-2007 KBS TV series '' Dae Jo Yeong''. * Portrayed by Shin Dong-hoon in 2006-2007 SBS TV series ''

''. * Portrayed by

Joo Jin-mo Joo Jin-mo (born Park Jin-tae on 26 September 1974), is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the films '' Happy End'' (1999) in which he won Grand Bell Awards for Best Supporting Actor, ''200 Pounds Beauty'' (2006), ...

in the

KBS2 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...

TV series ''

The Blade and Petal ''The Blade and Petal'' (; lit. "Sword and Flower") is a 2013 South Korean television series that aired on KBS2 from July 3 to September 5, 2013, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes. Kim Ok-bin and Uhm Tae-woong play star-crossed ...

''. * Portrayed by

Jo In-sung Zo In-sung (, born July 28, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the Korean television dramas ''Something Happened in Bali'' (2004), '' Spring Day'' (2005), ''That Winter, the Wind Blows'' (2013), and ''It ...

in 2018 film '' The Great Battle''

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yang, Manchun Military history of Korea Goguryeo people Korean generals

Name

Involvement in the Goguryeo–Tang War

In popular culture

See also

Notes