Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:47:10-2:48:08

Ming China's response to Korean turtle ships

As Korea's ally and land neighbor, Ming China did not regard turtle ships as a strategic threat and sometimes valued Yi more than his own court did.

Imjin WarJoseon NavyMing ChinaTurtle ShipsYi Sun-sin
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Question

How did Ming China respond to Korean turtle ships?

Short answer

China was allied with Korea and did not see the ships as a major threat; Chinese officials sometimes showed Yi more respect than his own government.

Notes

The Ming relationship with Korea reduced any reason to react fearfully to the ships. Chinese leaders believed Korea's land forces were manageable if relations changed, while during the war Chinese personnel were often puzzled by Joseon's treatment of successful commanders. Ming representatives at times treated Yi Sun-sin more favorably than the Korean court.