Kaku Saiyu

He was a commander of the anti-Japanese volunteer army during the Imjin War (Toyotomi Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea) in the Joseon Dynasty. His pen name was Wangyu. He was born in Gyeongsang Province as the third son of a yangban (a nobleman), and lived a relatively comfortable life, but when Hideyoshi invaded Korea, he used his own money to recruit soldiers and rise up to defend his homeland. He was the first volunteer army, and his uprising had a great impact on various parts of Korea. He was called the "Red-robed General" and led the local yangban and farmers, fighting guerilla warfare to defeat the Japanese army and defend his homeland. For his achievements, he was awarded the third rank in 1592. After the temporary peace treaty in 1895, he declined all government positions and returned to his hometown. He was arrested for a time on false charges in a political dispute, but after Japan invaded again, he was appointed as the defense envoy of Gyeongsang Province and fought against the Japanese army. In 1899, he was appointed as the military commander of Gyeongsang Left Province and worked on postwar reconstruction and strengthening national defense, but his proposals that emphasized stability in the lives of the people were not accepted, so he eventually declined his government position and retired to the countryside, ending his turbulent life at the age of 66.

[Yazawa Kosuke]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

李氏(りし)朝鮮、壬辰倭乱(じんしんわらん)（豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉の朝鮮侵略）の際の抗日義兵将。号は忘憂。両班(ヤンバン)の三男として慶尚道で生まれ、比較的恵まれた生活を送っていたが、秀吉の侵略を受けると、郷土防衛のため、私財を投じて募兵し、決起した。最初の義兵であり、彼の挙兵は朝鮮の各地に大きな影響を与えた。彼は天降紅衣将軍と称し、地方の両班、農民らを率い、ゲリラ戦を展開して日本軍を破り、郷土を守った。その功により1592年正三品(しょうさんぴん)を授けられた。95年の一時的講和後はいっさいの官職を辞退して故郷へ帰り、政争のため一時は無実の罪で捕らえられたが、日本の再侵略後は慶尚道防禦使(ぼうぎょし)に任ぜられ、日本軍と戦った。99年慶尚左道兵馬節度使に任ぜられ、戦後の復興と国防の強化にあたったが、民衆生活の安定を重視する彼の提案は受け入れられず、ついに官職を辞退して地方に隠棲(いんせい)し、66歳で波瀾(はらん)に満ちた生涯を閉じた。

［矢澤康祐］

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