Eulji Mundeok

In thisKorean name,the family name isEulji.

Eulji Mundeok 을지문덕 ẤtChiVănĐức
Korean name
Hangul	을지문덕
Hanja	ẤtChiVănĐức
Revised Romanization	Eulji Mundeok
McCune–Reischauer	Ŭlchi Mundŏk

Eulji Mundeok(Korean:을지문덕;Ulchi Mundok) was a military leader of early 7th centuryGoguryeo,one of theThree Kingdoms of Korea,who successfully defended Goguryeo againstSui China.He is famous for his victory atSalsu,and is often numbered among the greatest heroes in themilitary history of Korea.

Background

Eulji Mundeok was born in the mid-6th century and died sometime after 618, although the exact date is unknown.Haedong Myeongjangjeon,known as the "Biographies of Famed Korean Generals", written in the 18th century, states that he was from Seokda Mountain ( thạch nhiều sơn ) nearPyongyang.At the time of his birth,Goguryeowas a powerful state, frequently at war with its neighbors.

In 589, theSui dynastyconquered several surrounding states and launched several large military campaigns againstGoguryeo,which was unwilling to submit to its dominance.

Eulji Mundeok was a cultured man, skilled in both themartialandliteraryarts. He eventually rose to become the supreme commander of Goguryeo. The nameEuljimay actually be a Goguryeo title.

There is a theory that Eulji Mundeok was originally ofXianbeiorigin.

The Battle of Salsu River

Main article:Goguryeo–Sui War

After the founding ofSuiin 589, a precarious peace was maintained for several years between the new Chinese dynasty andGoguryeo.However, in 597,Yeongyanglaunched an attack on the Sui at theBattle of Linyuguan.In response, Sui invaded Goguryeo, but the invasion was defeated due to constant ambushes and unfavorable weather.

In the early 7th century,Emperor Yanglearned of a secret correspondence between Goguryeo and theEastern Turkic Khaganate.Emperor Yang demandedYeongyangcome and submit personally to him or face an "imperial tour of his territories". When Yeongyang failed to do so, Emperor Yang prepared for war. He mustered an army of over 1,133,000 troops and more than 2 million auxiliaries and personally led them against Goguryeo in 612. The Sui army quickly overran Goguryeo's border defenses, then camped on the banks of theLiao Riverand prepared to bridge it.

Eulji Mundeok, commissioned as the Field Marshal, was called upon to defend the nation. He prepared his troops to meet the numerically superior Sui forces with a strategy of deception, using feigned retreats and sudden attacks. After the Sui forces crossed theLiao River,a small contingent was sent to attack the city ofYodong,but was repulsed by Eulji Mundeok's forces. As the rainy season progressed, the Sui forces launched other small probing attacks, but held off from making any large moves before the end of the rainy season.

When the rains stopped, Emperor Yang moved his forces to the banks of theYalu Riverin northwestern Korea and prepared for a major battle. Fighting only small engagements at times and places of his choosing, Eulji Mundeok drew the Sui forces further and further from their supply centers. Emperor Yang sent an advance force of over 305,000 troops to take the city ofPyongyang.After allowing the force to approach the city, Field Marshal Eulji Mundeok ambushed it. His forces attacked from all sides, driving the Sui troops back in utter confusion. His troops pursued the retreating army, slaughtering them at will. Records claim that only 2,800 men of the massive force returned alive to the main Chinese army. This battle, theBattle of Salsu,came to be known as one of the most glorious military triumphs in Korea's national history.

After the battle, winter began to set in and the Sui forces, short on provisions, were forced to return home in defeat.

Death

It is not known when Eulji Mundeok died. His name is not attested to after 613.

TheSui dynastywas beginning to disintegrate andEmperor Yangdecided that he urgently needed to expand his empire in order to regain power, but two more attacks onGoguryeoin the following spring were met with similar disasters, and eventually internal rebellion in China forced him to abandon his desire for Goguryeo. By 618, the relatively short-lived Sui dynasty was replaced by theTang dynasty.Field Marshal Eulji Mundeok's strategy and leadership had protected Goguryeo from Chinese expansion into the Korean peninsula.

Legacy

One of the most distinguished military leaders of theGoguryeoperiod, Eulji Mundeok's leadership and tactical acumen were the decisive factors in defeating theSuiinvasion. Facing numerically superior forces, he developed a strategy that allowed him to secure a decisive victory. Such brilliant tactical success earned him a permanent place among Korea's most famous leaders.Kim Bu-sik,the author of theSamguk Sagi,also attributed the victory overSuito Eulji Mundeok.

InKorea,Eulji Mundeok is recognized as one of the greatest figures in its national history. During the reign ofHyeonjongin theGoryeoperiod, a shrine to Eulji Mundeok was built nearPyongyang.In the succeedingJoseonperiod, he remained just as revered a figure.Yang Seong-ji,a scholar and high-ranking bureaucrat of 15th century Joseon, andAn Jeong-bok,aSilhakhistorian of 18th century Joseon, both thought highly of him. Furthermore, KingSukjongordered the construction of another shrine in honor of Eulji Mundeok in 1680.

At a time when Korea was suffering under the yoke ofJapanese imperialism,a fuller assessment of Eulji Mundeok was commenced by the Korean historianShin Chaeho,who published a biography of the famed general in 1908 and held him out as an example of Korea's traditional nationalist spirit. Eulji Mundeok is still celebrated as a national hero. One of the most preeminent Korean scholars of the 20th century,Lee Ki-baik,noted that Eulji Mundeok's efforts in halting the Sui attempt at conquest stand as one of the earliest examples of Korean attempts to fend off foreign domination.

InSouth Korea,a main thoroughfare in downtownSeoul,Euljiro,is named after Eulji Mundeok.

The second highestmilitary decorationofSouth Koreais named after Eulji Mundeok.

TheRepublic of Korea Navynamed aGwanggaeto the Great-class destroyerin honor of Eulji Mundeok.

Eulji Mundeok's literary work, theEulji Mundeok Hansi,is one of the oldest surviving poems in Korean literature.

One of the biannualCombined Forces Commandexercises between South Korea and theUnited Stateswas calledUlchi-Focus Lens(UFL) in honor of Eulji Mundeok. It was renamed toUlchi-Freedom Guardian(UFG) in 2015. UFG is the world's largest computerized command and control exercise, focusing on how US and ROK forces would defend against aNorth Koreanattack.

Popular culture

• The playable characterMoonDuckin the popular mobile game Crusaders Quest is based on Eulji Mundeok.
• Eulji can be obtained through a seven days log-in event in the mobile game Mini Warriors.
• Eulji is a playable character in the Mobile/PC GameRise of Kingdoms.
• Eulji Mundeok is a summonable Immortal in the mobile game Infinity Kingdom.

Television and film

• Portrayed byLee Jung-gilin 2006–2007SBSTV seriesYeon Gaesomun.

Further reading

• Gabriel, Richard A; Donald W. Boose (1994-12-30).The Korean Way of War: Salsu River.The Great Battles of Antiquity: A Strategic and Tactical Guide to Great Battles That Shaped the Development of War.Greenwood Publishing Group.ISBN0313289301.