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A Brief Documentary Survey of Japanese Pirate Activities in Korea in the 13 th—15 th Centuries By M.S. Seoh (Exerpted from the author's M. A. thesis submitted at the University of Washington in 1965) 1 Waegu (MtOD is the popular name of the Japanese pirates who plundered Korean and Chinese coastal areas from the 13 th to the 15 th centuries A. D. Pirates who ravaged the Chinese coast after this period have sometimes been identified as Chinese.1 However, with regard to those who operated around Korea during these two centuries, we can safely say that they were Japanese, with few exceptions.2 The earliest occurrence of the term Waegu is found in the Koryö-sa (¡g¡ MSli) History of Koryö. The section of the Koryö-sa dealing with King Ko-jong (M'M, r· 1213-1259) reads in part, "in the 10th year [1223 A.D.] on the 4 th moon, the day 'kapja' the Waegu invaded Kim-ju [modern Kim-hae]". After this entree, hundreds of Waegu raids are listed in the History. Additional incidents are recorded in the Yijo Sillok (3£$1??: Yi Dynasty Annals,) to which we will make frequent reference, and in several other documents.3 1.See Tömaru Fukuju et at. Wakö Kenkyu (fë'&WJO pp. 30, 34, 38-41. 2.The Koryö-sa (Vol. 134 and Vol. 135) lists some evidence that several Korean outcasts such as Hwach'ok CfcR) and Chaein (^A) gathered followers who donned garb and went on raids. However, compared to the Japanese pirates, those Koreans who had pretended to be Japanese were very small in both their numbers and in their range of activity. 3.Tongguk T'onggam (MMMiS. Comprehensive mirror of the Eastern Country ) Vol. 45, Kukjo Pogam (?$???& Precious mirror of the [Yi] dynasty ). 24\Seoh In Chinese historical records, the "Jih-pen Chuan" ( g ;$:£!) of the Ming Shih (§!¦£), we find a sentence reading, "Judging by Wen Ts'ui's defeat at the Pach'e bridge, the Waegu are apparently very strong."1 The Wu-pei Chih (MWi]Cf) describes in some detail the Waegu's tactics in battle:5 The Wo-i (fgpQ were well trained in forming the butterfly position (Hu-tiehchien WSfcW)· During action command is made by waving a fan. When a Jeader waves the fan all the troops stand up brandishing swords,..They capture our people, bring them to the road, and take them to the water. They are active only at dawn and twilight, and before and after each action they have a roll call. Besides the above records there are many other Chinese sources in which we find very detailed records on the Waegu, such as the Hsu Wen-hsien T'ung-k'ao (MÏCJ&Mif),6 Erh-shih-erh-shih Chachi (r+r%Ms£),7 and Wu-tsa-ts'u (satffl). As for Japanese historical records, first let us see some Japanese scholars' comments on the subject. Prof. Akiyama Kenzö writes: .........the complete absence of material concerning the Wako (USD in Japanese historical records seems to make it possible to erase them from Japanese history altogether. Since these Wako have been given little place in historical documents, we are unable to know about their influence.........8 Dr. Miura Kaneyuki in his article entitled "Japanese Pirates in Korea", (Chosen no Wakö, §fl!$ · îStË) says: "the lack of historical records in authentic Japanese history forces one to rely entirely upon the Yi Dynasty Annals. ........"9 Mr. Tanaka Takeo, a compiler of historical materials at Tokyo University, in his work, A Study of the History of Foreign Intercourse in the Medieval Age, writes:10 4.Ming Shih, Vol. 322, p. 145 .Wu-Pei Chih, Vol. 231, PP- 17-18. 6.Ibid, Vol. 234, Chap. 22. 7.Ibid., Vol. 34, Chap. 188 .Akiyama Kenzo (fAl-USÉiS): "The Raids of Wako in Early Muromachi Period and the Circumstances of Oei Foreign Invasion", Shigaku Zasshi, Vol. 9-1, 1930. 9.Miura, Kaneyuki (??????t): Naito Hakase Kanreki Shukuga Shinagaku Ronsö, p. 93. 10. Tanaka, Takeo (Hl Fß*): Ckusei Kaigai Koshoshi no Kenkyu (f^????F 5?©5/t'^?)> PP- 1-2, Tokyo University Press. 1959. Pirate Activities/25 .........there was a major obstacle in...

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