One of the impressive city gates at Jinju. Clearly reconstructed fairly recently, it stands proud and beautiful, a testament to the former provincial capital and first Korean land victory during the Imjin War.
A look down the walls of Jinju, noting how they follow the course of the Nam River. Overgrown now with greenery, the entire area within the city walls is beautiful.
Chokseoknu Pavilion. This is supposed to be where the victory celebration in the legend of Nongae took place and from where she drew her intended victim away to the cliff overlooking the river off to the left.
Another look along the long river walls. At the far end one finds a really well-done museum dedicated to the Imjin War. More on that below.
Chokseoknu Pavilion as seen from just above water level of the Nam River. This is the cliff from which Nongae is supposed to have sacrificed herself. It’s difficult to see in this picture, but there’s a small gateway through the wall just behind the pavilion that leads to this scenic—if apparently deadly—overlook.
Another look at the cliff, pavilion, and river down below.
The shrine honoring Nongae and her patriotic sacrifice. She continues to be held up as a role-model for young Korean women with a festival held in her honor every year now since 2002.
An interesting display of Joseon-era cannon and the types of projectiles they often fired. While the Japanese maintained a significant advantage on land with their Portuguese-inspired arquebuses, the Koreans maintained the advantage in cannon. This Korean advantage really only made itself felt during naval battles leading to the strange strategic dynamic whereby the Japanese armies ran roughshod over their opposite number, but the Korean fleet absolutely dominated the southern coast. That said, rocket-arrow launchers, and mortars were used on land at various times throughout the six-year conflict.
At the Imjin War Museum a lovely display of a Hwacha, essentially the Multiple Launch Rocket System of the 16th Century. These crude-looking weapons were devastating when sited well and defended by other troops. There’s a great You-tube clip of the Myth-busters building and testing a Hwacha. 40 of these weapons made all the difference in the battle of Haengju Mountain in March of 1593. The Hwacha fired arrows, fitted with rockets, designed to explode at the end of their flight. It essentially sprayed death in a cone not dissimilar to a modern day Claymore Anti-Personnel Mine.
