The Mongol Attack on Kyushu: Ancient Japan's Near Brush with Conquest

Students of Asian and world history likely remember the Mongol waves of conquest in the 1200s. Virtually all of Asia fell to the various Mongol leaders - Japan was one of the few, if not the only, nation that survived the Mongol hordes. However, had certain events not unfolded, Japan would likely be a different place than it is today. These invasions are important to Japanese and world history because they showed that there was a limit to the Khan's greed, and also reinforced Japan's belief that the nation was protected and blessed by the gods - an attitude which shaped the Japanese psyche into modern times.

Prelude

The stage was set for these events in 1231, when present-day Korea was conquered. Three decades of fighting followed, with Korea eventually becoming a Mongolian dependency. Korea, by virtue of location, was the Khan's jumping-off point for naval invasions and a recruitment post for conscripts. However, Korea wasn't very heavily populated, and the Mongols were known for their sheer numbers in addition to brutality.

In 1260, the problem of numbers was solved, when Kublai Khan declared himself the Emperor of China. The Chinese peasantry would provide a practically infinite source of manpower. The capital of Peking (present-day Beijing) was established in 1264, and shortly afterwards, Japan rejected emissaries who requested that Japan submit to Mongol rule and pay tribute or face an invasion. In the years following, many more emissaries came, and Japan began preparing in truth for a coming invasion. All daimyo who had land on Kyushu (Japan's western island closest to mainland Asia) returned to their provinces, migrated further west to the coast and began fortifying the most likely landing points. Many Shinto ceremonies and prayer services were held, and most government functions were postponed to deal with the threat.

The Battle of Bun'ei