sails to the Skeleton Seas, and finds inspiration as she goes.
Choson Korean Flags of the Imjin Wars 1592-1598
These flags and banners are based on recent research done in Korea, as well as translated parts from the Korean book Weapons and Amour of the Choson.
As far as I'm aware, this is the first time this information has been seen in the West. So you will all be pioneers in a small way when these flags and their uses are incorporated into your armies!
Far from the general idea of the Korean Army being an unco-ordinated mass when pitched against the Japanese in the Imjin Wars, you'll see that they had a sophisticated organisation and drill.
There are ten sheets in all - that's 93 individual flags, ranging from the Kyo Ryong Gi of the supreme commander (shown here) to the Dae Jung Gi of a platoon. They also cover Dae Sa Gi (ambush ordering flags) which, interestingly, incorporate snakes! Also shown here along with Dae Sa Gi are the Hu Gi Gi (scouting flags). The latter were used by a small group of horsemen 1-1.5 km ahead of the main force, and according to their shape and colour indicated what was coming up, be it enemy or types of terrain. There are flags to order formation changes, the Hui, Young Wi Jang, which when raised and downed to the left meant column formation, right and down, square, front and down, charge formation, rear and down crescent formation, and swinging the flag orders circle formation.
Many thanks to Jude Oh for the translations and additional research, which with without whose help this and much of the Choson range of figures would never have seen the light of day.
Within the next week or so, these will be available to download free from our site.