Painting the Waves of History: Reflections on the Hansan Battle Festival

Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Battle of Hansan — A Hot Topic Today

When we talk about Admiral Yi Sun-sin today, the resonance is different. Across movies, dramas, and various media, the "Yi Sun-sin syndrome" is a hot trend capturing the public's attention once again. But beyond the modern hype, the true weight of his history remains deeply rooted right here on the blue waters of Hansan.

The Battle of Hansando, fought in 1592, was not merely a military victory; it was a miraculous turning point that saved a nation on the brink of collapse. Utilizing his genius "crane wing formation" (Hakikjin), Admiral Yi and his fleet lured the enemy into the wide open waters of Hansan Bay and annihilated them.

Standing on the sea of Hansan today, you can almost hear the roar of the turtle ships and the thunderous beat of the war drums echoing through the salty breeze.

Reflections on the Hansan Battle Festival

In the sea of that day, countless people were slaughtered. Without a shred of respect for human dignity and before even asking the reasons for their invasion, massacres were committed. The beasts of desire abandoned their humanity; the hordes of Japanese invaders betrayed the grace of their teachers.

The murderous demons of desire were punished on the waters of Hansan by the noble spreading of the crane’s wings. The seven years of sin became a debt of this life, blocking the path ahead with the endless karma of reincarnation. Every August, amidst a blistering heatwave capable of melting iron, the battle cries of that day come alive once again.

The day of victory was a blessed day that drove out the horde of beasts and restored humanity once more. Every August, the spirit of the holy hero Admiral Yi Sun-sin is revived. Moving beyond despair, we learn the life of General Yi Sun-sin, who saved the country, and solidify our will to live.

The repetition of history 400 years later—when our country was stolen once again by the Japanese invaders and people were brutally massacred—awakened us to another realization. To be alive is a desperate struggle to protect one's life from invasion and a thorough reality of sustaining survival.

The August of that day has become the festival day of 65 victories, making our hearts swell with grandeur. The emotional history where tears involuntarily flow as we sing the fourth verse of the national anthem was a sorrow, an indignation, and an emotion felt only by the living.

The vivid commemorative sculptures and records at Hansan Battle Square make us solemn. In the blood-soaked, hellish battle amid the melting-hot heatwave of August, our ancestors defended human survival with their lives.

I hold my brush and capture the sea of that day on a white canvas.

On the rectangular canvas, there is a world of coexistence with no grudges or mutual destruction! I am still alive, and I cannot give up my artistic fighting spirit until the day when all living things find peace.

. . . .

After attending the 65th Hansan Battle Festival...