When Mother Nature Decided to Get Involved in War

When Mother Nature Decided to Get Involved in War

Larry Holzwarth - February 28, 2020

When Mother Nature Decided to Get Involved in War
Kublai Khan’s invasion of Japan was broken up by a Divine Wind, though some believe the story to be ancient legend. Wikimedia

4. Two Mongol invasions of Japan were affected by the weather

The first Mongol invasion of Japan was in 1274. The Mongols defeated the Japanese and captured several islands, slaughtering much of the civilian population, before the Japanese turned the tide at the Battle of Torikai-Gata. The Japanese victory forced the Mongols to withdraw to their ships and return to the continent. During the voyage home, heavy winds and seas were encountered, most of the ships were sunk, and the bulk of the army was destroyed. Behind them, the chastened Japanese built stronger defenses in anticipation of their return. In 1281 the Mongols did return, or rather they attempted to.

The exact size of the second invasion, in terms of the number of men and ships involved, is debated. What is generally agreed is that the invasion was to be of overwhelming numbers. The Mongols landed at several locations, occupied some and were repulsed at others in the Koan Campaign. In August, with most of the Mongol army aboard their ships preparing for a concentrated attack on the much smaller army of defenders, a typhoon roared through the Sea of Japan. Most of the Mongol fleet was destroyed in the storm which remained in the area for a full two days. The Japanese attributed the storm to divine intervention and named it the Divine Wind – kamikaze.

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