I've been recently studying this topic and found that depending on the source, sometimes the History is told differently.

Not to say that there aren't any common ground, but the most extreme views that I have come across tell three different stories. First, let me give these three briefly, then Please tell me the Mongol side.

1) Extreme Japanese side:
The Mongols fighting style surprised the Japanese and in the beginning the Japanese were losing. But by late afternoon the weather change to really bad. Caught in mid landing, the Mongols decided to retreated back to there boats planning to finish the invasion in the morning. However, the storm turned into a Typhoon and killed virtually the whole army. The invasion stopped. The Japanese thought God saved the Japanese people and called the storm, "Kamikaze" Wind of God.

2) Extreme Korean side:
The Mongols had conquered Korea and from there was preparing to invade Japan. Since the Mongols had no experience in ship building or sailing, they forced the Koreans under their control to build and sail the ships needed to carry the Mongol Army to Japan. The Koreans, not for the sake of the Japanese, but to reap revenge against the Mongols, built the ships badly so they would fall apart. It wasn't a great storm, but just rough Seas that made the sabotaged ships fall apart.

3) Extreme Chinese Side:
Although the Chinese were not a part of the battle, They did leave records of the event. The Koreans welcome their mighty Allies, The Mongolians, and even marry their Prince with the Daughter of Kublai khan. The Ships used by the invasion were built by the Koreans and most of the invasion army consisted of newly enlisted Koreans. Only the leadership of the army was Mongolian. And that is why the invasion failed. Not because of a storm or Sabotaged ships, but because the army was not really a Mongolian one.


Please. I want to hear the most important side to this event. The Mongolian side.

All 3 I think played a role.

I personally believe, just like the invasion of Vietnam......alot of ldle soldiers about.....send them to war....if they won....nice....if not, well no worries, no potential trouble makers!

Vietname locates in the south Asia continent, and the weather is very hot there. Mongol army did an excellent job in the smooth ground, but had no experience in water and moutainous forest ares. During the campain on conquering China, Mongol army couldn't across YangZi river, and then made a long match detouring the river.
Korea was totally conquered by Mongol army. They certainly dislike buiding ships for their new master.

Me too. There is something that make me so courious.

I read in my book (TIME-LIFE, Early Japan), those invasions were happened twice.
First. At November 1274, with 450 ships and 15,000 Mongolian troops.
The first invasion was stopped by 'Kamikaze'.
Second. Early summer 1281, with 1,000 ships and 50,000 Mongolian troops.
The second invasion was stopped also by 'Kamikaze'.

Same story in different year ?, like repeat the time !.

Ok, where is Mongolian side ?

Lets see. So far, I've gotten agreement with parts of all three sides. And one Mongolian point of view (POV).


1) Mongolian army were unfamiliar with ships and marine warfare.

2) Mongols conquered Korea(it wasn't a partnership) so they wouldn't have built the best ships.

Mongolian POV
1) The Japan campaign like the other South East Asian campaigns were mostly to occupy the vast solders until they were needed. Hence, a lack of planning and effort on the part of the Mongolian leadership resulting in a lack of progress and success compared to other campaigns.



Any History buffs to fill in more details?

that reminds me of the battle of salamis...

At that time, Vietnam was only the area of what is now Northern Vietnam, and I don't think there were too many dense jungles and rough terrain, atleast not as much as southern Vietnam

http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38076