Preface 4
Revised and Expanded Edition 8
Preface 9
- Imjin War Chronology 12
- Yi Sun-sin Chronology 16
- Yi Sun-sin's Deeds Map 18
- Major naval battle site 19

Imjin Diary, 1592

January Life in the Jungjung District: Writing the First Diary of the New Year, Part 27
Inspecting military equipment while inspecting the 5th district under the jurisdiction of February 33
March 41: Launching the Turtle Ship
The invasion of Joseon begins in April 48
First battle in May, Imjin Year, first victory at Okpo (54)
Second appearance in June, four wins 57
August Battle of Busan: Defeating the Japanese Enemy's Main Base (61)

Gyesa Diary, 1593

February 67: Going to Ungcheon to Sweep Out the Japanese Pirates
March 78: Going to Hansando Island and Pondering How to Attack the Enemy
May 83: Japanese pirates desperately trying to avoid Yi Sun-sin
Hearing the sad news of the fall of Jinjuseong Fortress in June 96
Leaving Yeosu in July and moving to Hansando Island 109
August 120: Becomes the Commander of the Three Provinces Naval Forces
September 129: "We will protect the sea by maintaining our endurance!"

Gap-o Diary, 1594

Going to Gomnae to See Mother on Lunar New Year's Day 137
Preparing for the Second Battle of Danghangpo in February 148
Protesting Damjongin's "Geumtopaemun" (Golden Topaemun) to stop the March battle. 161
April 170: Recruiting Talent through the Jinjung Civil Service Examination
Enduring the May Rainy Season and Wind 177
June 185: Struggle to secure military and military supplies
The nation is deeply concerned about foreign affairs and military affairs in July. 192
August 204: The conflict with Won-gyun deepens.
Attacking Jangmunpo with a joint amphibious operation in September 213
Distrust deepens among generals over responsibility for the October Battle of Jangmunpo.
November 230: The Routine as a Naval Commander Continues

Eulmi Diary, 1595

January 241: Staying up all night worrying about my country and my mother
February 246: Won-gyun transferred to the Chungcheong Military Command
March 252: No Negligence in Protecting the Sea
Maintain strict military discipline to enable immediate deployment in April 259
May 266: Roasting Salt to Raise Military Funds
June: Long-term military life puts the health of generals and soldiers at risk. 274
The July War Prolongs, Deepening Concerns 282
Climbing the Chokseokru Pavilion in August, I was devastated by the crushing defeat at the Battle of Jinju. 290
Farewell to the Chungcheong Investigation Election in September 297
October 304: Ordering the Japanese to repair the burnt-out main hall and attic
Guarding the garrison in November and spying on the enemy's movements, 311
In December, he caught herring to exchange for grain, met with the inspector, and did his best to secure military supplies. 317

Byeongsin Diary, 1596

The daily routine of preparing military rations and keeping watch for the enemy continues in January 325.
Military discipline is in disarray due to prolonged reinforcement negotiations in February. 335
March 346: My mind is as distracted as my body.
In April, I heard a false rumor that the enemy leader, Fengsin Sugil, had died. 357
Regardless of the May talks, there will be no gaps in sea security. 364
June 373: Shooting arrows with subordinates every day and drinking often
July: Public sentiment grows increasingly uneasy, lamenting the Lee Mong-hak Rebellion (380)
August 388: Preparing for a Resurgence of War Despite Being Ill
August 396: Seeing Mother Through the Care of the Inspector General
September 403: Touring Jeolla Province and Surveying Public Opinions
410. Celebrating Mother's Last Day of October

Jeongyu Diary, 1597

Released from prison in April, he was separated from his mother while serving in the army. 417
Going to the makha of Marshal Kwon Yul in early May 428
In June, they settled in Moeogok and were constantly concerned about the country. 439
Won Gyun's Joseon navy suffered a crushing defeat at Chilcheollyang in July 454.
August 468: Received orders from the Commander of the Three Provinces Navy again
A great victory at Myeongnyang in September 484
In October, he lost his son, Myeon, and, in despair, set up camp at Gohado. 499
Even without the reward for the Battle of Myeongnyang in November, he did his best to rebuild the navy. 511
December 519: Focus on rebuilding the navy

Martial Arts Diary, Year of the Dog, 1598

Gathering with the Generals in January to Celebrate the New Year 529
September 530: The Ming-Joseon Alliance's navy and army attack Suncheon Castle.
Admiral Yoo Jeong, who accepted a bribe in October, withdraws his troops.
Deciding on the final battle at Noryang in November 537

Search 542

Five Features of the Revised and Expanded Edition of the "Ip-Yeok Nanjung Ilgi"

▶ Written by comparing and referencing the original text of Nanjung Ilgi, translated versions written by Hong Gi-mun, Lee Eun-sang, Noh Seung-seok, Choi Du-hwan, and others, as well as 『Complete Works of Admiral Yi Sun-sin』 (4 volumes) edited and compiled by Lim Ki-bong.
▶ Briefly describe the general's activities each year and each month at the beginning of the diary.
▶ Added paraphrased explanations to parts that require contextual explanation.
▶ Dates are written in the lunar calendar as is customary, but the solar calendar is also used to help modern people understand.
▶ Reflecting the discussions and suggestions from the reader-participatory 'Nanjung Ilgi Study Room', some mistranslations and inappropriate paraphrases were corrected, annotations and explanations for parts that were insufficient were supplemented, and an index of major people, place names, and events was added.


『Nanjung Ilgi』, a translation of the evangelist Yi Sun-sin and Kim Jong-dae (former Constitutional Court Justice),
Back with a revised and expanded edition that's deeper and more accurate!

“There are numerous war diaries in the world, but for those who wish to study Yi Sun-sin and learn from his spirit, there is a need to present to the world the war diary that is closest to Yi Sun-sin’s thoughts.
Even if there are difficulties, I intend to write a new translation of the Nanjung Ilgi, 『Uiyip Nanjung Ilgi』.”

『The Illegible Diary of Nanjung』 is not a simple translation.
This is a 'record of interpretation' that revives the deep anguish and breath of Yi Sun-sin through a modern perspective, and is the result of the author Kim Jong-dae's (former Constitutional Court Justice) study accumulated over 50 years under his true mentor.
After the first edition, the author held a 'Nanjung Ilgi Study Room' with readers and continuously discussed the context and translation of the diary.
In the process, we discovered and corrected mistranslations and unclear phrases, supplemented the context of the commentary, and added an index of people, place names, and events, thereby getting closer to the "true voice" of Yi Sun-sin.
This revised and expanded edition is particularly significant in that it is the result of collective intelligence that has expanded from "one person's exploration" to "everyone's study."

Five Features of the Revised and Expanded Edition of the "Ip-Yeok Nanjung Ilgi"

1.
Comparison of original text, existing translations, and annotations
By cross-comparing the original text of Nanjung Ilgi with the translations written by Hong Gi-mun, Lee Eun-sang, Noh Seung-seok, Choi Du-hwan, and others, as well as the 『Jeonseo of Admiral Yi Sun-sin』 edited by Lim Ki-bong, the accuracy of the context and ideological consistency were increased.
2.
Summary of actions by chronology
The general's actions for each year and month are concisely summarized in the introduction, allowing readers to easily follow the flow of the times and the development of events.
3.
Strengthening the paraphrased commentary
In parts that are difficult to understand due to the context, the translator's commentary is supplemented to convey Yi Sun-sin's inner world and spiritual resonance more clearly.
4.
Lunar and solar calendars
Dates are written in the lunar calendar as is customary, but the solar calendar is also included to help modern readers understand.
5.
Special additions to the revised and expanded edition
Reflecting the discussions and suggestions from the reader-participatory 'Nanjung Ilgi Study Room,' some mistranslations and inappropriate paraphrases were corrected, annotations and explanations for parts where explanations were insufficient were supplemented, and an index of major people, place names, and events was added.

What is the UNESCO World Heritage 'Nanjung Ilgi'?
'The 7-year history of the Imjin War, as seen and recorded by Yi Sun-sin himself!'

The Nanjung Ilgi was written from January 1, 1592, the first Lunar New Year of the Imjin War, to November 17, 1598, the day before the general's death.
The original manuscript of the diary is currently kept at the Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. Originally, there was no name in this diary, but in 1795, during the reign of King Jeongjo, when compiling the 『Complete Works of Admiral Yi Sun-sin』, the compiler conveniently named it ‘Nanjung Ilgi’ and included it.
It is currently designated as National Treasure No. 76, and along with Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong's 『Jingbirok』, which is also designated as National Treasure No. 132, it is considered one of the two major mountains of records of the Imjin War.

Registered as a UNESCO Memory of the World in 2013 and now a treasure for the world, the Nanjung Ilgi is a diary in which Yi Sun-sin recorded what he saw, heard, and did while living at sea, which was a battlefield, from the first day of the Imjin War to the last day, except for about half a year when he was captured in the year of Jeongyu and served as a private soldier. He left this diary for future generations.
Because he wrote his diary with a single-minded devotion to his country from beginning to end, his diary is bound together in terms of spiritual value and has become the most reliable historical record.