Battle of Kōan

The Battle of Kōan (弘安の役, Kōan no eki), also known as the Second Battle of Hakata Bay, was the second attempt by the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty of China to invade Japan after their failed attempt seven years earlier at the Battle of Bun'ei. In the summer of 1281, the Yuan invaded with two large armies. The Japanese defenders were aided by a major storm which sank a sizeable portion of the Yuan fleets. The invaders who reached the shore were repulsed shortly after landing. The Japanese called the opportune storm kamikaze (lit. 'divine wind'), a name later used in the Second World War for pilots who carried out aerial suicide attacks.

Battle of Kōan
Part of the Mongol invasions of Japan

Japanese attack ships. Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba (蒙古襲来絵詞), circa 1293.
DateJune 8 – August 22, 1281
Location
Hakata Bay, near present-day Fukuoka, Kyūshū
Result

Japanese victory.

  • Invasion repulsed
  • Destruction of the Mongol fleet
Belligerents
Kamakura Japan Yuan dynasty
Goryeo
Commanders and leaders
Hōjō Sanemasa
Shōni Tsunesuke
Ōtomo Yoriyasu
Adachi Morimune
Kōno Michiari
Kikuchi Takefusa
Takezaki Suenaga
Shimazu Nagahisa		 Atagai
Fan Wenhu
Hong Dagu
Ala Temür †
Li T'ing
Kim Bang-gyeong
Strength
~40,000–60,000 ~142,000 men
4,400 ships
Casualties and losses
Unknown 120,000+
~20,000-30,000 South Chinese kept as Slaves (soon released)
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