A severe storm and a sudden hurricane arose to save the Japanese from the predicament of the Mongol invasion.
According to the Guardian, in August 1281, Kublai Khan, the great khan of the Mongol Empire, sent troops to invade Japan. But like the previous invasion of 1274, the Mongols again failed due to the weather factor.
The powerful invaders, with more than 4,000 warships and 140,000 troops, came from Korea and China. The Japanese were not outnumbered but were less equipped as the Mongols brought new weapons such as explosive arrows and grenades.
However, the Japanese still tightened their defenses, making it impossible for the Mongols to capture the island of Kyushu. While the two sides were in a tussle, a hurricane struck.
Not wanting to be trapped in enemy territory, the Mongol invaders retreated to their ships and attempted to weather the storm. Many warships collided or crashed into rocks, causing most of the soldiers to drown.
The remains of the surviving troops were washed away by the waves and died at the point of the Japanese sword. Only a few hundred warships returned unharmed to Mongolia, marking the invasion’s complete defeat.
In Japan, a hurricane is considered a sign of divine help and is called “god wind” hay Kamikaze in Japanese.
Strong typhoons are rare in Kyushu. However, researchers examining the sediments at the bottom of the region’s lakes have found evidence of severe flooding in the 13th century. In addition, analysis of the hulls of Mongolian warships indicates poorly made quality and not strong enough to move in a thunderstorm.
