The Mongol's First Attempt to Invade Japan (1274)
by Crystal Yi
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/1/4/25144003/573779.jpg?408)
In the year of 1266, Kublai Khan (from China) sent a letter to Japan basically saying that it would be best for everyone if Japan and China became friendly. If not, they would prepare their arms for fire towards Japan. Kublai Khan demanded that Japan should become one of the allies under them. But Japan returns to them empty-handed. They had no answer and refused. In 1268, China sent another letter to China asking them if they would become one of their allies, yet again. And again, China responded empty-handed. For the longest time, Kublai Khan continued to send his men and letters over and over again to China. And every time, Japan responded empty-handed. Eventually, Kublai Khan was tired of the same responses that he was receiving. He decided to force arms onto Japan. Kublai prepared his men with shelter and weapons for the invasion of Japan to begin. It would be very easy for the Mongols to invade because of their advanced weaponry. They had gun powder exploding arrows and arrows with small rockets attached to them. Kublai Khan had his men armed with all of these weapons and had them board boats to sail to Japan. At around nightfall, a severe storm caused the boats to lose track of their trail and left them off course. (The picture above depicts the boats that the Mongols took to Japan. The picture below depicts the severe storm that caused the Mongols to go off course). After trying their best to search for Japan, they gave up and looked for their way back home. When they got home, the Goryeo general Kim Bang-Gyeong conversed with Kublai Khan and Kublai decided to make a second attempt to invade Japan.