Byeongin Horan (1636–1637 Qing Invasion of Korea)

Timeline

1. 1636–1637Line from Uiju to Hanyang · Northwestern KoreaOn December 9, 1636 (lunar calendar), Hong Taiji personally led about 100,000 troops across the Yalu River from Uiju; the Qing vanguard cavalry swept south with lightning speed, breaking through Korea's provincial defenses within days and driving on Hanyang (present-day Seoul). King Injo had no time to flee to Ganghwa Island and instead retreated to Namhansanseong.
2. 1637Namhansanseong · KoreaInjo led his ministers into Namhansanseong to hold out, and the Qing army immediately besieged it in the freezing snow. Provisions inside were insufficient, outside relief forces could not break the Qing encirclement, and several Korean royalist armies were defeated. Injo held for 45 days before being forced to open the gates and surrender when food and reinforcements ran out.
3. 1637Samjeondo · KoreaInjo left the city and performed the "three kneelings and nine kowtows" to Hong Taiji at Samjeondo, formally becoming a subject of the Qing. Korea discarded the Ming era name and adopted the Qing calendar, sent the crown prince and Prince Bongnim as hostages to Mukden, and paid annual tribute. This marked the complete end of Ming suzerainty over Korea and a fundamental rejection of the Korean anti-Qing faction's policy.