Most students of Japanese history learn that the Mongols were defeated by a typhoon, later named kamikaze, “divine wind”. People who read a bit more may understand that the Japanese did have something to do with the victory and that it wasn’t entirely the result of the gods and their wind. Seems like new evidence shows that there was even more to it than we always thought.

While history often depicts the invaders being repulsed in a day, new evidence shows the conflict extended to the gates of the administrative capital of Dazaifu.

Kyūshū University professor Hattori Hideo, an expert on the invasion:

Hattori has put forward a completely new theory that the invaders did not immediately withdraw as widely believed but advanced a considerable distance into the interior. In making his argument, he cites records that tell of fighting near the shogunal administrative center of Dazaifu four days after the Yuan army landed.

Really interesting look at this battle.

LINK: The Battle of Bun’ei: The First Mongol Invasion of Japan