Officer who helped Yi Sun-sin build turtle ships and fell at Myeongnyang with his four sons; pen name Juchon
| Life | 1538 ~ 1597 |
| Era | 조선 중기 |
| Clan | 장흥 마씨 |
Ma Ha-su (1538-1597) was a mid-Joseon officer of the Jangheung Ma clan, courtesy name Seoncheon and pen name Juchon. The Academy of Korean Studies entry introduces him as a descendant of Chungjeong-gong Ma Cheon-mok. He passed the military examination in 1564 and served as Seongonggam Jubu. In the Imjin War he is said to have taken part in building turtle ships and to have helped Yi Sun-sin.
When Yi Sun-sin was imprisoned in 1597 he resigned, but when Yi returned as commander and reached Hoeryeongpo he supported from the rear with four sons and over ten local boats. At Myeongnyang in September that year, seeing Yi surrounded by enemy ships, he said that a man born into the world should die at such a time, charged the enemy with his four sons Seong-ryong, Wi-ryong, I-ryong and Hwa-ryong, and was killed by gunfire. The four sons are said to have fought on and contributed to the victory.
He was posthumously made Vice Minister of War, and Wikipedia says he is enshrined at Chunghyeonsa in Gyeonggi, while another source says Chunghyeonsa in Jangheung, so the shrine location differs by source. Biographical sources include the Ichungmugong Jeonseo and Hong Seok-ju's tomb inscription in the Yeoncheonjip, and he is also recorded in the Honam Jeoluirok. A story of a whole family going to battle together has been long remembered locally. It can be seen as one form of the martial tradition running from his distant ancestor Ma Cheon-mok, but that is an interpretation, not a fact. See also the Jangheung Ma page.
He fell fighting at Myeongnyang in September 1597 with his four sons.
He was posthumously made Vice Minister of War. The enshrining shrine differs by source and needs checking. See the Jangheung Ma page.
His tomb was not confirmed.
His sons were Ma Seong-ryong, Ma Wi-ryong, Ma I-ryong and Ma Hwa-ryong.