Battle of Caishi
Caishi, on the Yangtze near Ma'anshan, China
What happened
The Southern Song dynasty, with its army led by the official Yu Yunwen, fought the army and fleet of the Jin emperor Wanyan Liang. Wanyan Liang tried to cross the Yangtze River at Caishi to conquer the Song. The Song had hidden paddle-wheel warships behind an island and attacked when the Jin ships set out. Their catapults threw 'thunderclap bombs' made with gunpowder and lime, and the Jin were defeated on two days running.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It boosted Song morale and stability. The Jin gave up their push south.
What came next
The Jin withdrew in 1162, and a peace treaty in 1165 kept the old border on the Huai River.
Did you know?
Yu Yunwen had come to Caishi only to hand out awards, but took charge of the scattered Song troops when the Jin arrived.
Timeline
- 1110Yu Yunwen is born.
- 26-27 November 1161The Song win at Caishi.
- 1162The Jin withdraw.
- 1165A peace treaty ends the war.