豐臣秀吉侵略朝鮮（即萬曆朝鮮之役）對東亞歷史的影響極為深遠，其結果不僅在朝鮮半島造成慘重的人員與物質損失，也對明朝國力及日本文化和技術交流產生重要影響，同時在三國之間埋下長期的民族仇恨。此役被認為是「萬曆三大征」之一，對東亞政治格局和歷史走向皆有深刻影響。

對朝鮮的影響極其巨大。首先，社會與經濟遭受毀滅性破壞，戰爭導致大批民眾死亡、村落焚毀，數以萬計的工匠，包括陶工、金屬工匠、木工等，被日軍掠走至日本，這些人後來在日本各地（如九州的有田）傳授先進技術，促成當地工藝發展。文化層面亦受重創，大量書籍、文物和珍貴文物被掠奪，甚至留下「耳塚」等戰利品象徵，這些行為深深刻入朝鮮人的集體記憶中。此外，這場戰爭強化朝鮮的「事大主義」，即更加依附明朝作為宗主國，以求保護與安全，成為朝鮮王朝外交政策的重要基礎。長遠來看，壬辰倭亂也成為朝鮮乃至現代韓國反日情緒的重要歷史根源。

對明朝而言，這場戰爭同樣帶來沉重負擔。為援助朝鮮，明朝投入大量軍力和財政資源，與其他戰爭（如寧夏與播州之役）合稱「萬曆三大征」，極大消耗國庫與軍力。這種長期的消耗使明朝對北方後金（後來的滿清）的崛起無力應對，間接加速明朝的衰亡。明朝官方稱此役為「朝鮮之役」，這一名稱也反映當時東亞國際關係中的層級與認知，即朝鮮為明朝的藩屬國，明朝需承擔保護義務。

對日本來說，這場戰爭既是豐臣秀吉擴張野心的展現，也帶來文化和技術上的交流。被掠走的朝鮮工匠將先進的陶藝、金屬工藝和建築技術帶入日本，對九州陶瓷業及其他手工藝產業發展起到一定促進作用。然而，這場戰爭同時也成為日本侵略歷史的一部分，留下深刻的歷史陰影，影響日本與鄰國的歷史關係，並成為後世反思軍事擴張與民族衝突的重要案例。

總體而言，萬曆朝鮮之役不僅是豐臣秀吉個人擴張野心的實踐，更是東亞三國歷史中一次具有深遠政治、軍事、社會與文化影響的事件。它改變朝鮮的外交策略、加速明朝國力衰退，並在日本的文化發展與技術傳播史上留下不可磨滅的痕跡，同時深深影響東亞的民族情感與國際關係。

Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s invasion of Korea, known as the Imjin War or the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), had profound and far-reaching consequences for East Asian history. The campaign inflicted devastating human and material losses on the Korean Peninsula, drained the resources of the Ming Dynasty, influenced Japanese cultural and technological development, and sowed long-lasting ethnic animosities among the three nations. Considered one of the “Three Great Campaigns of the Wanli Era,” it significantly shaped the political landscape and historical trajectory of East Asia.

The impact on Korea was catastrophic. Socially and economically, the war caused widespread destruction: countless civilians were killed, villages were burned, and tens of thousands of skilled artisans—including potters, metalworkers, and carpenters—were forcibly taken to Japan. These artisans later introduced advanced techniques in various regions, such as Arita in Kyushu, laying the foundation for Japan’s development in crafts and ceramics. Culturally, vast quantities of books, artifacts, and precious cultural treasures were looted, leaving behind war trophies such as the “ear mounds” in Kyoto, which left deep imprints on Korean collective memory. The war also reinforced Korea’s policy of “Sadae” (serving the greater power), deepening its reliance on the Ming Dynasty for protection and solidifying this approach as a cornerstone of Korean foreign policy. In the long term, the Imjin War became a central historical source of anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea.

For the Ming Dynasty, the war imposed an enormous burden. To aid Korea, Ming China committed substantial military and financial resources. Alongside other campaigns, such as those in Ningxia and Bozhou, the conflict was collectively known as the “Three Great Campaigns of the Wanli Era,” which heavily depleted the imperial treasury and military strength. This prolonged strain left the Ming unable to respond effectively to the rising threat of the Later Jin (later the Qing), indirectly accelerating the dynasty’s decline. Officially, the Ming referred to the conflict as the “Korean Campaign,” reflecting the contemporary East Asian hierarchy, in which Korea was a tributary state of Ming China, and the dynasty had a protective obligation.

For Japan, the war both manifested Hideyoshi’s expansionist ambitions and facilitated cultural and technological exchange. The Korean artisans brought advanced pottery, metalwork, and architectural skills to Japan, contributing to the development of local industries, particularly ceramics in Kyushu. However, the war also became a prominent chapter in Japan’s history of aggression, leaving a lasting shadow over Japan’s relations with its neighbors and serving as a historical example for reflecting on military expansion and ethnic conflict.

Overall, the Imjin War was not only an expression of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s personal ambitions but also a momentous event with deep political, military, social, and cultural ramifications for East Asia. It reshaped Korea’s diplomatic strategies, accelerated the decline of Ming China, left an indelible mark on Japanese cultural and technological development, and profoundly influenced ethnic relations and international dynamics in the region.