Changes

*''Born: [[1559]]''

*''Born: [[1559]]''

*''Died: [[1626]]''

*''Died: [[1626]]''

Nurhachi was the founder of the [[Manchu]] [[Qing Dynasty]] of China.

Nurhachi was the Jurchen founder of the Later Jin Dynasty which under his son & successor would become the [[Manchu]] [[Qing Dynasty]].

He was born into an elite family of the [[Jurchens]] of the Long White Mountains (''Changbaishan'') on the border between [[Manchuria]] and Korea. During his youth, he traveled to [[Beijing]] as part of [[tribute]] missions on at least one occasion, and offered in the 1590s to aid the [[Ming Dynasty]] in defending Korea against the [[Korean Invasions|Japanese invasions]]; in return for these offers of aid, the Ming bestowed upon him a number of titles.

He was born into an elite family of the [[Jurchens]] of the Long White Mountains (''Changbaishan'') on the border between [[Manchuria]] and Korea. During his youth, he traveled to [[Beijing]] as part of [[tribute]] missions on at least one occasion. As early as [[1587]], a governor of the northern provinces of [[Ming Dynasty]] China noticed that a certain tribal leader (Nurhachi) had begun amassing territory and followers, and eliminating rivals; he sent a force against Nurhachi but was defeated, and ultimately censured by the Court, though in the end both he and his district director were absolved of charges for their failures, and the matter fell from the Court's attention, leaving Nurhachi free to continue gathering his forces.<ref>Ray Huang, ''1587: A Year of No Significance'', Yale University Press (1981), 111-112.</ref> In the 1590s, he offered to aid the Ming Dynasty in defending Korea against the [[Korean Invasions|Japanese invasions]], and the Ming bestowed upon him a number of titles in return for these offers.

By [[1610]], however, Nurhachi broke off relations between his group and the Ming, in response to certain attacks and humiliations which impacted not only his family's pride, but also their agricultural base. He did meet with Korean envoys, however, on at least one occasion. Beginning around that time, from 1610 until around [[1620]], Nurhachi began to expand the territory and people under his leadership, through a combination of political marriages, alliances, and conquest, absorbing a number of neighboring Jurchen and [[Mongol]] groups.

By [[1610]], however, Nurhachi broke off relations between his group and the Ming, in response to certain attacks and humiliations which impacted not only his family's pride, but also their agricultural base. He did meet with Korean envoys, however, on at least one occasion. Beginning around that time, from 1610 until around [[1620]], Nurhachi began to expand the territory and people under his leadership, through a combination of political marriages, alliances, and conquest, absorbing a number of neighboring Jurchen and [[Mongol]] groups.

As he expanded his territory, in [[1622]] Nurhachi considered the possibility of sending his forces down the Shanhaiguan Pass, where the [[Great Wall]] meets the sea, in order to attack the Ming more directly. The following year, however, before any such plan could be put into place, there was a rebellion amongst the Chinese in Liaoning, which diverted his attention. Nurhachi quickly suppressed this rebellion, however, and took steps to ensure it not happen again: Chinese were divided apart from Jurchens, into separate streets and separate homes. Chinese were banned from carrying any weapons, and Jurchens were, conversely, now obliged to be armed at all times, in order to defend against further uprisings. The Chinese rose up again, however, in 1625, and were harshly suppressed. Up until now, the Ming had not taken action to take advantage of these uprisings, but in 1625 some number of Ming generals did begin to launch attacks against the Manchus, achieving some early successes.

As he expanded his territory, in [[1622]] Nurhachi considered the possibility of sending his forces down the Shanhaiguan Pass, where the [[Great Wall]] meets the sea, in order to attack the Ming more directly. The following year, however, before any such plan could be put into place, there was a rebellion amongst the Chinese in Liaoning, which diverted his attention. Nurhachi quickly suppressed this rebellion, however, and took steps to ensure it not happen again: Chinese were divided apart from Jurchens, into separate streets and separate homes. Chinese were banned from carrying any weapons, and Jurchens were, conversely, now obliged to be armed at all times, in order to defend against further uprisings. The Chinese rose up again, however, in 1625, and were harshly suppressed. Up until now, the Ming had not taken action to take advantage of these uprisings, but in 1625 some number of Ming generals did begin to launch attacks against the Manchus, achieving some early successes.

Nurhachi died in 1626, and in accordance with Jurchen custom, his land and titles were divided amongst his most capable sons and nephews. The succession dispute which ensued ended in victory for Nurhachi's eighth son, [[Hong Taiji]], commander of the two yellow banners.

Nurhachi died in 1626, and in accordance with Jurchen custom, his land and titles were divided amongst his most capable sons and nephews. The succession dispute which ensued ended in victory for Nurhachi's eighth son, [[Hong Taiji]], commander of the two yellow banners. It was under Hong Taiji that the group would be renamed the Manchus, and the dynasty, the Qing.

 

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==References==

==References==

*Jonathan Spence, ''The Search for Modern China'', Second Edition, W.W. Norton & Co. (1999), 26-30.

*Jonathan Spence, ''The Search for Modern China'', Second Edition, W.W. Norton & Co. (1999), 26-30.

[[Category:Emperors]]

[[Category:Emperors]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]