Nurhaci

Also known as Qingtai Zu · Tian Minghan · Ai Xin Jue Luo · Nu Er Ha Chi

Nurhaci, of the Aisin Gioro clan, came from the Jianzhou Left Guard of the Jurchens. In 1583, after Ming troops killed his grandfather Giocangga and father Taksi by mistake, he took up arms with thirteen suits of inherited armour, killed his rival Nikan Wailan, absorbed the other Jianzhou tribes, and in 1593 defeated a nine-tribe coalition led by the Yehe. In 1599 he had Erdeni adapt the Mongol alphabet to write Manchu, and his companies of followers grew into the Eight Banners. In 1616 he proclaimed himself khan at Hetu Ala, naming his state Jin, known as the Later Jin, with the reign title Tianming. In 1618 he declared seven grievances against the Ming and took Fushun; in 1619 he crushed four Ming armies at Sarhu, and he later took Liaoyang and Shenyang, his capital from 1625. Repulsed by Yuan Chonghuan at Ningyuan in 1626, he died that autumn. Once Hong Taiji renamed the state Qing, he was honoured as Taizu; he lies in the Fu Tomb at Shenyang.