Dorgon (simplified: 多尔衮, traditional: 多爾袞, pinyin: Duō’ěrgǔn, jyutping: do1 ji5 gwan2) was a prince of the Later Jin (后金 — Hòujīn) and the half-brother of Huangtaiji (皇太极). In Sword Stained with Royal Blood, he appears indirectly through his relationship with Hong Shenghai, who served under Dorgon before being converted by Yuan Chengzhi to become a loyal ally.
Biography
Historical background
Dorgon was a real historical figure who lived from 1612 to 1650. He was the fourteenth son of Nurhaci and the half-brother of Huangtaiji. After Huangtaiji’s death in 1643, Dorgon became regent for the young Shunzhi Emperor and played a crucial role in the Manchu conquest of China. He was posthumously given the title Prince Rui (睿亲王 — Ruì Qīnwáng).
In the novel, Dorgon’s role is primarily referenced through his relationship with Hong Shenghai, who served under him before meeting Yuan Chengzhi.
Service under Dorgon
In the novel, Hong Shenghai, after his family was killed by Sun Zhongjun (孙仲君) of the Huashan School, was forced to flee and eventually entered the service of the Later Jin. He worked for Dorgon, serving as a traitor to the Han people in exchange for protection from his enemies.
This decision, while understandable given Hong Shenghai’s tragic circumstances, made him a traitor in the eyes of many Han people, as he was helping a foreign power that was at war with his own people. His service under Dorgon represents the desperation that drove some Han people to collaborate with the Later Jin forces.
Conversion by Yuan Chengzhi
Hong Shenghai’s path changed when he encountered Yuan Chengzhi. During their meeting, Yuan Chengzhi, with the help of Priest Musang (木桑道长), managed to capture Hong Shenghai. After a test of martial arts skills, Hong Shenghai was impressed by Yuan Chengzhi’s abilities and his sense of justice.
Yuan Chengzhi, understanding Hong Shenghai’s tragic background and the circumstances that had led him to serve the Later Jin, showed compassion and offered him a chance to redeem himself. Hong Shenghai abandoned his service under Dorgon and became a loyal ally of Yuan Chengzhi, demonstrating the power of compassion and understanding to convert even those who had collaborated with the enemy.
Role in the novel
Representing Later Jin influence
Dorgon’s appearance in the novel, through his relationship with Hong Shenghai, represents the Later Jin’s ability to attract and employ Han collaborators. The fact that Hong Shenghai, a skilled martial artist from the Bohai School, was willing to serve under Dorgon demonstrates the Later Jin’s growing power and influence, as well as the desperation that drove some Han people to collaborate with the enemy.
The complexity of collaboration
Hong Shenghai’s service under Dorgon highlights the complex moral questions surrounding collaboration with enemy forces. While Hong Shenghai’s decision to serve the Later Jin was driven by desperation and a desire for protection, it also made him a traitor in the eyes of many. His eventual conversion by Yuan Chengzhi demonstrates the possibility of redemption and the power of compassion to overcome past mistakes.
Contrast with Yuan Chengzhi
Dorgon’s role in the novel also serves to contrast with Yuan Chengzhi’s approach. While Dorgon, as a Later Jin prince, represented the enemy forces that threatened the Ming dynasty, Yuan Chengzhi showed compassion and understanding toward those who had collaborated with the enemy, offering them a chance at redemption. This contrast highlights Yuan Chengzhi’s moral character and his commitment to justice over personal vengeance.
Relationships
Family
- Nurhaci — Dorgon’s father and the founder of the Later Jin state
- Huangtaiji — Dorgon’s half-brother, who succeeded Nurhaci as khan of the Later Jin
Fictional characters
- Hong Shenghai — A member of the Bohai School who served under Dorgon before being converted by Yuan Chengzhi to become a loyal ally
Legacy
Dorgon’s historical legacy is significant. After Huangtaiji’s death, he became regent for the young Shunzhi Emperor and played a crucial role in the Manchu conquest of China. He was one of the key figures responsible for the Qing dynasty’s eventual establishment of control over all of China.
In the context of the novel, however, Dorgon’s legacy is primarily defined by his relationship with Hong Shenghai. His ability to attract Han collaborators like Hong Shenghai demonstrates the Later Jin’s growing power and influence, while Hong Shenghai’s eventual conversion by Yuan Chengzhi highlights the possibility of redemption and the power of compassion to overcome past mistakes.