Nurhaci (simplified: 努尔哈赤, traditional: 努爾哈赤, pinyin: Nú’ěrhāchì, jyutping: nou5 ji5 haa1 cek3) was the founder of the Later Jin (后金 — Hòujīn) state and the first khan of the Jurchen-Manchu forces who challenged the Ming dynasty. In Sword Stained with Royal Blood, he is primarily remembered for his defeat at the hands of Yuan Chonghuan at the Battle of Ningyuan, which established the Ming general’s reputation as a formidable defender against the northern threat.
Biography
Historical background
Nurhaci was a real historical figure who lived from 1559 to 1626. He was a Jurchen chieftain who unified the Jurchen tribes and founded the Later Jin state in 1616. He established the Eight Banners system and created the Manchu script, laying the foundation for what would become the Qing dynasty. He is posthumously known as Qing Taizu (清太祖), the “Great Ancestor of the Qing”.
In the novel, Nurhaci does not appear directly, as the story begins after his death. However, his legacy and his defeat by Yuan Chonghuan are crucial to understanding the historical context and the central conflict of the narrative.
Unification of the Jurchen tribes
Nurhaci successfully unified the various Jurchen tribes, bringing them together under his leadership. This unification created a powerful military force that posed a significant threat to the Ming dynasty’s northern frontier. His establishment of the Eight Banners system provided the organisational structure that would make the Manchu forces so effective in later campaigns.
Foundation of the Later Jin
In 1616, Nurhaci declared himself Khan of the Later Jin and established his capital at Hetu Ala. This marked the formal beginning of the Later Jin state, which would later evolve into the Qing dynasty under his successors. The establishment of the Later Jin represented a direct challenge to Ming authority in the region.
Defeat at Ningyuan
Nurhaci’s most significant encounter in the context of the novel was his defeat by Yuan Chonghuan at the Battle of Ningyuan in 1626. Yuan Chonghuan successfully defended the city against Nurhaci’s forces, and Nurhaci was reportedly wounded in the battle. This defeat was a significant setback for the Later Jin and established Yuan Chonghuan’s reputation as one of the most capable military commanders of the late Ming dynasty.
Nurhaci died later that year, possibly from injuries sustained in the battle, though historical sources differ on the exact cause of his death. He was succeeded by his son Huangtaiji (皇太极), who would continue the Later Jin’s expansion and eventually establish the Qing dynasty.
Role in the novel
Historical context
Nurhaci’s role in the novel is primarily as a historical figure whose actions established the context for the story. His defeat by Yuan Chonghuan at Ningyuan is crucial to understanding Yuan Chonghuan’s reputation and the significance of his wrongful execution. The fact that Yuan Chonghuan was able to defeat the founder of the Later Jin, who had unified the Jurchen tribes and established a powerful military force, demonstrates the Ming general’s exceptional abilities.
Foundation of the conflict
Nurhaci’s establishment of the Later Jin and his campaigns against the Ming dynasty set in motion the historical forces that would eventually lead to the fall of the Ming and the rise of the Qing. His legacy, carried on by his successors, created the northern threat that would ultimately overwhelm the Ming dynasty.
The fact that Yuan Chonghuan successfully defended against Nurhaci’s forces, only to be executed by the Chongzhen Emperor on false charges of colluding with the Manchus, highlights the tragic irony at the heart of the novel’s central conflict.
Impact on Yuan Chonghuan’s reputation
Nurhaci’s defeat at the hands of Yuan Chonghuan established the Ming general’s reputation as a formidable military commander. This reputation made his wrongful execution all the more tragic and unjust, as it removed one of the most capable defenders of the northern frontier at a time when the threat from the Later Jin was growing.
Relationships
Family
- Huangtaiji — Nurhaci’s son and successor, who inherited the Later Jin state and continued its expansion against the Ming dynasty
Historical figures
- Yuan Chonghuan — The Ming general who defeated Nurhaci at the Battle of Ningyuan, establishing his reputation as a capable defender against the northern threat
Legacy
Nurhaci’s historical legacy extends far beyond the events depicted in the novel. He is remembered as the founder of the Qing dynasty, which would rule China for over 250 years. His unification of the Jurchen tribes, establishment of the Eight Banners system, and creation of the Manchu script laid the foundation for one of the most successful imperial dynasties in Chinese history.
In the context of the novel, however, his legacy is primarily defined by his defeat at Ningyuan, which established Yuan Chonghuan’s reputation and made the Ming general’s wrongful execution all the more tragic and significant.