The Emergence of the Jurchen Confederacy

In the decades preceding Nurhaci’s rise, the Jurchen tribes experienced a surge in collective identity. Among them, the Haixi Jurchens—comprising the Hada,乌拉 (Ula), 辉发 (Hoifa), and 叶赫 (Yehe) tribes—emerged as dominant players in northeastern Asia. These groups, originally named after the Haixi River (a stretch of the Songhua River), migrated southward during the mid-Ming dynasty, forming what Chinese records called the “Four Haixi Tribes” or “Hulun Four Tribes.”

The Hada tribe, led by the astute chieftain Wang Tai (known as “Wan” in Manchu sources), became the linchpin of regional stability. Their territory spanned strategic trade routes near modern-day Kaiyuan, Liaoning, where they monopolized the lucrative tribute trade with Ming China. Unlike rebellious factions like Wang Gao of the Jianzhou Jurchens, Wang Tai pursued a policy of calculated submission to the Ming—a strategy that inadvertently laid groundwork for later Jurchen unification.

Wang Tai’s Golden Age: Diplomacy and Dominance

Wang Tai’s grandfather, Keshina (Suhete to Ming chroniclers), had already cemented Hada’s influence by securing Ming favor. As a Ming-appointed左都督 (Left Chief Commissioner), Keshina controlled critical tribute routes and eliminated bandits plaguing envoys. His assassination in 1534 triggered a power struggle, but by 1550, Wang Tai consolidated control through a mix of military prowess and shrewd alliances.

Key to Hada’s supremacy were two Ming-bestowed advantages:
1. Trade Monopoly: The Hada capital at Shangyangbao (靖安堡) became the gateway for furs, ginseng, and pearls from Siberia to enter Ming markets. Wang Tai’s intermediaries profited immensely, with annual revenues reaching “tens of thousands” of taels.
2. 敕书 (Chishu) Control: These Ming-issued credentials dictated tribute rights. At their peak, the Hada held 700 of the 1,000 Haixi Chishu, enabling them to manipulate lesser tribes.

Wang Tai’s zenith saw him recognized as Longhu Jiangjun (Dragon-Tiger General), the first Jurchen leader to receive this honor. His domain stretched from the Hun River to Songhua tributaries, with vassals including the Yehe and Jianzhou tribes. Ming officials noted his administration mirrored Chinese systems, complete with farmland and centralized governance.

The Cracks in the Empire: Internal Decay and Yehe’s Revolt

Success bred complacency. By the 1570s, Wang Tai’s aging rule grew tyrannical. Corruption festered—disputes were settled by bribes, and his sons extorted neighboring tribes for falcons and furs. The breaking point came when the Yehe tribe, long resentful of Hada’s dominance, struck back.

The Yehe chieftains Qinggiunu and Yangginu (grandsons of the Hada-executed Zhukongge) masterminded a rebellion. They exploited Hada’s internal strife:
– 1582: Wang Tai died, leaving a succession crisis between his heir Hurhan and illegitimate son Kang Guru.
– Yehe Interference: Kang Guru defected to Yehe, marrying Qinggiunu’s daughter, while Yehe forces reclaimed eight forts and 200 Chishu.
– Ming Intervention: The Ming attempted to mediate but failed. In 1584, Liaoning general Li Chengliang lured the Yehe brothers into a trap at开原’s trade enclave, slaughtering them in the infamous “Market Circle Massacre.”

The Aftermath: Collapse and Nurhaci’s Ascent

Despite temporary Ming support, Hada never recovered. By 1591, Yehe’s new leaders Narin Buluku and Bujai overran Hada lands. The last Hada chief, Menggebulu, sought aid from an emerging power—Nurhaci of the Jianzhou Jurchens. This proved fatal: Nurhaci annexed Hada in 1601, using its resources to fuel his conquest of Manchuria.

Legacy: The Unintentional Unifier

Wang Tai’s reign was a paradox. His submission to the Ming preserved Jurchen cohesion long enough for a stronger unifier—Nurhaci—to emerge. The Hada’s control of trade and Chishu centralized tribal economics, while their collapse demonstrated the perils of corruption. Modern historians debate whether Wang Tai’s policies delayed or enabled the Qing dynasty’s rise, but his era remains a critical pivot in Manchurian history.

The Haixi Jurchens’ story is one of ambition and miscalculation—a cautionary tale of how prosperity sows the seeds of downfall, and how empires rise on the ruins of their predecessors.