The Early Alliance: Brothers in Arms

In the late 16th century, the Jianzhou Jurchens were a fractured people, caught between the waning influence of the Ming Dynasty and the rising ambitions of regional warlords. Among them, Nurhaci emerged as a formidable leader, but his path to dominance was not without internal strife. His younger brother, Šurhaci, played a pivotal role in their early conquests—only to later become his greatest rival.

Born into the Aisin Gioro clan, Šurhaci grew up alongside Nurhaci, sharing in the hardships and triumphs that shaped their youth. When Nurhaci began his campaign to unify the Jurchen tribes in 1583, Šurhaci stood by his side as a trusted general. His military prowess earned him the title of “Beile” (chieftain) by 1587, second only to Nurhaci himself. Contemporary records, such as those from Korean envoys, noted Šurhaci’s impressive forces: 5,000 elite soldiers and 400 warhorses, making him the de facto second-in-command of the Jianzhou Jurchens.

The Growing Rift: Ideological and Political Divisions

Despite their shared victories, tensions simmered beneath the surface. Šurhaci adhered to a pro-Ming stance, a legacy of their father’s policies, while Nurhaci increasingly sought independence from Ming overlordship. This ideological divide was exacerbated by personal grievances. Though official Manchu records portrayed the brothers as equals, foreign observers noted disparities: while Nurhaci hosted envoys with lavish beef feasts, Šurhaci could only offer pork, and his ceremonial displays paled in comparison.

Šurhaci’s ambitions grew alongside his resentment. In 1595 and 1597, he traveled to Beijing, where the Ming court, eager to curb Nurhaci’s expansion, lavished him with titles and gifts. The Ming even addressed him as co-ruler of Jianzhou, a direct challenge to Nurhaci’s authority. Further solidifying his alignment with Ming interests, Šurhaci married his daughter to Li Rubai, son of the powerful Ming general Li Chengliang.

The Road to Rebellion: Alliances and Confrontations

By the early 1600s, Šurhaci openly defied Nurhaci. He mimicked his brother’s regalia, demanded equal treatment from foreign envoys, and even obstructed military campaigns—such as the 1599 conquest of the Hada tribe—to preserve pro-Ming allies. His most significant alliance was with Bujantai of the Ula tribe, a fellow Ming sympathizer. Through strategic marriages and covert coordination, the two plotted to counterbalance Nurhaci’s growing hegemony.

The breaking point came in 1607. Nurhaci, suspecting Šurhaci’s loyalty, orchestrated a trap: he ordered Šurhaci to lead an expedition to retrieve defectors from Ula territory, knowing it would provoke a clash. When Ula forces ambushed the Jurchen troops, Šurhaci hesitated, hoping to avoid confrontation. However, Nurhaci’s sons, Cuyen and Daišan, ignored his orders and won a stunning victory at the Battle of Ujijeon. The aftermath exposed Šurhaci’s disloyalty, and Nurhaci stripped him of military command.

The Final Betrayal and Tragic End

Cornered, Šurhaci fled to Hechem, a strategic site near Ming-controlled Tieling, where he declared independence in 1609. The Ming, eager to exploit the rift, granted him the title of “Jianzhou Right Guard Commander.” But Nurhaci, ever the tactician, lured his brother back to Hetu Ala under the pretense of reconciliation.

Historical accounts diverge here. Ming-era records claim Šurhaci was imprisoned in a windowless cell and slowly starved, while Qing sources sanitize the event, attributing his death to natural causes. What is certain is that Nurhaci executed Šurhaci’s sons and key supporters, eradicating the last major pro-Ming faction within the Jurchen leadership. By 1611, Šurhaci was dead, and Nurhaci’s path to founding the Later Jin dynasty—precursor to the Qing—was clear.

Legacy: A Brother Erased from History

Šurhaci’s story is one of thwarted ambition and familial betrayal. His resistance against Nurhaci underscored the complexities of Jurchen unification, where loyalty to tradition clashed with the drive for autonomy. Yet, Qing historiography minimized his role, casting him as a disloyal figure rather than a legitimate rival. Modern scholarship, however, recognizes Šurhaci as a symbol of the fractured loyalties that shaped early Manchu history—a reminder that even the most unified empires were forged through blood and sacrifice.

His downfall marked the end of Jianzhou’s pro-Ming faction and paved the way for Nurhaci’s conquests. But had Šurhaci succeeded, the trajectory of Northeast Asian history might have been profoundly different. Today, his legacy endures as a cautionary tale of power, brotherhood, and the high cost of ambition.