The Sudden Void in Imperial Power

In the autumn of 1643, the Manchu Empire stood at a critical juncture. Emperor Hong Taiji, the formidable leader who had consolidated Manchu power and declared the Qing Dynasty in 1636, lay dead in his Shenyang palace. His sudden passing created an unprecedented power vacuum that threatened to unravel decades of military conquest and political consolidation. The emperor had spent his life expanding Manchu territory and establishing administrative systems, yet he committed a crucial oversight: designating a clear successor to the dragon throne.

The Manchu political structure operated through a complex system of banner armies, each led by powerful princes and commanders. These eight banners—distinguished by their colors and borders—formed both military units and political factions. Without Hong Taiji’s strong hand to balance these competing interests, the question of succession became not merely a matter of protocol but a potential trigger for civil war. The Manchus stood at the threshold of conquering China proper, yet internal divisions threatened to destroy their empire before it could fully form.

This succession crisis occurred against the backdrop of Ming China’s collapse. The once-mighty Ming Dynasty had been crumbling under peasant rebellions, economic distress, and ineffective leadership. Hong Taiji had positioned the Qing to capitalize on this weakness, but his death jeopardized these strategic gains. The Manchu leadership faced a dual challenge: selecting a new ruler while maintaining unity to exploit China’s vulnerability.

The Principal Contenders and Their Factions

Two powerful factions emerged as the primary contenders for power. The Yellow Banners—comprising the Plain Yellow and Bordered Yellow banners—supported Hooge, Hong Taiji’s eldest son. As the leader of these elite units, Hooge represented continuity and legitimacy through direct lineage. His supporters argued that primogeniture provided the most stable transition of power, especially during turbulent times.

Opposing them stood Dorgon, the charismatic leader of the White Banners . As Hong Taiji’s half-brother, Dorgon possessed impressive military credentials and ambitious vision. His supporters pointed to his battlefield successes and administrative capabilities, arguing that strong leadership mattered more than direct descent. The White Banners had grown increasingly powerful under Dorgon’s command, making him a formidable candidate.

Beyond these two main factions, other princes and commanders watched carefully, calculating how to maximize their influence regardless of who ascended the throne. The Manchu political system allowed for considerable debate and negotiation in succession matters, unlike the Ming Dynasty’s strict primogeniture tradition. This flexibility could prevent civil war but also created opportunities for manipulation and power plays.

The Secret Council of Princes

In response to the crisis, Manchu nobles convened a closed-door council to determine the succession. This gathering brought together the most powerful figures across all eight banners, each representing both military power and political influence. The atmosphere was tense, with everyone understanding that the wrong decision could fracture their hard-won unity.

Before substantive discussions could begin, Sony and Oboi—influential commanders from the Yellow Banners—stood to declare their unwavering support for Hooge. Their intervention reflected the highly charged nature of the proceedings and demonstrated how banner loyalty often trumped broader political considerations. Dorgon, presiding over the meeting, immediately recognized the danger of allowing junior officers to dictate terms to their superiors.

Dorgon’s sharp rebuke—ordering Sony and Oboi from the chamber—established his authority but also revealed the underlying tensions. By ejecting the two commanders, Dorgon demonstrated that this would be a negotiation among equals, not a populist contest. However, this action also risked alienating the powerful Yellow Banners at precisely the moment when unity was most needed.

The Complicated Chinese Context

While the Manchus debated succession, China descended into chaos. The Ming Dynasty, which had ruled for nearly three centuries, collapsed under multiple pressures. peasant rebellions had swept across northern China, culminating in Li Zicheng’s capture of Beijing in April 1644. The Chongzhen Emperor’s suicide on Coal Hill marked the symbolic end of Ming rule, though loyalists would continue resistance for decades.

Li Zicheng declared himself emperor of the Shun Dynasty, but his reign proved brief and unstable. Meanwhile, Ming general Wu Sangui made a fateful decision at Shanhaiguan Pass. Faced with Li Zicheng’s forces and unable to trust his new overlord, Wu opened the gates to the Manchus, effectively inviting Qing forces into China proper. This decision would shape Chinese history for the next 268 years.

In Nanjing, Ming loyalists established a Southern Ming court, hoping to continue resistance from China’s secondary capital. This divided political landscape presented both opportunity and danger for the Manchus—they could exploit China’s fragmentation but also risked becoming bogged down in prolonged warfare if they failed to maintain their own unity.

The Dramatic Council Debate

After Sony and Oboi’s removal, Dorgon’s younger brother Dodo made an impassioned case for his brother’s candidacy. He emphasized Dorgon’s military achievements and leadership qualities, arguing that strong rule mattered more than bloodline during this critical period. For a moment, it appeared Dorgon might seize the initiative.

However, Dodo’s intervention backfired spectacularly. Yellow Banner representatives erupted in opposition, revealing the depth of resistance to Dorgon’s candidacy. The prince recognized that强行 pushing his claim could fracture the Manchu coalition irreparably. His hesitation at this crucial moment demonstrated political acumen—he understood that becoming emperor without broad support would make him ruler of a divided and weakened nation.

Dodo, ever impulsive, then proposed himself as candidate, citing their father Nurhaci’s supposed mention of him in historical documents. This desperate move only weakened the White Banner position further, as even Dorgon recognized his brother lacked sufficient support. Dodo’s subsequent suggestion of Daišan—Hong Taiji’s elder cousin—as compromise candidate reflected the growing desperation to find acceptable solution.

The Search for Compromise

Daišan, though respected for his age and experience, recognized his limitations. The elderly prince understood that assuming leadership would likely make him a figurehead for stronger personalities. His endorsement of Hooge appeared to swing momentum toward the Yellow Banner candidate, but what followed demonstrated the complexity of Manchu political culture.

Hooge, following established protocol, made the expected gestures of humility by declaring himself unworthy of the position. This conventional display of modesty—intended to show moral character—backfired disastrously when Dorgon seized upon it as genuine refusal. By “accepting” Hooge’s withdrawal at face value, Dorgon effectively eliminated his main competitor through clever manipulation of political norms.

With both leading candidates now effectively removed from consideration, the council reached stalemate. The need for compromise became increasingly urgent as external threats mounted. Every day spent in internal debate weakened the Manchus’ position against Chinese rebels and Ming loyalists.

The Unexpected Solution

It was Jirgalang—Nurhaci’s nephew and a generally moderate figure—who proposed the breakthrough solution. He suggested Fulin, Hong Taiji’s ninth son, as acceptable compromise candidate. At just six years old, Fulin posed no immediate threat to any faction, while his youth would require regency government that could balance competing interests.

Fulin’s mixed heritage—his mother was a Mongolian princess—offered additional advantages. It could help secure the allegiance of Mongol allies who played crucial role in Manchu military successes. This selection demonstrated the pragmatic nature of Manchu politics: sometimes the least threatening candidate became the most acceptable choice.

Dorgon, recognizing this as his best possible outcome, immediately endorsed the proposal while insisting on shared regency with Jirgalang. This arrangement gave Dorgon real power without making him emperor, while satisfying enough factions to prevent immediate conflict. The council agreed, and Fulin was proclaimed Emperor Shunzhi, though actual power would reside with his regents.

The Four Exemptions Policy

As the succession crisis resolved, Qing forces continued their military campaigns with particular policies toward conquered populations. In captured Liaodong territories, Qing commanders implemented what became known as the “Four Exemptions” policy—four categories of people who would be spared execution despite general massacres of refugees.

First were leatherworkers and cobblers, valued for their ability to produce footwear essential for military campaigns. Second were carpenters and woodworkers, needed for constructing fortifications, weapons, and infrastructure. Third were tailors and seamstresses, crucial for producing uniforms and clothing. Finally, actors and performers were spared, not merely for entertainment but for their role in maintaining morale and cultural continuity.

Conversely, educated scholars—particularly those who had passed imperial examinations—faced systematic execution. The Qing viewed these intellectuals as potentially rebellious due to their loyalty to Ming ideals and ability to organize resistance. This policy reflected pragmatic approach to consolidation: preserve technically useful populations while eliminating ideological threats.

The Aftermath and Historical Significance

The resolution of the 1643 succession crisis proved remarkably successful despite its messy process. Dorgon, as principal regent, led Qing forces to swift victory over Li Zicheng’s rebels and established Qing control over northern China. In October 1644, the young Shunzhi Emperor was ceremonially installed in Beijing’s Forbidden City, marking the formal beginning of Qing rule over China.

Dorgon’s regency established administrative systems that would characterize Qing rule for centuries. He blended Manchu military organization with Chinese bureaucratic traditions, creating hybrid government that could control vast territories and diverse populations. His death in 1650 triggered another political crisis, but the foundations he established proved durable enough to survive subsequent power struggles.

The Shunzhi Emperor eventually assumed personal rule in 1651, though his reign was cut short by death in 1661. His successor, the Kangxi Emperor, would build upon this foundation to create one of China’s most prosperous and expansive dynasties. The unlikely compromise of 1643—selecting a child emperor to preserve unity—ultimately enabled the Qing to complete their conquest of China and establish one of history’s most successful imperial regimes.

Legacy of a Political Compromise

The 1643 succession crisis demonstrated several enduring aspects of Qing political culture. First, it revealed the pragmatic nature of Manchu leadership, willing to compromise ideological purity for practical gains. Second, it established pattern of regency government that would recur throughout Qing history, particularly during transitions between young emperors.

Most importantly, the crisis resolution showed how the Qing would blend different political traditions—Manchu consultation, Mongol kinship networks, and Chinese bureaucratic practices—to create unique governing system. This hybrid approach characterized Qing rule and contributed significantly to their longevity compared to previous conquest dynasties.

The Four Exemptions policy similarly reflected pragmatic approach to governance that valued practical skills over abstract loyalty. This mentality would characterize Qing administration throughout their reign, contributing to both their success in consolidating power and their eventual difficulties in responding to Western technological challenges centuries later.

What began as potentially destructive crisis ultimately strengthened the Qing system by forcing development of flexible political mechanisms capable of balancing diverse interests. This ability to compromise and incorporate different elements would define Qing rule for nearly three centuries, making the 1643 succession dispute one of history’s most consequential political negotiations.