The Rise of a Warrior and His Emotional World

Nurhaci, the legendary founder of the Later Jin dynasty and a pivotal figure in Manchu history, is often remembered for his military conquests and political acumen. Yet behind the iron will of this empire-builder lay a deeply emotional man whose personal life was marked by passion, betrayal, and heartbreak. His relationships with women—marked by love, resentment, and tragedy—reveal a complex figure whose personal struggles shaped his reign.

Born in 1559, Nurhaci began his rise to power in 1583, famously rallying supporters with just “Thirteen Armor Sets” to avenge his father’s death. By his late teens, he had already begun forming marital alliances, fathering his first daughter, Donggo Gege, at age 20. Over time, he took multiple wives, each relationship weaving into the tapestry of his political and personal ambitions.

The Unattainable Beauty: The “Yehe Old Maid”

Among the women who haunted Nurhaci’s heart, none was more enigmatic than the so-called “Yehe Old Maid,” later dramatized as “Dongge.” Born in 1582 to the Yehe tribe’s leader, Buzhai, her birth was accompanied by a shaman’s prophecy: “This woman will either rise empires or ruin them.” Renowned as the “Most Beautiful Woman of the Jurchen,” she became a political pawn and a symbol of unfulfilled desire for Nurhaci.

In 1597, after the Battle of Gule, the Yehe tribe offered Dongge to Nurhaci as a peace gesture. But she refused, declaring: “Nurhaci killed my father. I will only marry the man who kills him!” Her defiance stemmed from a gruesome incident: after Buzhai’s death in battle, Nurhaci had his corpse split in two, returning only half to the Yehe. This act cemented her hatred.

Dongge’s subsequent engagements became a curse—each suitor met ruin. The Manchu Old Archives recorded: “Because of her, the Hada nation fell, the Hoifa nation perished, and the Ula tribe was destroyed.” When she finally married Mongoldai of the Khalkha tribe in 1615, Nurhaci’s fury became immortalized in his “Seven Grievances” against the Ming: “The Ming crossed borders to aid Yehe, stealing my betrothed and giving her to the Mongols. This is the fourth grievance!”

Scandal in the Harem: The Fall of Abahai

Nurhaci’s later years were marred by a shocking scandal involving his primary consort, Abahai. A noblewoman from the Ula tribe, she rose quickly in his favor, bearing three sons—including the future regent Dorgon. Yet in 1620, a junior concubine accused her of adultery with Nurhaci’s heir, Daišan.

Investigations revealed damning evidence: “The grand consort sent servants to Daišan’s home repeatedly; she herself left the palace late at night.” Though enraged, Nurhaci spared her—partly due to Manchurian levirate customs (which allowed widows to marry kinsmen) and concern for their young children. Abahai was exiled but later recalled, a testament to Nurhaci’s conflicted heart.

The Tragic Queen: Monggo Jerjer

Among Nurhaci’s wives, Monggo Jerjer (posthumously honored as Empress Xiaocigao) embodied both love and political strife. Married at 14 in 1588, she bore his eighth son, Hong Taiji (later Emperor Taizong of Qing). Yet her loyalty was torn between her husband and her Yehe kin after the 1593 Gule War, where Nurhaci slaughtered her tribesmen.

Her final wish—to see her mother before death—was denied by her brother, Narin Bulu. “She wept, staring into the void, and died at 29,” records state. Nurhaci’s grief was profound: he kept her coffin near him for three years, abstained from meat and wine for a month, and executed four maids to serve her in the afterlife. This loss fueled his vendetta against Yehe, culminating in their destruction in 1619.

Legacy: Love and Power in the Making of the Qing

Nurhaci’s emotional trials were inseparable from his political trajectory. His obsession with Dongge underscored the intersection of personal pride and tribal warfare. Abahai’s scandal exposed tensions between tradition and power struggles within the court. Monggo Jerjer’s death became a rallying cry against the Yehe, justifying later conquests.

These relationships also shaped the Qing dynasty’s foundation. Hong Taiji, born of Monggo Jerjer, would inherit his father’s ambitions, while Abahai’s son Dorgon became a key regent. The “Seven Grievances,” partly inspired by romantic slights, formalized Manchu grievances against the Ming.

Conclusion: The Man Behind the Myth

Nurhaci’s life reminds us that even the fiercest conquerors are shaped by love and loss. His story—of unrequited passion, betrayal, and mourning—reveals how personal vulnerabilities fueled empire-building. In the annals of history, the heart of a warrior often beats as fiercely as his sword arm.