Mantai

Mantai (Manchu: Mantai, ᠮᠠᠨ᠋ᡨ᠋ᠠᡳ; birth and death dates approximately 16th century – 1596), was the third ruler of the Ula Kingdom. His father was the previous ruler, Buyan. During his reign, the Ula Kingdom freed itself from the control of Hada, expanded its territory, and successively annexed the Suwan and Xibo tribes, regaining Suiha City. The Suwan minister Sorgo and his son Feiyingdong migrated south to establish their own state, while the Xibo minister surrendered to Yheh. Mantai also supported Wangtai’s five sons, Mengge Bulu, in returning to Hada to succeed the throne, and his brother Buzantai mediated the conflict between Yheh and Huifa, which temporarily enhanced Ula’s prestige. Because Yheh was stronger militarily and had support from the Ming dynasty, Mantai ultimately recognized Yheh as the leader of the alliance.

In the autumn of 1593, internal political instability arose in Mantai’s court, leading his brother Buzantai to lead an army of 3,000 to participate in military actions against Jianzhou, alongside the nine allied tribes led by Yheh. The coalition was defeated; the leader of the alliance, Yheh Belu Buzai, was killed, and Buzantai was captured. Afterwards, Mantai turned to ally with Nurhaci, attempting to redeem Buzantai with generous gifts, but this was not accepted. In response to the changing circumstances, Mantai’s relationship with Nurhaci grew closer; in 1596, he sent more than twenty members of Buzantai’s family to Jianzhou to reunite.

Regarding border relations, after the division of Suwan territory, Ula and Yheh became neighboring states, leading to increasing border disputes. In the same year, Mantai led troops to the border at Suwayan and Xilan (around present-day Shuangyang River in Changchun, Jilin Province), expelled Yheh crossing the border, and repaired defenses. In July, Mantai and his eldest son, Cuohuli, were assassinated; the reasons for the murder vary. Commonly, it is said they were killed due to their immoral behavior with village women; another account claims that Mantai’s maternal uncle Xin Niyu, supported by Yheh, launched a coup, killing Mantai and his son and spreading rumors. After Mantai’s death, Nurhaci escorted Buzantai back to Ula to succeed him. Following the fall of Xin Niyu’s faction, he fled to Yheh.

Regarding family, Mantai had four sons: Cuohuli, Namu Dali, Abutai, and Butali. After the fall of Ula, his descendants continued to reside under banners. Abutai was married to the Moshuke princess, titled Mergui, and served as a general and assistant overseer; Namu Dali moved to Ningguta, became Bairen (Prince), and after his death, his son Bai Yintai Zhu returned to Ula and served as a top guard; he died fighting in attack on Pido Island during the campaign against Korea and was posthumously honored as Yunqi Weiwu. Mantai’s daughter, Aba Haimu, married her maternal uncle Nurhaci and became a grand empress; she bore three princes: Ajige, Dorgon, and Dodo.