Šurhaci

Šurhaci (Manchu: ᡧᡠᡵᡤᠠᠴᡳ; Chinese: 舒爾哈齊; 1564 – 25 September 1611) was a Jurchen leader and a member of the Aisin Gioro clan. He was the younger brother of Nurhaci, the founder of the Later Jin dynasty, which later evolved into the Qing dynasty.

During the Ming dynasty’s rule, Šurhaci held the title of local chieftain (都指揮) in the Jianzhou district. He maintained diplomatic and military relations with the Ming authorities until early 1607. In that year, he collaborated with Nurhaci in the campaign against Bujantai and the Ula tribe, after which he was awarded the title of darhan baturu.

In 1607, conflicts arose between Šurhaci and Nurhaci regarding the conquest of the Hoifa tribe and the killing of Hoifa's beile, Baindari. These disagreements led to Šurhaci's execution in 1611 under Nurhaci’s orders. He was interred in Dongjingling Township, Liaoyang. Posthumously, in 1653, Šurhaci was granted the rank of qinwang, or first-rank prince, with the posthumous title Prince Zhuang of the First Rank.

Historically, Korean ambassadors described Šurhaci as a tall, heavy-set man with a pale, square face.

Regarding his family, Šurhaci was married several times to women of prominent Manchu clans, and his descendants include numerous children who held various titles and married into other noble families. His primary consorts belonged to clans such as Tunggiya, Hada Nara, Fuca, Gūwalgiya, Ula Nara, Nara, Gūwalgiya, and Hoifa Nara. He also had concubines from the Donggo and Ayan Gioro clans.

His known children include:

- Altungga, his first son, born to his primary consort of the Tunggiya clan.

- Jirgalang, his sixth son, born to the Ula Nara primary consort.

- Fiyanggū, his eighth son, born to the Gūwalgiya primary consort.

- Princess Sundai, his daughter by the Gūwalgiya consort.

His descendants played roles in subsequent Qing history, and his family connections extended through marriage to various prominent clans within Manchu society.

Šurhaci’s lineage and activity are documented in sources such as George A. Kennedy's article in *Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period* (1943) and Willard J. Peterson’s *The Cambridge History of China, Volume 9* (2002).