Murhaci

Murhaci (Manchu: ᠮᡠᡵᡤᠠᠴᡳ, transliteration: Murgaci; 1561–1620), of the Aisin Gioro clan, was the second son of Xianzhu Takasu. He was the brother of Nurhaci, the founding emperor of the Qing dynasty. His mother was Li Jiasi. He played a long-standing important role in the military affairs of the clan.

Brief Biography: In 1585, Murhaci accompanied Nurhaci in campaigning against the Zhechen clan. Due to limited forces at the start of the campaign, he initially led only 500 soldiers. During the march, they encountered a flood and were forced to halt the army’s advance. During the retreat, fifty cotton armor and thirty iron armor remained. Subsequently, the leader of the Zhechen clan learned of this and assembled over 800 men from the Tomohe, Zhangjia, Barda, Sarhu, and other tribes to attack. In the battle, Zaporozan’s grandson Zak, alongside Sangguli and others, abandoned their armor out of fear of the enemy. Murhaci, along with Yan Bulu and Wuzun Gai, advanced under Nurhaci’s command, shooting and killing over twenty opponents, causing the enemy to cross the Hun River and retreat. Nurhaci then circled to the rear and ambushed more than ten enemy soldiers, achieving a complete victory. Nurhaci praised him by saying: “Today, four men defeated 800 — Heaven helped us!” Murhaci continued to achieve military successes and was awarded the title “Qing Baturu” (translated as “Chengyi,” meaning “Sincere and Resolute”).

Later Life and Death: He died in the fifth year of the Tianming era (1620) at the age of 60, and Nurhaci personally held a funeral for him at his tomb. In the tenth year of Shunzhi (1653), he was posthumously bestowed the title “Chengyi Yongzhuang Beile” (Meaning “Sincere, Brave, and Strong Prince”).

Family and Descendants: Murhaci had a primary wife from the Maja clan, and secondary wives from the Niohuru and Tatala clans, among others. He fathered eleven sons. His eldest son, Sahanlian, served as the Guardian General Darchar and held other titles. Many of his descendants appeared in historical records as members of the imperial clan. One of them, the Guardian General Tahai, was married to Nala, and had a son named Taimubulu. Among his grandchildren was the clan poet Sierhe (1677–1747), courtesy name Lian and sobriquet Beiqian Jizi, who served as the chief of the Imperial Academy during the Yongzheng Emperor’s reign and as a Treasurer-General of the Granary. He authored the “Xiaoting Poetry Collection,” consisting of four volumes. Cai Jiashi was the daughter of the Governor Cai Yurong; others held official titles within the imperial clan.

Additional reading: See the Chronicle of the Qing Dynasty, Volume 215.