Jirgalang or Jirhalang (

Manchu The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchuria derives its name. The Later Jin (1616–1636) an ...

: 19 November 1599 – June 11, 1655) was a

noble, regent, and political and military leader of the early

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...

. Born in the

Aisin Gioro The House of Aisin-Gioro was a Manchu clan that ruled the Later Jin dynasty (1616–1636), the Qing dynasty (1636–1912), and Manchukuo (1932–1945) in the history of China. Under the Ming dynasty, members of the Aisin Gioro clan served as ch ...

clan, he was the sixth son of

Šurhaci Šurhaci (; ; 1564 – 25 September 1611), was a Jurchen leader, a member of the Aisin Gioro clan, he was a younger brother of Nurhaci, the founder of the Later Jin dynasty, the predecessor of the Qing dynasty. Under the Ming dynasty government ...

, a younger brother of

Nurhaci Nurhaci (14 May 1559 – 30 September 1626), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Qing (), was a Jurchen chieftain who rose to prominence in the late 16th century in Manchuria. A member of the House of Aisin-Gioro, he reigned ...

, the founder of the Qing dynasty. From 1638 to 1643, he took part in many military campaigns that helped destroy the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

. After the death of Huangtaiji (Nurhaci's successor) in September 1643, Jirgalang became one of the young

Shunzhi Emperor The Shunzhi Emperor (15 March 1638 – 5 February 1661) was the second emperor of the Qing dynasty of China, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1644 to 1661. A committee of Manchu princes chose him to succe ...

's two co-regents, but he soon yielded most political power to co-regent

Dorgon Dorgon (, ; 17 November 1612 – 31 December 1650), was a Manchu prince and regent of the early Qing dynasty. Born in the House of Aisin-Gioro as the 14th son of Nurhaci (the founder of the Later Jin dynasty, predecessor of the Qing dynast ...

in October 1644. Dorgon eventually purged him of his regent title in 1647. After Dorgon died in 1650, Jirgalang led an effort to clean the government of Dorgon's supporters. Jirgalang was one of ten " princes of the first rank" (和碩親王) whose descendants were made "iron-cap" princes (鐵帽子王), who had the right to transmit their princely titles to their direct male descendants perpetually.

Career before 1643

In 1627, Jirgalang took part in the first Manchu campaign against Korea under the command of his older brother Amin.Kennedy (1943a): 397. In 1630, when Amin was stripped of his titles for having failed to fight an army of the

, Huangtaiji gave Jirgalang control of the

Bordered Blue Banner The Bordered Blue Banner () was one of the Eight Banners of Manchu military and society during the Later Jin and Qing dynasty of China. It was one of the lower five banners. According to the general annals of the Eight Banners, the Bordered Blue B ...

, which had been under Amin's command.Kennedy (1943a): 397. As one of "four senior

beile The Qing dynasty (1636–1912) of China developed a complicated peerage system for royal and noble ranks. Rule of inheritance In principle, titles were downgraded one grade for each generation of inheritance. * Direct imperial princes with ...

" (the other three were Daišan, Manggūltai, and Huangtaiji himself), Jirgalang participated in many military campaigns against the Ming and the

Chahar Mongols The Chahars (Khalkha Mongolian: Цахар, Tsahar; ) are a subgroup of Mongols that speak Chakhar Mongolian and predominantly live in southeastern Inner Mongolia, China. The Chahars were originally one of estates of Kublai Khan located around J ...

.Kennedy (1943a): 397. In 1636 he was granted the title " Prince Zheng of the First Rank", with rights of perpetual inheritance.Kennedy (1943a): 397. In 1642, Jirgalang led the siege of

Jinzhou Jinzhou (, ), formerly Chinchow, is a coastal prefecture-level city in central-west Liaoning province, China. It is a geographically strategic city located in the Liaoxi Corridor, which connects most of the land transports between North Chin ...

, an important Ming city in

Liaodong The Liaodong Peninsula (also Liaotung Peninsula, ) is a peninsula in southern Liaoning province in Northeast China, and makes up the southwestern coastal half of the Liaodong region. It is located between the mouths of the Daliao River (the ...

that surrendered to Qing forces in April of that year after more than one year of resistance.

Co-regency (1643-1647) and disgrace (1647-1650)

While Dorgon was staying in

Mukden Shenyang (, ; ; Mandarin pronunciation: ), formerly known as Fengtian () or by its Manchu name Mukden, is a major Chinese sub-provincial city and the provincial capital of Liaoning province. Located in central-north Liaoning, it is the provinc ...

, in November or December 1643 Jirgalang was sent to attack

Shanhai Pass Shanhai Pass or Shanhaiguan () is one of the major passes in the Great Wall of China, being the easternmost stronghold along the Ming Great Wall, and commands the narrowest choke point in the Liaoxi Corridor. It is located in Shanhaiguan ...

, a fortified Ming position that guarded access to the plain around

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), Chinese postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the Capital city, capital of the China, People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's Li ...

.Li Zhiting (2003): 368. In January or February 1644, Jirgalang requested that his name be placed after Dorgon's in all official communications.Li Zhiting (2003): 368. On February 17, 1644, Jirgalang, who was a capable military leader but looked uninterested in managing state affairs, willingly yielded control of all official matters to Dorgon. He was not present when Qing forces entered Beijing in early June 1644. In 1647 he was removed from his post of regent and replaced by Dorgon's brother

Dodo The dodo (''Raphus cucullatus'') is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius, which is east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The dodo's closest genetic relative was the also-extinct Rodrigues solitaire. ...

. Despite his removal, Jirgalang continued to serve as a military leader. In March 1648, Dorgon ordered the arrest of Jirgalang on various charges and had Jirgalang degraded from a ''qinwang'' (first-rank prince) to a ''junwang'' (second-rank prince). Later in the same year, however, Jirgalang was sent to southern China to fight troops loyal to the

Southern Ming The Southern Ming (), also known as the Later Ming (), officially the Great Ming (), was an imperial dynasty of China and a series of rump states of the Ming dynasty that came into existence following the Jiashen Incident of 1644. Shun force ...

. In early 1649, Jirgalang, accompanied by Han Chinese soldiers under Han Chinese banner general Prince

Kong Youde Kong Youde ( zh, c=, p=Kǒng Yǒudé; mnc, , v=; Transliteration of Manchu: kung ioo de; died August 7, 1652) was a Chinese adventurer and Ming dynasty military officer who served under the warlord Mao Wenlong until Mao's death in 1629. Subsequen ...

loyal to the Qing, ordered a six-day massacre of the inhabitants of the city of

Xiangtan Xiangtan () is a prefecture-level city in east-central Hunan province, south-central China. The hometowns of several founding leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, including Chairman Mao Zedong, President Liu Shaoqi, and Marshal Peng Dehuai, a ...

in present-day

Hunan Hunan (, ; ) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the South Central China region. Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze watershed, it borders the province-level divisions of Hubei to the north, Jiangx ...

due to fierce resistance by Li Chixin's army who were former Chuang (

Li Zicheng Li Zicheng (22 September 1606 – 1645), born Li Hongji, also known by the nickname, Dashing King, was a Chinese peasant rebel leader who overthrew the Ming dynasty in 1644 and ruled over northern China briefly as the emperor of the short-li ...

's) partisans. Southern Ming loyalist He Tengjiao was also killed at Xiangtan by Kong Youde. He returned to Beijing in 1650 after having the capture of He Tengjiao against the forces of the

Yongli Emperor The Yongli Emperor (; 1623–1662; reigned 18 November 1646 – 1 June 1662), personal name Zhu Youlang, was a royal member to the imperial family of Ming dynasty, and the fourth and last commonly recognised emperor of the Southern Ming, reigni ...

, the last ruler of the Southern Ming regime.

The "Jirgalang faction" (1651-1655)

The group led by Jirgalang that historian

Robert Oxnam Robert Bromley Oxnam is an American China scholar and President Emeritus of the Asia Society New York. He ran the society for more than a decade, and led financial-cultural tours of China for Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and former U.S. President ...

has called the "Jirgalang faction" was composed of Manchu princes and nobles who had opposed

and who returned to power after the latter died on December 31, 1650. Concerned that Dorgon's brother Ajige may try to succeed Dorgon, Jirgalang and his group arrested Ajige in early 1651. Jirgalang remained a powerful figure at the Qing imperial court until his death in 1655. The four future regents of the

Kangxi Emperor The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 1654– 20 December 1722), also known by his temple name Emperor Shengzu of Qing, born Xuanye, was the third emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1661 to ...

Oboi Oboi (Manchu: , Mölendorff: Oboi; ) (c. 1610–1669) was a prominent Manchu military commander and courtier who served in various military and administrative posts under three successive emperors of the early Qing dynasty. Born to the Guwalg ...

Ebilun Ebilun (Manchu:, Mölendroff: ebilun; ; died 1673) was a Manchu noble and warrior of the Niohuru clan, most famous for being one of the Four Regents assisting the young Kangxi Emperor from 1661 to 1667, during the early Qing dynasty (1644–191 ...

, Sonin, and

Suksaha Suksaha (Manchu: ; ; died 1667) was a Manchu official of the early Qing dynasty from the Nara clan. A military officer who participated in the Manchu conquest of China, Suksaha became one of the Four Regents during the early reign of the Kangxi ...

, were among his supporters.

Death and posterity

Soon after Jirgalang died of illness on June 11, 1655,Kennedy (1943a): 398. his second son Jidu (; 1633–1660) inherited his princely title, but the name of the princehood was changed from "Zheng" (鄭) to "Jian" (簡). The title "

Prince Zheng Prince Zheng of the First Rank (Manchu: ; ''hošoi ujen cin wang''), or simply Prince Zheng, was the title of a princely peerage used in China during the Manchu-led Qing dynasty (1644–1912). It was also one of the 12 "iron-cap" princely peerage ...

" was re-established in 1778 when the

Qianlong Emperor The Qianlong Emperor (25 September 17117 February 1799), also known by his temple name Emperor Gaozong of Qing, born Hongli, was the fifth Emperor of the Qing dynasty and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1735 ...

praised Jirgalang for his role in the Qing defeat of Ming and granted Jirgalang a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Jirgalang's second son Jidu and Jidu's second son Labu (; d. 1681) participated in military campaigns in the second half of the

's reign and the early reign of the

, notably against

Koxinga Zheng Chenggong, Prince of Yanping (; 27 August 1624 – 23 June 1662), better known internationally as Koxinga (), was a Ming loyalist general who resisted the Qing conquest of China in the 17th century, fighting them on China's southeastern ...

and

Wu Sangui Wu Sangui (; 8 June 1612 – 2 October 1678), courtesy name Changbai () or Changbo (), was a notorious Ming Dynasty military officer who played a key role in the fall of the Ming dynasty and the founding of the Qing dynasty in China. In Chinese ...

.Kennedy (1943c): 397; Kennedy (1943d): 439. Jirgalang's 13th generation descendants

Duanhua Duanhua (Manchu: ''Duwanhūwa''; 1807 – 1861) was a Manchu prince and regent of the Qing dynasty. Life Duanhua was born in the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan as the third son of Ulgungga (烏爾恭阿), a descendant of Jirgalang, a nephew of N ...

(Prince Zheng) and Sushun (Duanhua's younger brother) were politically active during the reign of the Xianfeng Emperor (r. 1851-1861). They were appointed as two of eight regents for the infant

Tongzhi Emperor The Tongzhi Emperor (27 April 1856 – 12 January 1875), born Zaichun of the Aisin Gioro clan, was the ninth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the eighth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign, from 1861 to 1875, which effectively lasted ...

(r. 1862-1874), but were quickly overthrown in 1861 in the

Xinyou Coup Xinyou Coup () was a palace coup instigated by Empress Dowagers Cixi and Ci'an, and Prince Gong to seize power after the death of the Xianfeng Emperor. Before he died the previous emperor had appointed group of eight regents, led by Sushun, who ...

that brought

Empress Dowager Cixi Empress Dowager Cixi ( ; mnc, Tsysi taiheo; formerly romanised as Empress Dowager T'zu-hsi; 29 November 1835 – 15 November 1908), of the Manchu Yehe Nara clan, was a Chinese noblewoman, concubine and later regent who effectively controlled ...

and the young emperor's uncle

Prince Gong Yixin (11January 1833– 29May 1898), better known in English as PrinceKung or Gong, was an imperial prince of the Aisin Gioro clan and an important statesman of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty in China. He was a regent of the empire from 1861 to 18 ...

to power.

Family

Father:

* Paternal Grandfather:

Taksi Taksi (Manchu: ; ; 1543–1583) or posthumously titled as Emperor Xuan was a Jurchen chieftain and father of Nurhaci, founder of the Later Jin dynasty, and the fourth son of Giocangga. A member of the House of Aisin-Gioro, he was killed in ...

, Emperor Xuan * Paternal grandmother: Hitara Emeci, Empress Xuan (喜塔拉。额穆齐, 宣皇后) Mother: Ula Nara Hunai, secondary consort ( 侧福晋乌拉那拉·虎奈) * Maternal grandfather: ----Consorts and issue: * Primary consort, of the

Niohuru The Niohuru (Manchu: ; in Manchu) were a prominent Manchu clan during the Qing dynasty. The clan had inhabited the Changbai Mountains since as early as the Liao dynasty. The clan was well known during the Qing dynasty for producing a variety o ...

clan (嫡福晋钮祜禄氏), daughter of

Eidu Eidu (Manchu: , , 1562–1622) was a Manchu officer and a member of the Niohuru clan. Family Consort and their respective issue(s): *Madame, of unknown clan (失姓氏夫人) **Banxi (班席), first son **Tuerxi (图尔席), ninth son *Madame, ...

* Primary consort, of the

Yehe-Nara Nara (Manchu: , Wade-Giles: nara hala, Chinese: , or ) is a clan name shared by a number of royal Manchu clans. The four tribes of the Hūlun confederation () – Hada (), Ula (), Hoifa () and Yehe () – were all ruled by clans bearing this ...

clan (继福晋叶赫那拉氏), daughter of prince De'erheli (德尔赫礼台吉), granddaughter of Yehe beile

Gintaisi Gintaisi (Manchu: ; died September 29, 1619), known as Jintaishi () or Jintaiji () in Chinese, was a Jurchen beile (chieftain) of the Yehe tribal confederation. He was the younger brother of Narimbulu, and became one of the two beile of the Yeh ...

(金台石, pinyin:jintaishi), elder sister of Sutai. * Secondary consort, of the Gu'erhasu clan (侧福晋钴尔哈苏氏)，daughter of ''tabunang'' Zhuoliketu (卓礼克图塔布囊) ** Jidu (济度;1633-1660), second son, Prince Jianchun of the First Rank (简纯亲王) * Secondary consort, of the Jarud

Borjigin A Borjigin, ; ; russian: Борджигин, Bordžigin; English plural: Borjigins or Borjigid (from Middle Mongolian);''Histoire des campagnes de Gengis Khan'', p. 119. Manchu plural: is a member of the Mongol sub-clan, which started with ...

clan (扎鲁特博尔济吉特氏), daughter of beile Bage (巴格贝勒) ** Fu'erdun (富尔敦;1633-1651), first son, heir apparent Quehou (悫厚世子) ** Ledu (勒度;1636-1655), third son, * Secondary consort, Yehenara Sutai (叶赫那拉·苏泰), daughter of De'erheli (德尔赫礼台吉) * Mistress , of the

Gūwalgiya Gūwalgiya ( Manchu Chinese: ; ) was one of the most powerful Manchu clans. It is often listed by historians as the first of the eight prominent Manchu clans of the Qing dynasty. After the demise of the dynasty, some of its descendants siniciz ...

clan (庶福晋瓜尔佳氏), daughter of Chalalai (察喇赖) ** ''Xitujun (''锡图军; 1642-1651), sixth son * Mistress, of the Sardu clan (庶福晋萨尔都氏), daughter of Master Commander of Cavalry Dahu (云骑尉达祜) ** Gumei (固美), Bulwark General (辅国将军), seventh son * Mistress, of the

clan(庶福晋瓜尔佳氏), daughter of Zhata (扎塔) ** Ba'erkan (巴尔堪), Prince Jianwu of the First Rank (简武亲王), fourth son * Mistress, of the An clan (庶福晋安氏), daughter of Tielani (贴喇尼) ** Kunlan (裈兰), fifth son, served as first rank military official (都统) * Mistress, of the Yun clan (庶福晋云氏), daughter of Dekesuoni (德克素尼) ** Wuxi (武锡;1653-1707), Bulwark General (辅国将军) * Mistress, of the Daigiya clan (庶福晋戴佳氏), daughter of Master Commander of Cavalry Nandahai (云骑尉品级南达海) * Mistress, of the

clan (庶福晋钮祜禄氏), daughter of Bai'erge (伯尔格) ** Liuxi (留锡;1648-1703), eighth son * Wife, of the

Hešeri Hešeri ( Chinese: 赫舍里; Pinyin: Hesheli; Manchu: ''Hešeri''), is a clan of Manchu nobility with Jianzhou Jurchens roots, originally hailing from the area which is now the modern Chinese provinces of Jilin and Liaoning. It was once one of ...

clan(妾赫舍里氏), daughter of Daidali (戴达礼) ** Hailun (海伦, 1655-1683), tenth son * Wife, of the Ma clan (妾马氏), daughter of Wulai (武赖) * Wife, of Dai clan (妾戴氏), daughter of Xiaoqijiao songkun (骁骑校松坤) * Wife, of the Jin clan (妾晋氏), daughter of Shanlong (山隆) * Wife, of the Mengguosu clan (妾蒙郭苏氏), daughter of Maimishan (迈密山) ** First daughter *** married E'erkedaiqing (额尔克戴青) of the

clan

In popular culture

*Portrayed by Im Byung-ki in the 1981

KBS1 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, ...

TV Series ''

Daemyeong ''Daemyeong'' () is a 1981 South Korean television series starring Kim Dong-hoon, Kim Heung-ki, Seo Young-jin, Won Mi-kyung, Kim Sung-won and Baek Il-sub. It aired on KBS1 from January 5, 1981 until December 28, 1981 every Mondays for 52 episode ...

''. *Portrayed by Liu Haikuan in the 2017 TV Series '' Rule the World''.

Notes

References

* * * * *Li Zhiting 李治亭 (editor in chief). (2003). ''Qingchao tongshi: Shunzhi juan'' 清朝通史: 順治卷 General History of the Qing dynasty: Shunzhi volume" Beijing: Zijincheng chubanshe. * Oxnam, Robert B. (1975)
''Ruling from Horseback''
': Manchu Politics in the Oboi Regency, 1661-1669''. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. * Wakeman, Frederic (1985). ''The Great Enterprise: The Manchu Reconstruction of Imperial Order in Seventeenth-Century China''. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. {{Yizheng wang 1599 births 1655 deaths Deliberative Princes and Ministers Qing dynasty imperial princes Qing dynasty regents Manchu Bordered Blue Bannermen Prince Zheng Imperial Clan of Qing dynasty