History Lecture Series · Who Was Nurhaci

Author: Zhang Yan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Experts review historical figures, authoritatively interpreting mysteries. Historian Lucien Febvre of France once said, "Our task is to create history, because in a turbulent world, only history can help us face life without fear." This is even more true in today's fast-paced era, where more people hope to understand our past to better focus on our future. The purpose of the "Great History Lecture" series is precisely this—to present the past to readers in a concise way, incorporating history into rational thinking and humanistic reflection. Thus, history is no longer just about the past; it also helps us pay attention to the future.
Nurhaci, a young slave in his youth, later rose to power with thirteen suits of armor, taking an oath to conquer the Ming Dynasty with the "Seven Grievances" and fighting for over forty years in his life. He unified the Jurchen tribes through military force and wisdom, establishing the "Great Jin" and demonstrating outstanding military and political talents. As the founder of the Qing Dynasty, Nurhaci's influence on the history of the Qing Dynasty is as a historian said, "He sowed the seeds of the 'Kangxi-Qianlong Prosperity' but also buried the genes of the 'Guangxu-Ming Decline.'"
The characters in the book are vividly portrayed, and the plot is full of twists and turns, filled with ambition, killing, power struggles, and extraordinary romance. From the fierce battles stained with blood on the sands to the spring-like tales of leisure in the inner chambers; from the power struggles of the imperial family to the rustic charm of the common people; from the prosperity of the Jurchen tribes to the corruption and decline of the Ming court—all are rendered with profound insight, offering great benefits to readers.
"As a military genius unseen in the world since Genghis Khan four hundred years ago."—Jin Yong
"I believe that a prerequisite for Nurhaci's success was the of a hard life. His stepmother's lack of kindness shaped his independent character; the horse market transactions broadened his horizons and helped him make friends; the suffering of his father and grandfather spurred him to decisively break free from the ordinary life of ordinary people and embark on the path of conquest as a king. The most crucial factor, however, was that he achieved 'Four Harmonies'—heavenly harmony, earthly harmony, human harmony, and self-harmony."—Yan Chongnian, Nurhaci, the Heaven-Fated Khan