Nara (Manchu: ᠨᠠᡵᠠ ᡥᠠᠯᠠ, Wade-Giles: nara hala, Chinese:納喇氏, 納蘭氏 or 那拉氏) is a clan name shared by a number of aristocratic Manchu clans, sometimes also transliterated as Nalan or Nalland. The four tribes of the Hūlun confederation (扈倫四部) – Hada (哈達; Hādá), Ula (烏拉; Wūlā), Hoifa (輝發; Huīfā) and Yehe (葉赫; Yèhè) – were all ruled by clans bearing this name.
The head of each clan held the princely title of "beile" (貝勒).
During the Jin dynasty, Nara was listed as one of the noble "white clans" (白號姓氏).
Nar is the Mongolian word for "sun". In Mongolia, the sun is associated to Genghis Khan as the nara tamga is the main tamga attributed to him.
History
The Naras lived in the Haixi area, which encompasses parts of modern-day Jilin, Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia. Hada-Nara and Ula-Nara are native to Manchuria and shared an ancestor. Yehe-Nara were founded by the TümedMongol prince Singgen Darhan who conquered the local Nara tribe and assumed their name, establishing his rule over the banks of the Yehe River. Hoifa-Nara, on the other hand, came from the local Ikderi clan.
During Nurhaci's efforts to unite the Jurchen people, the Naras resisted because they had always been rather well-treated by the Ming government. Instead they tried to appease Nurhaci by offering him a daughter from each of the tribal rulers, the most famous of which were Lady Abahai of the Ula tribe and Monggo Jerjer of the Yehe tribe.[1] Nonetheless, Nurhaci eventually began his assault against the Naras, and the Hada, Ula and Hoifa tribes soon fell. The Yehe-Naras were able to resist the longest as they were the largest and strongest of the tribes, but even they soon had to enlist the help of the Ming dynasty.
Using Ming's sympathy towards the Yehe-Naras as an excuse, Nurhaci began to wage war against the Ming forces as well. Both the Ming soldiers and the Yehe-Naras were defeated in subsequent battles, including the Battle of Sarhū, and the Yehe-Nara prince Gintaisi was either forced to commit suicide or hanged, but not before he allegedly cursed Nurhaci that as long as one of his descendants lived, even female ones, they would remember the clan's vendetta and bring down the Aisin-Gioros. The last prince of the Ula tribe Bujantai, who was fighting alongside the Yehe-Naras, was captured as well and later killed by Nurhaci's first son, Cuyen.
The Hada and Hoifa tribes fell from prominence after Nurhaci's Manchurian conquest, whereas Ula and Yehe survived the defeat and integrated into Qing's Banner aristocracy. They continued to be powerful clans in the Qing court, often named among the eight great Manchu noble clans. Modern day Nara descendants mostly hail from these two clans.
Present-day descendants of Ula-Nara generally adopted "Nà" (那) and "Zhào" (趙) as Chinese surnames, to conform to the monosyllabic Han surnames. Others, less commonly, took "Nà" (納 or 訥), "Bái" (白), "Nán" (南), "Liú" (劉), and "Sū" (蘇). Those descended from Hada-Nara took "Wáng" (王). Descendants of Yehe-Nara primarily chose "Yè" (葉), "Hè" (赫), or "Hé" (何), others took after their Borjigin forebears and used "Bāo" (鮑 or 包) or "Bó" (博). The Hoifa-Nara line is extinct.
Nacibulu was the first to adopt the name "Nara". A Jurchen clan native to Manchuria, they descended from the imperial Wanyan clan of the Jin dynasty.
The Nara gradually grew to become the dominant clan in the Haixi region, culminating in the establishment of the Hūlun confederation in the 16th century, with Nara princes at its core. At the same time, this Nara clan split into two branches: the senior Hada line founded by Kesina, leader of the Hūlun confederation, and the junior Ula line founded by Kesina's younger brother Gudai Juyan.
Notable figures of the Wanyan-Nara
Nacibulu (納齊布祿; fl. 14th century)
Shangyandorheqi (尚延多爾和齊), Nacibulu's son
Jiamaka (嘉瑪喀), Shangyandorheqi's son
Hada-Nara
The Hada-Nara (哈達那拉氏) ruled the Hada state, based around the Hada River in southwestern Manchuria. Descended from the Wanyan-Nara, they are native to Manchuria and kin to Ula-Nara.
Under Wangtai, Hada-Nara gained ascendency over the Haixi Jurchens. He assumed the title Wan Khan (萬汗), and held hegemony in the Hūlun confederation.
In 1574, Wangtai captured the rebellious Jianzhou Jurchen leader Wanggao, and was rewarded by the Ming court with the titles Right Pillar of State (右柱國, the highest honorary civil title) and Dragon-Tiger General (龍虎將軍, the highest honorary military title), further legitimising the Hada supremacy in Haixi.
Upon Wangtai's death in 1582, a succession struggle ensued, sapping Hada of its strength and allowing Yehe-Nara, and later Nurhaci, to eclipse its power. In 1599, Narimbulu of Yehe-Nara invaded Hada. Weakened, Menggebulu, the ruler of Hada, requested aid from Nurhaci, who sent two thousand troops led by Fiongdon (費英東) and Gagai (噶蓋). Fearing the rise of the Jianzhou Jurchens, Narimbulu in turn offered to ally with Menggebulu to defeat Nurhaci. Menggebulu accepted the offer, but the plot was leaked and Nurhaci attacked Hada instead.
Nurhaci's general Yangguli (揚古利) captured the Hada seat and the ruling Hada-Nara clan. Nurhaci spared Menggebulu and offered him an alliance, but Menggebulu again plotted to assassinate Nurhaci. This plot was also discovered, leading to his execution.
In 1601, Nurhaci married his daughter to Urgūdai, who succeeded Menggebulu. The Ming court accused Nurhaci of attempting to annex Hada. In response, Nurhaci released Urgūdai from Jianzhou and allowed him to return to rule Hada. Learning this, Narimbulu of Yehe-Nara again started raiding Hada. Severely weakened and defenseless, Urgūdai eventually capitulated and submitted to Nurhaci's rule, becoming the last ruler of Hada.
Notable figures of Hada-Nara
Men
Kesina (克什納), Suitun's son; leader of the Hūlun confederation and founder of the Hada-Nara line
Wangzhong (王忠; d. 1552), Kesina's second son; first ruler of Hada
Wangtai (王台; d. 1582), Wangzhong's nephew; Khan of the Hūlun confederation and legitimised client overlord of Haixi under Ming
Hurhan (扈爾罕; d. 1582), Wangtai's first son
Daišan (岱善; d. 1591), Hurhan's son
Menggebulu (孟格布祿; 1565–1600), Wangtai's son
Urgūdai (吳爾古代), Menggebulu's first son; last independent ruler of Hada
Princes consort
Urgūdai (吳爾古代); married Mangguji (莽古濟), Nurhaci's third daughter
The Ula-Nara (烏拉那拉氏) ruled the Ula state, based around Hulan River in northeastern Manchuria. They shared Wanyan descent with Hada-Nara.
Of the four tribes, Ula was the economic and cultural powerhouse of Manchuria. The Ula tribe were mostly traders, buying horses, livestock, and fur from the steppe Mongols and selling them on the Jianzhou plateau in the Liao Piver basin, the economic center and farmland of the Manchu region. They in turn bought grains such as millet and corn in Jianzhou and sold them to the Mongols. The Ula-Naras, for a large part, dominated trade between Manchuria and Mongolia by controlling the mountain pass in modern-day Baicheng, Jilin, where the only passage between the two areas was located.
The Nara ruler Buyan built the Ula seat by the Hulan River and founded the Ula state, "ula" meaning "riverside" in Manchu.
Ula and Jianzhou had numerous conflicts, culminating in the Battle of Mount Gele. Defeated at Mount Gele, Mantai fled back to Ula but was killed by his subordinates three years later in 1596.
On the other hand, Mantai's younger brother, the second ruler Bujantai was captured at Mount Gele. Bujantai submitted to Nurhaci and married both Nurhaci's and Surgaci's daughters. Upon Mantai's death, Nurhaci aided Bujantai in defeating other Ula-Nara pretenders to regain control of Ula. The following year, he married his younger sister to Surgaci to formalise the alliance. Two years later, he married Mantai's daughter Lady Abahai to Nurhaci, and she later became his primary consort.
The alliance between Ula and Jianzhou did not last, however. Warka, a Donghai Jurchen tribe, after repeated harassment by Bujantai, sought to submit to Nurhaci. Nurhaci sent troops to annex Warka, which Ula tried to intercept. The alliance broken, the two states resumed their conflicts. Eventually, Nurhaci captured the Ula seat and annexed Ula. Bujantai alone fled to Yehe, and spent the rest of his life under the protection of the Yehe-Nara tribe.
The descendants of the last Ula rulers were mostly incorporated into the Plain White Banner. They supplied numerous high officials and imperial consorts to the Qing court and are among the most prominent Manchu noble clans.
Butha Ula
After Nurhaci captured Ula, he kept hostage the Ula clansmen. In order to induce Bujantai to surrender, Nurhaci showered Hongko, Bujantai's youngest son, with favours. He married one of his daughters to Hongko, granted him a small fief near the Ula capital, named him the ruler of Butha Ula (布特哈烏拉貝勒), and left him "independent" from the Banner system.
As he reached maturity, Hongko realised that his independence was only nominal. He plotted to rebel against Jin, but the plot was exposed and Hongko was forced to commit suicide. His two sons survived his downfall. The eldest Ulon took the Chinese surname Zhao and hid out in exile, eventually reintegrating years later into their Ula kins of the Plain White Banner. The younger Ula (not to be confused with the clan name) was saved by his Aisin-Gioro mother and brought back into the Jin fold.
Notable figures of Ula-Nara
Men
Gudai Juyan (古對硃顏); founder of the Ula-Nara line
Tailan (太蘭), Gudai Juyan's son
Buyan, Tailan's son; first ruler of Ula
Bugan (布干), Buyan's first son
Mantai (满泰; d. 1596), Bugan's second son
Bujantai (布佔泰; 1575–1618), Bugan's third son; last independent ruler of Ula
The Hoifa-Nara (輝發那拉氏) ruled the Hoifa state, based around the Hoifa River in southeastern Manchuria. Hoifa-Nara descended from the Ikderi clan (益克得里氏) of the Nimaca tribe (尼瑪察部) from the Amur River banks to the north. When they migrated southward, they came under the protection of the Nara clan, eventually adopting the Nara name and growing to become a powerful Haixi clan. For two generations prior to assuming the Hoifa rulership, they had been appointed tributary military commanders (都督) loyal to the Ming court.
Wangginu was the first to assume the rulership. He built his seat on the Hurki Mountain, which provided him a secure power base. He established Hoifa as a major force in the Haixi region, and even withstood assaults by the Chahar Mongols.
Upon Wangginu's death, Baindari seized the throne, killing seven of his uncles in the process. Hoifa was a major member of the coalition defeated by Nurhaci at the Battle of Mount Gele (古勒山之戰). Severely weakened and stuck between the ascendant Jianzhou and Yehe states, Baindari tried to play both sides against each other, and relying on the defensible Hoifa seat for security. This policy further isolated Hoifa, and the Hoifa seat eventually fell to Nurhaci in 1607. Baindari and his sons were killed in the battle, ending the main Hoifa-Nara line.
Notable figures of Hoifa-Nara
Men
Anggūli Singgūli (昂古里星古力), of the Ikderi clan; adopted the Nara name
Beicen (備臣)
Nalingga (納領噶)
Laha (拉哈)
Gahacan (噶哈禪); tributary commander (都督) under Ming
Cinegen Darhan (齊訥根達爾漢); tributary commander (都督) under Ming
Wangginu (王機褚), Cinagen Darhan's son; first ruler of Hoifa state
The Yehe-Nara (葉赫那拉氏) ruled the Yehe state, based around the Yehe River. This area was originally called Zhang (張), occupied by the Hulun (扈倫) tribe. The progenitor of the clan, Singgen Darhan, was a Genghisid prince of the Tümed Mongols. He was appointed by Ming as commander of the Talumu division (塔魯木衛). They later migrated southward, and his grandson Cirugani assimilated into the local Nara aristocracy, assuming their name. Cirugani's son Jukungge finally took over the Yehe area and established the Yehe state.
Initially, Yehe was relatively weak and was frequently raided by Hada. Conflict between Yehe and Hada continued until the reign of Cinggiyanu and Yangginu, who were sons of Taicu. They expanded Yehe's territory through conquest of smaller neighbouring states, consolidated Yehe's powerbase with the construction of two seats, and made peace with Hada; Cinggiyanu married a daughter of Wangtai and Wangtai married Cinggiyanu's younger sister. With the support of Hada, Cinggiyanu and Yangginu successfully defeated the other sons of Taicu and gained control of Yehe themselves.
From the rule of Cinggiyanu and Yangginu, Yehe-Nara had a unique system of co-rulership. Cinggiyanu and Yangginu built two seats in strategic locations in east and west, only several li apart. The two co-rulers were equal and acted in unity until the fall of Yehe.
Upon Wangtai's death, Yehe, along with Hoifa and Ula, broke away from Hada's hegemony. They allied to attack Hada, only to be defeated by the reinforcement from Ming. Cinggiyanu and Yangginu both died in this battle, and were succeeded by Bujai and Narimbulu respectively.
Narimbulu allied with their Tümed and Khorchin Mongol kins to attack Hada again. This time Narimbulu managed to defeat the Ming reinforcements and destroyed Hada as a major power, becoming the most powerful of the Haixi tribes and the new leader of the Hūlun confederation.
Seeing Nurhaci's rise, Yehe initially sought to make peace by marrying Narimbulu's sister Monggo Jerjer to Nurhaci.[1] She would later give birth to Hong Taiji, who would succeed Nurhaci and found the Qing dynasty. This peace was short-lived, however, and Yehe soon entered a long struggle against Nurhaci's domination. Bujai and Narimbulu lead the nine-tribe coalition against Nurhaci's Jianzhou forces at the Battle of Mount Gele, which ended in decisive defeat. The Yehe state continued to resist the newly formed Jin dynasty until the fall of East Yehe seat, the last bastion to stand against Jin's Manchurian conquest.
Yehe-Nara is the most legendary of the Nara clans today, in part due to its status as the last Jurchen clan to challenge Nurhaci's hegemony, in part due to the imperial favorites they produced, and also because of Empress Dowager Cixi, who descended from a cadet branch of East Yehe-Nara belonging to the Bordered Blue Banner. The descendants of the rulers of East Yehe-Nara were mostly incorporated into the Plain Yellow Banner; a cadet branch descending from Asidarhan (阿什達爾漢, brother of Gintaisi, were incorporated into the Plain White Banner, while those of West Yehe-Nara were mostly incorporated into the Plain Red Banner. They supplied numerous high officials and imperial consorts to the Qing court and were a fixture among the eight great Manchu noble clans. In common usage, the Nara clan most often refers to Yehe-Nara.
A popular legend says that Gintaisi, the last ruler of East Yehe, upon defeat by Nurhaci, cursed that Yehe-Nara will be the downfall of the Aisin-Gioro clan, even if only Yehe-Nara daughters were left. This curse was supposedly fulfilled with Empress Dowager Longyu who formally abdicated on behalf of Puyi, leading to the end of the Manchu dynasty.
Notable figures of Yehe-Nara
Men
Singgen Darhan (星根達爾漢)
Sirke Minggatu (席爾克明噶圖)
Cirugani (齊爾噶尼); adopted the Nara name
Cukungge (褚孔格); first ruler of Yehe state
Taicu (台杵), Jukungge's son
Cinggiyanu (清佳砮; d. 1584), Taicu's first son; first ruler of West Yehe
Bujai (布齋; d. 1593), Cinggiyanu's son
Buyanggū (布揚古; d. 1619), Bujai's younger brother
Yangginu (楊吉砮; d. 1584), Taicu's second son; first ruler of East Yehe
Narimbulu (納林布祿; d. 1609), Yangginu's son; leader of the Hūlun confederation
Gintaisi (錦台什; d. 1619), Narimbulu's younger brother
Mingju (明珠; 1635–1708),[2] Gintaisi's grandson; high-ranking official during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor
Singde (性德; 1655–1685), Mingju's first son by Ajige's fifth daughter; famous poet
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