The House of Aisin-Gioro was a
Manchu clan that ruled the
Later Jin dynasty (1616–1636), the
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 ...
(1636–1912), and
Manchukuo
Manchukuo, officially the State of Manchuria prior to 1934 and the Empire of (Great) Manchuria after 1934, was a puppet state of the Empire of Japan in Manchuria from 1932 until 1945. It was founded as a republic in 1932 after the Japanese ...
(1932–1945) in the
history of China
The earliest known written records of the history of China date from as early as 1250 BC, from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC), during the reign of king Wu Ding. Ancient historical texts such as the ''Book of Documents'' (early chapter ...
. Under 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 ...
, members of the Aisin Gioro clan served as chiefs of the
Jianzhou Jurchens
The Jianzhou Jurchens () were one of the three major groups of Jurchens as identified by the Ming dynasty. Although the geographic location of the Jianzhou Jurchens changed throughout history, during the 14th century they were located south of ...
, one of the three major Jurchen tribes at this time. Qing bannermen passed through the gates of the
Great Wall
The Great Wall of China (, literally "ten thousand Li (unit), ''li'' wall") is a series of fortifications that were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against Eurasian noma ...
in 1644, conquered the short-lived
Shun dynasty and the
Southern Ming dynasty. The Qing dynasty later expanded into other adjacent regions, including
Xinjiang
Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwes ...
,
Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...
,
Outer Mongolia
Outer Mongolia was the name of a territory in the Manchu people, Manchu-led Qing dynasty of China from 1691 to 1911. It corresponds to the modern-day independent state of Mongolia and the Russian republic of Tuva. The historical region gain ...
, and
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the no ...
, gaining total control of China. The dynasty reached
its zenith during the
High Qing era and under 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 ...
, who reigned from 1735 to 1796. This reign was followed by a century of gradual decline.
The house lost power in 1912 following the
Xinhai Revolution
The 1911 Revolution, also known as the Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, ended China's last imperial dynasty, the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and led to the establishment of the Republic of China. The revolution was the culmination of ...
.
Puyi, the last Aisin-Gioro emperor, nominally maintained his imperial title in the
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City () is a palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples including the Zhongshan Park, the sacrifi ...
until the
Articles of Favourable Treatment were revoked by
Feng Yuxiang in 1924. The Qing was China's last orthodox imperial dynasty.
Etymology
''Aisin'' means "gold." It corresponds to "Jin" (金) in Chinese. ''Gioro'' is the surname, which refers to the clan's
ancestral home in today
Yilan County, Heilongjiang. Following the fall of the Qing Empire, most members of the clan have changed their surnames to Han Chinese surnames such as ''
Jin'',
Zhao Zhao may refer to:
* Zhao (surname) (赵), a Chinese surname
** commonly spelled Chao in Taiwan or up until the early 20th century in other regions
** Chiu, from the Cantonese pronunciation
** Cho (Korean surname), represent the Hanja 趙 (Chine ...
,
Ai,
Luo,
Bai,
Hai.
Heads of the House
The Aisin-Gioro had no system of automatic succession such as primogeniture or a law of succession. Instead, an emperor would name an heir in a secret edict. The edict would be read before senior members of the clan following the emperor's death. An emperor could have numerous sons by women of various ranks. In 1912, the
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 ...
was overthrown and China was
declared a republic. Puyi, the last emperor, was granted the right to maintain his imperial title in the
Forbidden City
The Forbidden City () is a palace complex in Dongcheng District, Beijing, China, at the center of the Imperial City of Beijing. It is surrounded by numerous opulent imperial gardens and temples including the Zhongshan Park, the sacrifi ...
until 1924, when the
Articles of Favorable Treatment were revoked. He went to
Changchun
Changchun (, ; ), also romanized as Ch'angch'un, is the capital and largest city of Jilin Province, People's Republic of China. Lying in the center of the Songliao Plain, Changchun is administered as a , comprising 7 districts, 1 county and 3 ...
in northeastern China to serve as chief executive (1932–1934) and later emperor (1934–1945) of
Manchukuo
Manchukuo, officially the State of Manchuria prior to 1934 and the Empire of (Great) Manchuria after 1934, was a puppet state of the Empire of Japan in Manchuria from 1932 until 1945. It was founded as a republic in 1932 after the Japanese ...
, a puppet state of Japan.
The more recent heads of the house are given according to a succession law approved by Puyi in 1937. This follows the practice of relevant news reports and reference works.
The law provided for father-to-son succession. Brothers may succeed in the absence of male issue. As a full brother, Pujie had precedence over half brother Jin Youzhi.
Family Tree
* Min-ning, the ''
Daoguang emperor'' (1782-1850)
** Yizhu, the ''
Xianfeng emperor'' (1831-1861)
*** Zaichun, the ''
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 ...
'' (1856-1875)
** ''
Yixuan, 1st Prince Chun'' (1840-1891)
*** Zaitian, the ''
Guangxu emperor'' (1871-1908)
*** ''
Zaifeng, the prince-regent'' (1883-1951)
**** ''
Puyi,'' (1906-1967) the Xuantong emperor of China, emperor of Manchukuo
****''
Pujie,'' head of the House of Aisin-Gioro (1907-1994)
**** ''
Puren,'' head of the House of Aisin-Gioro (1918-2015)
*****
Jin Yuzhang
Jin Yuzhang (, born 3 May 1942) is a Chinese civil servant, politician and former nobleman. He is the current head of the House of Aisin-Gioro, Chinese Monarchy's former ruling house.
His father was Manchu nobleman Jin Youzhi, and he is a nephew ...
, head of the House of Aisin-Gioro (born 1942)
*****(1) Jin Yuquan (金毓峑, born 1946)
*****(2) Jin Yulan (金毓岚, born 1948)
***''
Zaixun, Prince Rui
Zaixun (20 May 1885 – 1949), courtesy name Zhongquan, art name Chiyun, also known as Tsai Hsun in early references, was a Manchu noble of the late Qing dynasty. He also served as a Navy Minister in the Imperial Cabinet of Prince Qing. He was ...
(1885-1949)''
****''
Pugong
Pugong (1904 – c. 1960s) was a Manchu prince of the Qing dynasty. He was the son of Zaixun and a cousin of Puyi, the Last Emperor of China. He married Huang Yongni (黃詠霓), an ethnic Hui Beijing opera actress who is better known by her ...
(1904-1969)''
*****(3)
Huang Shixiang
Huang Shixiang (born 1934) is a Chinese Beijing opera singer best known for his performances in "Jade River" ''Taijun Cichao'' (太君辭朝) and ''Hongzong Liema'' (紅鬃烈馬). His father, Pugong, was the son of Zaixun, a Manchu prince of t ...
(b. 1934)
***''
Zaitao (1887-1949)''
****''Pujia (1908–1979)''
****''Pu'an (1911–1944)''
****''Pushen (1915–1928)''
****''Puxi (1924–1983)''
****(4) Pushi (b. 1940)
**''Yicong (1831–1889)''
***''Zailian (1854–1917)''
****''Pucheng''
*****''
Yuyan
Yuyan (1918–1997), courtesy name Yanrui, nickname Xiaoruizi, was a Chinese calligrapher of Manchu descent. He was a member of the Aisin Gioro clan, the imperial clan of the Qing dynasty. He claimed that he was appointed by Puyi, the last ...
(1918-1997)''
******(5) Hengzhen (b. 1944)
*******(6) Hengxing (b. 1977)
******(7) Hengkai (恆鎧; b. 1945)
*******(8) Jin Yinghui (金英輝; b. 1980)
******(9) Hengjun (b. 1966)
Origins
The Aisin-Gioro traced its ancestry to
Bukūri Yongšon, a legendary warrior of the thirteenth century. Emperor
Hongtaiji claimed that Bukūri Yongšon was conceived from a virgin birth. According to the legend, three heavenly maidens, Enggulen, Jenggulen, and Fekulen, were bathing at a lake called Bulhūri Omo near the
Changbai Mountains. A magpie dropped a piece of red fruit near Fekulen, who ate it. She then became pregnant with Bukūri Yongšon.
Nurgaci created the Aisin-Gioro clan as part of a reorganization of Jurchen society he initiated in 1601. His supporters were enrolled into the
banner system and the population militarized. The Gioro clan was partitioned. Those descended from Taksi, Nurgaci's father, were designated ''Aisin'' (gold). Nurgaci assigned other Gioros to other clans, including Silin Gioro (Superior Gioro), Irgen Gioro (Inferior Gioro), and Tongyan Gioro (miscellaneous Gioro).
When the Jurchens were reorganized by Nurhaci into the Eight Banners, many clans were created as a group of unrelated people (mukun) using a geographic origin name such as a toponym for their hala (clan name).
The Manchu have an equally artificial origin. Although the people ruled by Aisin-Gioro were ethnically mixed, the entire population was designated as "Manchu" in 1635.
Expansion under Nurhaci and Hong Taiji
Under
Nurhaci and his son
Hong Taiji
Hong Taiji (28 November 1592 – 21 September 1643), also rendered as Huang Taiji and sometimes referred to as Abahai in Western literature, also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizong of Qing, was the second khan of the Later Jin ...
, the Aisin Gioro clan of the Jianzhou tribe won hegemony among the rival Jurchen tribes of the northeast, then through warfare and alliances extended its control into
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia, officially the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Its border includes most of the length of China's border with the country of Mongolia. Inner Mongolia also accounts for a ...
. Nurhachi created large, permanent civil-military units called "
banners" to replace the small hunting groups used in his early campaigns. A banner was composed of smaller companies; it included some 7,500 warriors and their households, including slaves, under the command of a chieftain. Each banner was identified by a coloured flag that was yellow, white, blue, or red, either plain or with a border design. Originally there were four, then eight, Manchu banners; new banners were created as the Manchu conquered new regions, and eventually there were Manchu, Mongol, and Chinese banners, eight for each ethnic group. By 1648, less than one-sixth of the bannermen were actually of Manchu ancestry. The
Qing conquest of the Ming dynasty was thus achieved with a multiethnic army led by Manchu nobles and Han Chinese generals. Han Chinese soldiers were organised into the Army of the Green Standard, which became a sort of imperial constabulary force posted throughout China and on the frontiers.
The change of the name from Jurchen to Manchu was made to hide the fact that the ancestors of the Manchus, the Jianzhou Jurchens, were ruled by the Chinese. The Qing dynasty carefully hid the 2 original editions of the books of "''Qing Taizu Wu Huangdi Shilu''" and the "''Manzhou Shilu Tu''" (Taizu Shilu Tu) in the Qing palace, forbidden from public view because they showed that the Manchu Aisin Gioro family had been ruled by the Ming dynasty. In the Ming period, the Koreans of
Joseon
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
referred to the Jurchen inhabited lands north of the Korean peninsula, above the rivers Yalu and Tumen to be part of Ming China, as the "superior country" (sangguk) which they called Ming China. The Qing deliberately excluded references and information that showed the Jurchens (Manchus) as subservient to the Ming dynasty, from the
History of Ming to hide their former subservient relationship to the Ming. The ''
Veritable Records of the Ming
The ''Ming Shilu'' () contains the imperial annals of the emperors of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). It is the single largest historical source for the dynasty. According to modern historians, it "plays an extremely important role in the histo ...
'' were not used to source content on Jurchens during Ming rule in the History of Ming because of this. This historical revisionism helped remove the accusation of rebellion from the Qing ruling family refusing to mention in the Mingshi the fact that the Qing founders were Ming China's subjects. The Qing
Yongzheng Emperor attempted to rewrite the historical record and claim that the Aisin Gioro were never subjects of past dynasties and empires trying to cast
Nurhaci's acceptance of Ming titles like Dragon Tiger General (longhu jiangjun 龍虎將軍) by claiming he accepted to "please Heaven".
Intermarriage and political alliances
The Qing emperors arranged marriages between Aisin Gioro noblewomen and outsiders to create political marriage alliances. During the
Manchu conquest of the
Ming Empire, the Manchu rulers offered to marry their princesses to
Han Chinese
The Han Chinese () or Han people (), are an East Asian ethnic group native to China. They constitute the world's largest ethnic group, making up about 18% of the global population and consisting of various subgroups speaking distinctive v ...
military officers who served the Ming Empire as a means of inducing these officers into surrendering or defecting to their side. Aisin Gioro princesses were also married to Mongol princes, for the purpose of forming alliances between the Manchus and Mongol tribes.
The Manchus successfully induced one Han Chinese general,
Li Yongfang (李永芳), into defecting to their side by offering him a position in the Manchu banners. Li Yongfang also married the daughter of
Abatai, a son of the Qing dynasty's founder
Nurhaci. Many more Han Chinese abandoned their posts in the Ming Empire and defected to the Manchu side. There were over 1,000 marriages between Han Chinese men and Manchu women in 1632 – due to a proposal by
Yoto (岳托), a nephew of the Manchu emperor
Hong Taiji
Hong Taiji (28 November 1592 – 21 September 1643), also rendered as Huang Taiji and sometimes referred to as Abahai in Western literature, also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizong of Qing, was the second khan of the Later Jin ...
. Hong Taiji believed that intermarriage between Han Chinese and Manchus could help to eliminate ethnic conflicts in areas already occupied by the Manchus, as well as help the Han Chinese forget their ancestral roots more easily.
Manchu noblewomen were also married to Han Chinese men who surrendered or defected to the Manchu side. Aisin Gioro women were married to the sons of the Han Chinese generals
Sun Sike
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is a nearly perfect ball of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core. The Sun radiates this energy mainly as light, ultraviolet, and infrared radi ...
(孫思克),
Geng Jimao,
Shang Kexi
Shang Kexi (尚可喜; Shang Ko-hsi; August 25, 1604 – November 12, 1676) was a Chinese general of the Ming and Qing dynasties. His family had migrated to Liaodong in 1576 and his father, Shang Xueli, served in the army guarding the northe ...
and
Wu Sangui.
The
''e'fu'' (額駙) rank was given to husbands of Manchu princesses. Geng Zhongming, a Han bannerman, was awarded the title "Prince Jingnan", while his grandsons Geng Jingzhong, Geng Zhaozhong (耿昭忠) and Geng Juzhong (耿聚忠) married
Hooge's daughter,
Abatai's granddaughter, and
Yolo's daughter respectively. Sun Sike's son, Sun Cheng'en (孫承恩), married 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 ...
's fourth daughter, Heshuo Princess Quejing (和硕悫靖公主).
Imperial Duke Who Assists the State (宗室輔國公) Aisin Gioro Suyan's (蘇燕) daughter was married to Han Chinese Banner General
Nian Gengyao.
Genetics
Two different genetic studies were written about Aisin Gioro. The 2005 Tatiana Zerjal and Xue Yali genetic study "Recent Spread of a Y-Chromosomal Lineage in Northern China and Mongolia" said said that C3b2a-M48 was found in seven different ethnic minorities in northeastern China and Outer Mongolia (1.5 million men) such as Inner Mongolians, Outer Mongolians, Evenks, Oroqen, Hezhe, Manchus and Xibe, but completely absent from Han Chinese men. It was therefore suggested as a possible marker of the Aisin Gioro because the researchers involved dated the emergence of the subclade to the time of Aisin Gioro ancestor Giocangga and nicknamed it the "Manchu cluster" and attributed the absence of the Y chromosome in Han people to the segregation in the Eight Banner system between Manchus and Han but other ethnic minorities were in contact with Manchus.
However, this study of 1.5 million men was challenged by other geneticists led by geneticist Yan Shi(嚴實) who conducted a new genetic study called "Y chromosome of Aisin Gioro, the imperial house of the Qing dynasty" on actual verified Aisin Gioro descendants with genealogies since the scientists involved on the first test with the 1.5 million men did not even test Aisin Gioro descendants and the Y chromosome subclade in question nicknamed the "Manchu cluster" was found more in other ethnic minorities like Mongols in Inner and Outer Mongolia, Hezhe,Evenki and Oroqen in Heilongjiang than in Manchu people and Xibe people who are close to Manchus. In addition to that, the Qing dynasty meticulously recorded the number, names and genealogy of male descendants of the Aisin Gioro and forbade them from leaving the cities of Beijing and Mukden (Shenyang). In the last official census of Aisin Gioro clansmen in 1915 by the Qing Imperial household, there were only 27,884 Aisin Gioro clan members. Manchus were also not exempt from family planning and wars and events in China over the past decades prevented the Aisin Gioro population from growing too much so the geneticists still estimate the actual number of Aisin Gioro is less than 30,000 today and they are still heavily concentrated in Beijing and Mukden. This second genetic test was conducted on seven men who claimed Aisin Gioro descent with three of them showing documented genealogical information of all their ancestors up to Nurhaci. Three of them turned out to share the
Haplogroup C3b2b1*-M401(xF5483) haplogroup, out of them, two of them were the ones who provided their documented family trees. The other four tested were unrelated. This Y haplogroup subclade is rare among all ethnic groups in China including Manchus, and is the most likely candidate for Aisin Gioro, showing that royalty and powerful men do not necessarily have many descendants and also revealed that people claiming to belong to Aisin Gioro but lacking written genealogies are likely imposters.
The Daur Ao clan carries the unique haplogroup subclade C2b1a3a2-F8951, the same haplogroup as Aisin Gioro and both Ao and Aisin Gioro only diverged merely a couple of centuries ago from a shared common ancestor. Other members of the Ao clan carry haplogroups like N1c-M178, C2a1b-F845, C2b1a3a1-F3796 and C2b1a2-M48. People from northeast China, the Daur Ao clan and Aisin Gioro clan are the main carriers of haplogroup C2b1a3a2-F8951. The Mongolic C2*-Star Cluster (C2b1a3a1-F3796) haplogroup is a fraternal branch to Aisin Gioro's C2b1a3a2-F8951 haplogroup. Genetic testing also showed that the haplogroup C3b1a3a2-F8951 of the Aisin Gioro family came to southeastern Manchuria after migrating from their place of origin in the Amur river's middle reaches, originating from ancestors related to
Daurs in the
Transbaikal area. The
Tungusic speaking peoples mostly have C3c-M48 as their subclade of C3 which drastically differs from the C3b1a3a2-F8951 haplogroup of the Aisin Gioro which originates from Mongolic speaking populations like the Daur. Jurchen (Manchus) are a Tungusic people. The Mongol Genghis Khan's haplogroup C3b1a3a1-F3796 (C3*-Star Cluster) is a fraternal "brother" branch of C3b1a3a2-F8951 haplogroup of the Aisin Gioro. Geneticist
Luca Cavalli-Sforza
Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza (; 25 January 1922 – 31 August 2018) was an Italian geneticist. He was a population geneticist who taught at the University of Parma, the University of Pavia and then at Stanford University.
Works
Schooling and p ...
also ridiculed the first study claiming 1.5 million men descended from Aisin Gioro's founder, pointing out that their dating methods were too imprecise to claim the Y DNA was Giocangga's and he also doubted the separate star cluster subclade came from Genghis Khan.
Current population
There were merely 29,000 members of Aisin Gioro in 1912 when the Qing dynasty fell, in sharp contrast to the more fecund and fertile Ming dynasty before it, whose ruling
House of Zhu had 200,000 (0.2 million) members by the fall of the Ming dynasty. The Manchu emperors had smaller reproduction and harems than the Ming on average and taxed Chinese peasant less than the Ming did to maintain the harem. The Ming Wanli emperor's harem's daily expenditure was more than the Qing Yongzheng emperor's harem annual expenditure. There were 6 generations of Aisin Gioro before Emperor Shunzhi's reign since Nurhaci's grandfather founded the Aisin Gioro clan. Going by the lowest estimate of tribal chief's fertility, five sons per man, Aisin Gioro's number ought to have been 3,000 or 3,125 at the start of the Qing. This meant during that China's population growth in general exactly matched the entire Qing dynasty the Aisin Gioro clan's rate of growth for male members carrying the same surname from the start of the Qing to the end of the Qing, which was growth by a factor of 10 from the initial number at the beginning of the Qing dynasty. And it was only two time's China's general population's growth rate when it included non-male line descendants of the Qing imperial family via Aisin Gioro females who did not pass the family name to their descendants. The Ming imperial Zhu family had more than 80,000 people by 1604, 62,000 in 1594, 28,492 in 1569, 28,840 in 1562, 19,611 in 1553, 2,495 in 1506–1521, 127 in 1403–1424 and 58 in 1368–1398. The Empresses of the Qing were very infertile and most often when an emperor died, there was no son of the empress alive. The
Xianfeng Emperor had only one son surviving, the
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 ...
. The
Guangxu emperor and Tongzhi emperor both had no children. In 1660 the core branch of Aisin Gioro had 378 people while in 1915 it had 29,292 people.
Approximately 300,000 to 400,000 ethnic Manchus in China are surnamed Aisin-Gioro (愛新覺羅), however some of fabricated ancestry to Aisin Gioro many translated their surname to Jin (金), the most common Sinicized form, which has been embraced by core imperial family members like
Jin Yuzhang
Jin Yuzhang (, born 3 May 1942) is a Chinese civil servant, politician and former nobleman. He is the current head of the House of Aisin-Gioro, Chinese Monarchy's former ruling house.
His father was Manchu nobleman Jin Youzhi, and he is a nephew ...
. There are 3.8 million people with the surname Jin in China. There are non-Manchu ethnic groups (notably Koreans, Hui people and even Han Chinese) who also use the surname Jin for unrelated reasons and are totally unrelated to Aisin Gioro. The surname Jin was originally Han in ancient times and was later adopted by Koreans and Hui and is most common among Koreans today. Koreans pronounce the Jin surname as Kim in Korean.
Notable members
Iron-cap princes and their descendants
According to Qing dynasty imperial tradition, the sons of princes do not automatically inherit their fathers' titles in the same rank as their fathers. For example,
Yongqi held the title "
Prince Rong of the First Rank", but when his title was passed on to his son, Mianyi, it became "Prince Rong of the Second Rank". In other words, the title gets diminished by one rank as it is passed down to each subsequent generation, but generally to no lower than the rank of
''kesi-be tuwakiyara gurun-de aisilara gung'' (second class imperial duke). However, there were 12 princes who were awarded the
''shi xi wang ti'' (perpetual heritability, a.k.a. "iron-cap") privilege, which meant that their titles can be passed on to subsequent generations without the downgrading effect.
The 12 "iron-cap" princely peerages are listed as follows. Some of them were renamed at different points in time, hence they had multiple names.
*
Prince Zheng / Prince Jian, the line of
Jirgalang (1599–1655), descendant of
Taksi
*
Prince Li / Prince Xun / Prince Kang, the line of
Daišan (1583–1648), descendant of
Nurhaci
**
Prince Keqin / Prince Cheng / Prince Ping / Prince Yanxi, the line of
Yoto (1599–1639), descendant of
Nurhaci
***
Prince Shuncheng
Prince Shuncheng of the Second Rank, or simply Prince Shuncheng, 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 peerages in the Qing dynasty, whic ...
, the line of
Lekdehun (1619–1652), descendant of
Nurhaci
*
Prince Rui Prince Rui may refer to any of the following princely peerages of the Qing dynasty in China:
* Prince Rui (睿), created in 1636
* Prince Rui (瑞)
Prince Rui of the First Rank (Manchu: ; ''hošoi sabingga cin wang''), or simply Prince Rui, was ...
, the line of
Dorgon (1612–1650), descendant of
Nurhaci
*
Prince Yu, the line of
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. ...
(1614–1649), descendant of
Nurhaci
*
Prince Su / Prince Xian, the line of
Hooge (1609–1648), descendant of
Hong Taiji
Hong Taiji (28 November 1592 – 21 September 1643), also rendered as Huang Taiji and sometimes referred to as Abahai in Western literature, also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizong of Qing, was the second khan of the Later Jin ...
*
Prince Chengze / Prince Zhuang, the line of
Šose (1629–1655), descendant of
Hong Taiji
Hong Taiji (28 November 1592 – 21 September 1643), also rendered as Huang Taiji and sometimes referred to as Abahai in Western literature, also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizong of Qing, was the second khan of the Later Jin ...
*
Prince Yi, the line of
Yinxiang Yinxiang may refer to:
*Yinxiang, Prince Yi (胤祥; 1686 — 1730), a prince of the Qing dynasty
* ''Yinxiang'' (magazine), a 1971–1998 Taiwanese film journal
*Yinxiang Group, an industrial company based in Chongqing, China, specializing in real ...
(1686–1730), descendant of
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 ...
*
Prince Qing
Prince Qing of the First Rank (Manchu: ; ''hošoi fengšen cin wang''), or simply Prince Qing, was the title of a princely peerage used in China during the Manchu-led Qing dynasty (1636–1912). It was also one of the 12 "iron-cap" princely pe ...
, the line of
Yikuang (1838–1917), descendant of
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 ...
*
Prince Gong, the line of
Yixin (1833–1898), descendant of
Daoguang Emperor
*
Prince Chun, the line of
Yixuan (1840–1891), descendant of
Daoguang Emperor
Prominent political figures
*
Daišan (1583–1648), Nurhaci's second son, participated in the
Qing conquest of the Ming
The transition from Ming to Qing, alternatively known as Ming–Qing transition or the Manchu conquest of China, from 1618 to 1683, saw the transition between two major dynasties in Chinese history. It was a decades-long conflict between the e ...
*
Jirgalang (1599–1655), Nurhaci's nephew, co-regent with Dorgon during the Shunzhi Emperor's early reign
*
Ajige (1605–1651), Nurhaci's 12th son, participated in the Qing conquest of the Ming
*
Dorgon (1612–1650), Nurhaci's 14th son,
Prince-Regent and ''de facto'' ruler during the Shunzhi Emperor's early reign
*
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. ...
(1614–1649), Nurhaci's 15th son, participated in the Qing conquest of the Ming
*
Yinsi (1681–1726), the Kangxi Emperor's eighth son, Yinzhen's competitor for the succession, expelled from the Aisin Gioro clan later
*
Yinxiang Yinxiang may refer to:
*Yinxiang, Prince Yi (胤祥; 1686 — 1730), a prince of the Qing dynasty
* ''Yinxiang'' (magazine), a 1971–1998 Taiwanese film journal
*Yinxiang Group, an industrial company based in Chongqing, China, specializing in real ...
(1686–1730), the Kangxi Emperor's 13th son, Yinzhen's ally
*
Yinti (1688–1756), the Kangxi Emperor's 14th son, Yinzhen's competitor for the succession, purported rightful heir to the throne
*
Duanhua (1807–1861), descendant of
Jirgalang, regent for the Tongzhi Emperor, ousted from power 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 ...
in 1861
*
Sushun (1816–1861), Duanhua's brother, regent for the Tongzhi Emperor, ousted from power in the Xinyou Coup in 1861
*
Zaiyuan (1816–1861), descendant of Yinxiang, regent for the Tongzhi Emperor, ousted from power in the Xinyou Coup in 1861
*
Yixin (1833–1898), the Daoguang Emperor's sixth son, Prince-Regent during the Tongzhi Emperor's reign
*
Yikuang (1838–1917), descendant of
Yonglin
Yonglin (17 June 1766 – 25 April 1820), formally known as Prince Qing, was a Manchu prince of the Qing dynasty in China.
Life
Yonglin was born in the Aisin Gioro clan as the 17th and youngest son of the Qianlong Emperor. His mother, Emp ...
, Prime Minister of the Imperial Cabinet
*
Yixuan (1840–1891), the Daoguang Emperor's seventh son, the Guangxu Emperor's biological father
*
Zaiyi
Zaiyi (; Manchu: ; ''dzai-i''; 26 August 1856 – 10 January 1923),Edward J.M. Rhoads, ''Manchus & Han: Ethnic Relations and Political Power in Late Qing and Early Republican China, 1861–1928'', University of Washington Press, 2001 better ...
(1856–1922),
Yicong's son,
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, the Boxer Insurrection, or the Yihetuan Movement, was an Xenophobia, anti-foreign, anti-colonialism, anti-colonial, and Persecution of Christians#China, anti-Christian uprising in China ...
leader
*
Zaize
Zaize (17 March 1868 – June 1929), born Zaijiao, courtesy name Yinping, was a Manchu noble of the Qing dynasty. He is best known for supporting reforms and advocating the adoption of a constitutional monarchy system in the final years of ...
(1876–1929), a sixth-generation descendant of the Kangxi Emperor, Finance Minister and Salt Policy Minister in the Imperial Cabinet
*
Zaizhen
Zaizhen (31 March 1876 – 31 December 1947), courtesy name Yuzhou, was a Manchu prince and politician of the late Qing dynasty. Romanised forms of his name include Tsai-chen, Tsai-Chen, Tsai-Cheng.
Life and service under the Qing dynasty
...
(1876–1947), Yikuang's son, court minister
*
Zaifeng
Zaifeng (12 February 1883 – 3 February 1951), also known as Tsai Feng, Prince of Ch'ün, formally known by his title Prince Chun, was a Manchu prince and regent of the late Qing dynasty. He was a son of Yixuan, the seventh son of the D ...
(1883–1951), Yixuan's son, Puyi's biological father, Prince-Regent during Puyi's reign
*
Zaixun (1885–1949), Yixuan's sixth son, Navy Minister in the Imperial Cabinet
20th century – present
* Pujin (溥伒; 1893–1966), better known as
Pu Xuezhai (溥雪齋),
guqin
The ''guqin'' (; ) is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favoured by scholars and Scholar-bureaucrats, literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinemen ...
player and
Chinese painting
Chinese painting () is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. Painting in the traditional style is known today in Chinese as ''guó huà'' (), meaning "national painting" or "native painting", as opposed to Western style ...
artist, grandson of
Yicong (Prince Dun)
*
Puru Puru refer to:
*Puru (Vedic tribe), a tribe, or a confederation of tribes, mentioned many times in the Rigveda
*King Puru, a Hindu king in the Rigveda and Mahabharata
*King Porus, a king of northwest India in the time of Alexander the Great
*Puru ( ...
(1896–1963), Taiwanese artist and calligrapher, grandson of
Yixin (Prince Gong)
*
Jin Guangping (1899–1966), born Aisin-Gioro Hengxu, scholar of the
Jurchen Jurchen may refer to:
* Jurchen people, Tungusic people who inhabited the region of Manchuria until the 17th century
** Haixi Jurchens, a grouping of the Jurchens as identified by the Chinese of the Ming Dynasty
** Jianzhou Jurchens, a grouping of ...
and
Khitan languages
*
Yoshiko Kawashima (1907–1948), born Aisin-Gioro Xianyu, a spy for the
Japanese Empire during the
Sino-Japanese War
*
Pujie (1907–1994),
Puyi's brother, member of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC, zh, 中国人民政治协商会议), also known as the People's PCC (, ) or simply the PCC (), is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China and a central part of ...
, nominal head of the Aisin-Gioro clan from 1967 to 1994
*
Qigong (1912–2005), artist and calligrapher, descended from the
Prince He peerage
*
Yuyan
Yuyan (1918–1997), courtesy name Yanrui, nickname Xiaoruizi, was a Chinese calligrapher of Manchu descent. He was a member of the Aisin Gioro clan, the imperial clan of the Qing dynasty. He claimed that he was appointed by Puyi, the last ...
(1918–1997), calligrapher, distant nephew of
Puyi
*
Jin Qicong
Jin Qicong or Aisin-Gioro Qicong (7 June 1918 – 10 April 2004) was a Chinese historian and linguist of Manchu ethnicity who is known for his studies of the Manchu and Jurchen languages. His works include the first modern dictionary of Jurchen ( ...
(1918–2004), Jin Guangping's son, historian and scholar of the Jurchen and
Manchu languages
*
Jin Moyu
Jin Moyu (; 1918 – May 26, 2014), also known as Aisin Gioro Xianqi (), was a Chinese educator and the last surviving Manchu princess. She was the 17th and youngest daughter of Shanqi, the 10th heir to the Prince Su peerage of the Aisin Gioro ...
(1918–2014), born Aisin-Gioro Xianqi,
Yoshiko Kawashima's younger sister, educator
*
Jin Youzhi (1918–2015), born Aisin-Gioro Puren,
Puyi's half-brother, nominal head of the Aisin-Gioro clan from 1994 to 2015
*
Aisin-Gioro Yuhuan (1929–2003),
sanxian player and
Chinese painting
Chinese painting () is one of the oldest continuous artistic traditions in the world. Painting in the traditional style is known today in Chinese as ''guó huà'' (), meaning "national painting" or "native painting", as opposed to Western style ...
artist
*
Huisheng (1938-1959), first daughter of Pujie, died of suicide.
*
Husheng (b. 1940), second daughter of Pujie
*
Jin Yuzhang
Jin Yuzhang (, born 3 May 1942) is a Chinese civil servant, politician and former nobleman. He is the current head of the House of Aisin-Gioro, Chinese Monarchy's former ruling house.
His father was Manchu nobleman Jin Youzhi, and he is a nephew ...
(born 1942), Jin Youzhi's son, governor of Beijing's
Chongwen District
Chongwen District () is a former district of Beijing, located relatively southeast to the city center (Tiananmen), and was situated between Yongdingmen and Qianmen. It spanned an area of . It bordered Dongcheng District to the north, Fengtai Distr ...
, nominal head of the Aisin-Gioro clan since 2015
*
Jin Pucong (born 1956), Taiwanese politician, allegedly
descended from the Aisin Gioro clan
*
Aisin-Gioro Ulhicun
Aisin-Gioro Ulhicun (born 1958) is a Chinese linguist of Manchu ethnicity who is known for her studies of the Manchu, Jurchen and Khitan languages and scripts. She is also known as a historian of the Liao and Jin dynasties. Her works includ ...
(born 1958), Jin Qicong's daughter, historian and scholar of the Jurchen, Khitan and Manchu languages
*Cecilia Aisin-Gioro, Paternal Granddaughter of the last Prince Gong in Qing Dynasty of China and Artist.
* Jin Xin (born, 1976), Daughter of Jin Yuzhang, the nominal head of the Aisin-Gioro clan since 2015.
*
Zhao Junzhe
Zhao Junzhe (; born 19 April 1979) is a retired Chinese footballer who predominantly played for Liaoning F.C. in the Chinese Super League.
Club career
Zhao Junzhe was promoted to Liaoning F.C.'s first team from the club's youth academy and made ...
(born 1979), football player, descended from
Boolungga, the fifth brother of
Nurhaci's grandfather
Giocangga
*
Ariel Aisin-Gioro
Ariel Aisin-Gioro (; born 23 December 1983) is a Chinese actress of Manchu people, Manchu ethnicity, remotely related to the ruling clan of the former Qing dynasty, Qing imperial dynasty, the Aisin-Gioro clan.
She is noted for her roles as Gesa ...
(born 1983), actress
Gallery
File:恩格德尔来上尊号图.jpg, Nurhaci on his throne
File:清 佚名 《清太祖天命皇帝朝服像》.jpg, Nurhaci
File:Nurhaci image.JPG, Nurhaci
File:Nurhaci.jpg, Nurhaci
File:Qing-Nurhaci.jpg, Nurhaci
File:Emperor Guangxu in Ordinary Clothes.jpg, Guangxu Emperor
File:HenryPuYi.jpeg, Prince Puyi
File:Prince Zaitao of Qing.jpg, Zaitao
File:载涛.jpg, Zaitao
File:Prince Zaitao in the United States of America.jpg, Zaitao in the United States
File:Prince Tsai Tao of China visits Russia 1910.jpg, Zaitao in Russia
File:Prince Gong.JPG, Yixin (Prince Gong)
File:Felice Beato (British, born Italy - Portrait of Prince Kung, Brother of the Emperor of China, Who Signed the Treaty - Google Art Project.jpg, Yixin (Prince Gong)
File:Felice Beato (British), born Italy - Prince Kung - Google Art Project.jpg, Yixin (Prince Gong)
File:Prince Zaixun of Qing in USA.jpg, Zaixun (Prince Rui) in the United States
File:Prince Zaixun of Qing in USA.JPG, Zaixun (Prince Rui) in the United States
File:Prince Zaixun of China in court robe.JPG, Zaixun (Prince Rui)
File:载涛和载洵 Zaitao and Zaixun.jpg, Zaitao and Zaixun (Prince Rui)
File:Prince Yixuan aged 24.JPG, Yixuan (Prince Chun)
File:Emperor Guangxu and Prince Yixuan.jpg, Yixuan (Prince Chun)
File:Prince Yixuan and Wife.jpg, Yixuan (Prince Chun) and his wife
File:Prince Yixuan with Minister Lihongzhang and Shanqing.JPG, Yixuan (Prince Chun) with Li Hongzhang and Shanqing
File:Prince Yixuan.jpg, Yixuan (Prince Chun) with his sons Zaixun and Zaifeng
Zaifeng (12 February 1883 – 3 February 1951), also known as Tsai Feng, Prince of Ch'ün, formally known by his title Prince Chun, was a Manchu prince and regent of the late Qing dynasty. He was a son of Yixuan, the seventh son of the D ...
File:Yixuan 1888.jpg, Yixuan (Prince Chun)
File:Zaizhen(载振).jpg, Zaizhen (Prince Qing)
File:Zai zhen,Prince Qing of the First Rank.jpg, Zaizhen (Prince Qing)
File:肅親王善耆.jpg, Shanqi (Prince Su)
File:Kawashima Yoshiko Fathers.jpg, Shanqi (Prince Su)
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 116-127-010, China, Tsingtau-Prinz Lsun (-).jpg, Zaifeng (Prince Chun)
File:爱新觉罗.载沣,清末摄政王,宣统皇帝父,袭封醇亲王.jpg, Zaifeng (Prince Chun)
File:2nd Prince Chun's sons and daughters.jpg, Zaifeng (Prince Chun) and his family
File:PuYi 1909.jpg, Zaifeng (Prince Chun) and his sons, Puyi and Pujie
File:Yikuang , 1st Prince Qing.png, Yikuang (Prince Qing)
File:Pmyikuang.jpg, Yikuang (Prince Qing)
File:Xuantong.jpg, Xuantong Emperor
Aisin-Gioro Puyi (; 7 February 1906 – 17 October 1967), courtesy name Yaozhi (曜之), was the last emperor of China as the eleventh and final Qing dynasty monarch. He became emperor at the age of two in 1908, but was forced to abdicate on 1 ...
File:Pu Yi, Qing dynasty, China, Last emperor.jpg, Puyi as Emperor of Manchukuo
Manchukuo, officially the State of Manchuria prior to 1934 and the Empire of (Great) Manchuria after 1934, was a puppet state of the Empire of Japan in Manchuria from 1932 until 1945. It was founded as a republic in 1932 after the Japanese ...
File:Aisin-Gioro Pǔjié and Lady Hiro Saga 1937 wedding photo 2.JPG, Pujie and Hiro Saga on their wedding, 1937
File:Aisin-Gioro Pujie and Gobulo Runqi.jpg, Pujie with Gobulo Runqi
File:Pujie and Saga with their child.jpg, Pujie and Hiro Saga with their child
File:Aisin-Gioro Pujie and his family.jpg, Pujie and Hiro Saga with their daughter Huisheng
File:Aisin-Gioro Pǔjié and Lady Hiro Saga.jpg, Pujie with his wife, Hiro Saga
File:Gobulo Runqi and his wife and Aisin-Gioro Pujie.jpg, Pujie with Yunying and Runqi
See also
*
Irgen Gioro
*
Manchu people
*
Later Jin (1616–1636)
*
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 ...
*
List of emperors of the Qing dynasty
*
Manchu Restoration
*
Manchukuo
Manchukuo, officially the State of Manchuria prior to 1934 and the Empire of (Great) Manchuria after 1934, was a puppet state of the Empire of Japan in Manchuria from 1932 until 1945. It was founded as a republic in 1932 after the Japanese ...
References
External links
*
{{Qing dynasty junwangs
Qing dynasty
Individual Chinese surnames
Gioro clans