The Shenyang Palace is a symbol of the origins of the Manchus，it is witness to the history of the martial traditionofNurhachi，Abahai，andotherManchu noblemen.It also represents a record of the defeat of the Ming Dynasty in the northwest and the total destructionof the Ming Dynasty.Nurhachi（1558–1626）played a vitaland irreplaceable role in this process of the Manchu rise to power.He was born in Hetu’ala in Xinbin County，Liaoning.His father received a commission from the Ming Dynasty to be commander of the Left-Protection Capital in Jianzhou.In his youth the father frequented Fushunhu City where he became conversant in both Mongolian and Chinese languages.In 1582，Nurhachi’s father died at the hands of a rival Juchen faction.In 1583，the eleventh year of the Wanli reign in the Ming Dynasty，Nurhachi led a revolt that resulted in the gradual unification under his rule of all parts of Jianzhou.He assimilated the western-seas part of the Songhua River region and the eastern-seas parts of the Changbai Mountain region.Controlling all of the northeastern areas，he set up the Eight Banner system.In 1599，he had two of his translators modify the Mongolian script into a more precise transliterating method with the use of diacritical marks，so that it could be used by the Manchu language.In 1616，Nurhachi declared the establishment of a new empire with a reign name of Jin，known to history as Later Jin，in Hetu’ala.The territory of this empire stretched from the eastern ocean to the Liao River，from a river in Mongolia to the north to a river in Korea in the south.“All began a great unification under his rule.”In 1618，under the impetus of what were called the Seven Great Grievances，he began a revolt against the Ming Dynasty.He proceeded to defeatthe Ming armies repeatedly in a number of campaigns.
In 1619，the Ming Emperor Chongzhen dispatched an army of 110，000 to attack Nurhachi’s capital at Hetu’ala.At the head of the Eight Banners，Nurhachi adopted a military strategy of“You come from all roads，I go from one road，”whereby he decisively defeated the Ming army at Sa’erhu.He killed the commander Du Song and annihilated some 60，000 Ming soldiers.In 1625，Nurhachi moved his capital to Shenyang，formerly known as Mukden.In 1626，he personally led a huge force in attacking the Ming further to the south，and was defeated by the Ming general Yuan Chonghuan through the general’s use of Portuguese cannon.Nurhachi was wounded and died in battle，although one theory has it that he died from an internal bleeding ulcer.His son，the later Emperor Huangtaiji（1592–1643）officially changed the name of the empire to Qing，but Nurhachi is generally regardedasthefounderoftheManchu-ruledQing empire.Huangtaiji（Abahai）was a genius who combined martial courage and civic intelligence.He was a superb commander and military strategist and in the Sa’erhu campaign he proved his merit.He went on to carry out the work of Nurhachi，consolidating his economic base，drawing in talented people，turning a military victory over the Ming into an irreversible situation leading to the fall of the Ming Dynasty.
Another man is worth mentioning who figured inthe events at the transition between the Ming and Qing dynasties，and that is the general mentioned above，Yuan Chonghuan（1584–1630）.His role in fighting the Manchus made him a people’s hero in Ming China.HewasoriginallyfromTengCountyinGuangxi，southern China.His ethnic heritage derived from the Dongguan people in Guangdong.He passed the official examinations and was awarded the degree of jinshi in the fourth year of the Wanli reign，the same year in which the Ming armies were defeated at Sa’erhu.Because of this，he determined to join in the glorious defense of the nation.In 1622，he made a reconnaissance on horseback of the military situation north of the pass.On returning to Beijing he asked to be allowed to defend the region east of the Liao River.He rebuilt various cities ithat had been destroyed，including Ningyuan，the modern-day Xingcheng in Liaoning.He made several campaigns against the Latter Jin（Qing）and in 1626 won a great victory in Ningyuan and was promoted to the leading military position of the region.In 1627，Yuan Chonghuan received the rank of Minister of Liaodong，a post bestowed upon him by the Emperor Chongzhen.He was considered supremely capable by the entire militaryesta blishment of thecountry.In1630，the Manchu Emperor Abahai successfully used the strategem of sowing distrust amonghis enemies，and the Ming EmperorChongzhenputYuanChonghuant o d eathbyslowdismembermentof his body.TheMing Dynasty therebylostitsgreatdefender，andasaresul twastotallydefeated.
The dynastywasoverturned in 1644 and the Manchu-ruled reign of theQing Dynasty began.
China is a nation of many dif fer ent tribes or nationalities of people.In the course of the conflicts and the gradual melding of these people，evaluations of the heroes on either side often result in radically different viewpoints.In the history of the development of the Manchus，both Nurhachi and Abahai were heroes who made tremendous contributions to the advancement and melding of their people.As a protector of the Ming Dynasty，the courageous Yuan Chonghuan was also his nation’s hero.In those tumultuous times，each played an outstanding role on the stage of history.Each is worthy of our profound appreciation and remembrance.