Later Jin (1616–1636)

The first day of the forty-fourth Wanli year

On 17 February 1616 Nurhaci proclaimed himself han, or khan, and adopted the reign title Tianming.

The proclamation was made in the Octagonal Hall at Hetu Ala. He fixed the state name as Jin — conventionally called Later Jin by historians — and instituted a formal New Year's audience with ceremonial regalia and music.

What he did not become

The act established an independent Jurchen-ruled regime under Nurhaci's khanship. It did not make him ruler of Ming China, which remained under the Wanli emperor.

'Qing Taizu' is retrospective: Hong Taiji bestowed that temple name after Nurhaci's death. Even 'Later Jin' is under review — a recent source study finds no conclusive contemporary evidence that 'Later' formed part of the official title, and Jin, Great Jin, or Aisin gurun are the safer contemporary forms.

Built before it was proclaimed

The new regime rested on institutions already finished: the Eight Banners, completed in 1615, and an adapted Jurchen writing system begun after 1599. The Palace Museum chronology records five ministers and ten jargūci established in 1615, before the proclamation rather than after it.

From that day Nurhaci's court dated its rule by the Tianming era and operated as the Jin khanate from Hetu Ala.

Open war against the Ming came later, with the Seven Grievances in 1618.