Sahaliyan Explained

Sahaliyan
Prince Ying of the First Rank
Chinese: 和碩穎親王
Succession:Head of the House of Prince Ying peerage
Predecessor:peerage created
Successor:Adali
Birth Date:19 June 1604
Birth Place:Liaodong, Manchuria, Ming dynasty
Burial Place:Benxi, Henan
Posthumous Name:Prince Yingyi of the First Rank (穎毅親王)
House:Aisin Gioro
Father:Daišan
Spouse:Ulanara Jihai
Issue:Adali
Lekdehun
Dulan

Sahaliyan, alternatively rendered as Sahalin[1] (Manchu: ᠰᠠᡥᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᠨ,, 19 June 1604 – 11 June 1636), was an imperial prince of the Qing dynasty of China. He was the third son of Prince Lilie of the First Rank Daišan and a grandson of Nurhaci. Sahaliyan was posthumously honoured as Prince Ying of the First Rank for the merits during Qing conquest of the Central Plain. The peerage was found extinct after his son, Adali, was executed for treason.

Life

Sahaliyan was born as a son of Second Primary Princess Consort Lilie of the First Rank, lady Yehe Nara on 19 June 1604[2] in Liaodong. Sahaliyan enjoyed Hong Taiji's favour since young, which resulted in his loyalty to Hong Taiji.[3] He was considered to be among the most well-educated Manchu nobles of the early Qing period, being highly literate in Chinese, Manchu, and Mongolian.

Military and political career

Sahalian's military career started as early as in Tianming era, when he raided Chahar and Khorchin in 1625 with army consisting of 5 thousand soldiers. In 1626, he conquered Khalkha tribes together with his father, Daišan[4] .That same year, he was granted a title of prince of the third rank together with Yoto and other imperial princes. Sahaliyan was reluctant to accept the title as he claimed incompetence and declared his loyalty to Khan.[5] Nevertheless, it was Sahaliyan who laid a groundwork to election of Hong Taiji as a Khan.[6]

Infliction in Manggultai's accident

Actually, when Manggūltai was deposed in 1633, it was Sahaliyan who arrested princess Mangguji, Nurhaci's third daughter. The reasons were Mangguji's request to Degelei to murder her second prince consort and the cold relationship between her and Hong Taiji.[7] Hong Taiji saw Mangguji and her brother, Degelei, as enemies and therefore wanted to murder them.[8] In 1635, Mangguji was murdered with her second daughter, whom Hong Taiji's son Hooge had rejected as a wife.[9]

Death and legacy

Sahaliyan died of illness on 11 June 1636 at the age of 32 (in sui). His death deeply saddened Hong Taiji whi generously treated his family members and posthumously honoured him as Prince Ying of the First Rank.[10] Hong Taiji cancelled court sessions for 3 days, the mourning period exceptionally reserved for meritorious imperial princes. Sahalin was succeeded by his eldest son, Adali, while his second son, Lekdehun, was granted a title of Prince Shuncheng of the Second Rank.[11]

In 1672, Kangxi Emperor added a character "yi" (毅) to Sahalian's title, so the full posthumous title was: Prince Yingyi of the First Rank (和硕颖毅亲王, meaning "talented and full of determination"). In 1755, Qianlong Emperor ordered to place Sahalin's memorial tablet in the Temple of Worthies so as to commemorate his role in the conquest of the Ming dynasty.[12]

Interesting facts

Ghost in the Mukden forbidden city

The optical illusion of Sahalian was first visible after his death according to the legends. In 6 months after Sahalin's death, Hong Taiji slept in the Fenghuang building of the Mukden Palace. Hong Taiji dreamt of himself leaving inner court of Mukden palace together with Empress Xiaoduanwen onto the eastern wall of the city. After the short walk, Hong Taiji was disrupted by an enormous palace, where he saw Daishan and Sahaliyan awaiting him. Hong Taiji gave them clothes, let them in and sat on the throne. After an hour of bantering, Hong Taizi felt puzzled how Sahalin could be alive. Hong Taiji ordered to return to Mukden palace. While Hong Taiji was leaving the hall, Sahalian stopped him and requested for one calf.

The dream was described by great secretary Hife (of the Hešeri clan), Ganglin and other present at the court session other day.[13]

The story was continued by "Chronicle of Great Ming" before the accomplishment of "Great Code of Qing". However, the "Chronicle of Great Ming" gives the story a shade of authenticity by mentioning that Hong Taiji rewarded Lekdehun and made him one of the iron-cap princes under the title "Prince Shuncheng of the Second Rank".[14]

Family

Sahaliyan was married to Ulanara Jihai (乌拉那拉氏·济海), daughter of Bujantai. His primary consort was executed for treason together with Adali.----Consorts and issue:

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. "Sahalin" was written and transcribed as "Sahaliyan"
  2. Web site: 详细资料介绍_爱新觉罗宗谱网. 2021-03-26. www.axjlzp.com.
  3. Book: Comprehensive history of Qing dynasty. Purple Star City press. 2002. 17.
  4. Book: Zhao, Erxun. Draft History of Qing.Biographies 3. 1928.
  5. Book: Sun/孙, Wenliang/文良. "天聪汗崇德帝"/"Tiancong Khan, Chongde Emperor". 吉林文史出版社. 1993. 262.
  6. Book: Central Asiatic Journal. O. Harrasowitz. 1979. 23-25. 256.
  7. Book: Sun, Wenliang. "Tiancong Khan, Chongde Emperor. 吉林文史出版社. 1993. 289.
  8. Book: Wei (魏), Min (民). "New view of the history of Qing dynasty"/"大清历史新闻: 顺治卷". 中州古籍出版社. 2008. 24.
  9. Book: Liu, Xiaomeng. 爱新觉罗家族全书: 家族全史. 吉林人民出版社. 1997. 70.
  10. Book: Li (李), Zhiting (治亭). 皇太极皇帝轶事/"Anecdotes from the life of Hong Taiji". 山西人民出版社. 1993. 126.
  11. Web site: 清史稿. 2021-03-26. www.guoxue.com.
  12. Book: 钦定八旗通志. 122.
  13. Book: 《大清实录》.
  14. Book: 《大明会典》.
  15. Book: 明清档案与蒙古史硏究/"Mentions of the Mongolia in Ming and Qing dynasty archival documents". 內蒙古人民出版社. 2002. 2. 211.
  16. Web site: 详细资料介绍_爱新觉罗宗谱网. 2021-03-26. www.axjlzp.com.