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Amin: The Second Beile of the Later Jin

English editorial translation of the Chinese source entry

Amin was the second son of Šurhaci, Nurhaci's younger brother, and therefore Nurhaci's nephew rather than his son. In 1616 he ranked among the four leading hošo beile together with Daišan, Manggūltai, and Hong Taiji; historical works commonly call him the “Second Beile.” His earl…

Written by MING YEPeople & BiographiesManchuCulture Wiki
Source-based English editorial manuscript · Historical details subject to final source verification.

Clan position and early power

Amin was the second son of Šurhaci, Nurhaci's younger brother, and therefore Nurhaci's nephew rather than his son. In 1616 he ranked among the four leading hošo beile together with Daišan, Manggūltai, and Hong Taiji; historical works commonly call him the “Second Beile.” His early military service included campaigns against Ula and Ming forces while the Later Jin banner system was expanding. The political authority of a beile in this period combined ruling-clan rank with command and participation in deliberations.

Korean campaign and dispute

In 1627 Amin commanded an expedition into Korea accompanied by figures including Yoto and Jirgalang. Accounts of the campaign document disagreements over whether to retain troops, conclude peace, or withdraw. His biography also reports pillage by his forces after the conclusion of an agreement. The expedition should consequently not be reduced to an uncomplicated account of military victory or harmonious policy among the commanders.

Disgrace and confinement

In 1630 Amin was entrusted with the defense of towns captured from the Ming. After reverses at places including Luanzhou, he ordered killings among inhabitants who had submitted and withdrew from Yongping and other occupied towns. Hong Taiji and the assembled princes pursued charges against him; Amin was confined and died in captivity in 1640. Later formal rankings of imperial princes do not map precisely onto the political authority held by the early beile.

Sources and Bibliography

  1. Historical source 1 — zh.wikisource.org
  2. Historical source 2 — zh.wikisource.org
  3. Historical source 3 — zh.wikisource.org

Links reproduce references supplied with the Chinese editorial manuscript; they do not establish that every individual statement has undergone independent archival verification.