The Yehe NaraOr Yehe ba-i Nara (Nara of Yehe area, 葉赫地方那拉氏) in the Manchu Version of the Complete Genealogies of the Manchu Clans and Families of the Eight Banners is one of the main branches of the Nara clan of Manchu origin. It is the family surname of the (chieftains) of the Yehe tribe of the Haixi Jurchens. The clan's progenitor was a Mongol named Singgen darhan (, ), who changed his surname to Nara after capturing the territory of the Hulun state's Zhang City, originally belonging to the Nara clan. His followers later migrated to the Yehe River, hence the name Yehe nation. Singgen Darhan great-grandson, Taicu (), had two sons: and Yangginu. The brothers unified the Yehe tribes, each ruling a city and both titled beile. During the times of Gintaisi and , Yehe was annexed by Nurhaci, and its clans and followers were incorporated into the Eight Banners system.
During the Qing dynasty, the Yehe Nara produced many notable families, nobles, civil and military officials. Prominent figures from this clan include Empress Xiaocigao, the mother of Hong Taiji, Suksaha, one of the Four Regents of the early Kangxi era, and Mingju, an important official during the Kangxi reign. Additionally, Empress Dowager Cixi, who held actual power over the Qing Empire for over forty years, was also from the Yehe-Nara clan. Her ancestor, Kazan (), was a resident of the Suwan area in Yehe state. After the founding of the Republic of China, many from the Yehe-Nara clan adopted Han surnames such as (), Ye (), Bai (), Zhang (), Luo (), and Su ().
Prominent families in the Qing dynasty
Yehe beile clan
Descendants of Gintaisi
After Nurhaci conquered Yehe, the descendants of Gintaisi, beile of the Eastern City, were incorporated into the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner. Gintaisi’s son, Deerge () was granted the title of third-class baron. His son () inherited the title but was stripped of it due to misconduct. Nanchu’s brother, Suo'er (), inherited the title, and through several imperial decrees of favor, it was elevated to first-class baron with the additional title of Yun Qiwei (, Cloud Cavalry Captain). Suo'er served as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and as a banner commander but was demoted to second-class baron. Subsequently, the title passed through successive generations: Ese (), Ganahai (), and Bashen (). Bashen’s father, Wudan (), served as General Jianwei () and died in battle against the Dzungars. He was posthumously awarded the title of Yun Qiwei, which was inherited by Bashen, who then received the title of first-class baron. The title was later reverted to second-class baron for hereditary succession.
Gintaisi’s son, Niyaha (), was awarded the hereditary title of cavalry captain due to his contributions. He held the position of Langzhong (, captain). His son Zhengku () inherited the title and, through several imperial decrees of favor, it was elevated to second-class light chariot captain. His grandson Mingju inherited the title, which was reverted to cavalry captain. Gintaisi’s grandson Mingju was a prominent official during the Kangxi reign, serving as Grand Secretariat of the Hall of Preserving Harmony and as an Inner Minister. His great-grandson Muzhan () served as General of the South, Kuixu () as Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, and Kuifang () as Prince Consort of Heshuo (). Other descendants of Gintaisi held various important government positions such as Inner Academy Scholars, guardian of tombs, governors, deputy commanders, guards, commanders, lieutenants, deputy directors, and scribes.
Gintaisi’s younger brother Saibitu’s () son, Shuose (), served as a fifth-rank official, and Saibitu’s grandson Daimu () served as a second-class guard and died in battle in Xiamen, Fujian. He was posthumously awarded the title of Yun Qiwei, which was inherited by his son Sandan (). Other descendants of Saibitu held positions such as Guards, Assistant Commanders, Deputy Directors, Scribes, Secretaries, and Ceremonial Officials. Gintaisi’s younger brother Ashan’s () grandson Baose () served as a class leader in the Imperial Stables, and his great-grandson Liuzhu () served as a captain and banner commander.
Descendants of Buyanggu After Nurhaci conquered Yehe, the descendants of , beile of the Western City, were incorporated into the Manchu Plain Red Banner. His brother Buerhangwu () was granted the title of third-class baron and appointed as a banner commander. By the time his grandson Yintu () inherited the title, he served as General of Girin but lost the title due to misconduct. Buyanggu’s grandson Chaketu () inherited the banner commander position, and his nephew Garli () inherited the title, achieving merit in campaigns against the Dzungars. He was granted the title of third-class light chariot captain, later changed to the hereditary title of Yun Qiwei. Buerhangwu's other son Shuose () served as a Junior Imperial Guard, and his grandson Fulata () served as Minister of Justice. Other descendants held positions such as assistant commanders, lieutenants, clerks, guards, secretaries, and writers.
Buyanggu’s younger brother ’s () son, De'ersun (), served as a fourth-rank ceremonial official, and his grandson Xizhu () served as Vice Minister of Justice and banner commander. Other descendants held positions such as assistant commanders, lieutenants, and chancellors.
Descendants of Efu Suna
() of the Plain White Banner was a member of the same clan as Gintaisi. He married a princess and was titled Efu (). He served as Minister of War and also held the position of a banner commander. Due to his military achievements in Guangning, Jinzhou, Daling, and Ningyuan, he was granted immunity from death four times and awarded the title of third-class light chariot captain. Later, he was stripped of his position due to misconduct. His son, Suksaha, inherited the position of banner commander. Due to his military achievements in Jinzhou and Songshan, he was awarded the title of cavalry captain. Through several imperial decrees of favor, he was elevated to third-class light chariot captain. The Qing court, in recognition of Suna's long service, restored the title of third-class light chariot captain and merged it with Suksaha's original hereditary title, making him a third-class baron. Later, Suksaha was promoted to second-class viscount due to imperial favor and his military achievements in Huguang and other places. He served as an Inner Minister, a regent, but was forced to commit suicide by the powerful minister Oboi. In the eighth year of the Kangxi reign, after Oboi's downfall, Suksaha's descendants were rehabilitated, and the Kangxi Emperor restored their hereditary titles. When his grandson Zhongshenbao () inherited the title, it was changed to third-class baron. Besides Suksaha, Suna had several other sons, including Kongguji (), who was a Doroi Efu, Sumara (), who served as a first-class guard, and Maise (), who served as a second-class guard. Other descendants of Suna held various positions such as guards, Langzhong, clerks, and banner commanders. Suksaha's eldest son, Zhakedan (), served as an Inner Minister and was executed along with his father.
Suna Efu's paternal uncle, Baisihu's () son, Ayusi, served as a clerk and was awarded the title of Yun Qiwei due to his satisfactory performance. Through several imperial decrees of favor and military achievements in Jinzhou and Jiangxi, he was promoted to second-class light chariot captain but later demoted to third-class light chariot captain due to misconduct, eventually serving as a deputy commander. His grandson, Duliku (), inherited the position and was awarded the title of second-class light chariot captain for his military achievements in the Dzungar campaign. His descendants later adjusted the title to cavalry captain. Other descendants of Baisihu served in various positions such as guards, assistant commanders, clerks, lieutenants, banner commanders, writers, and clerks. Among them, Baisihu's son, Badana (), was titled Efu, and his great-grandson, Erge (), served as a minister of the Privy Council, Minister of Works, and Deputy Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.
Others Ashen () Darhan of the Plain White Banner was Gintaisi's brother. He served as a banner commander and was awarded the title of first-class light chariot captain for his military achievements in Liaodong. He later served as Minister of the Court of Colonial Affairs. In the sixth year of the Tiancong reign, he was given the honorary title of "Uncle" by the Khan Hong Taiji because he was the brother of Empress Dowager Xiaocigao. Ashen Darhan earned further military merits during the Korean campaign and was promoted to third-class baron but was later demoted to cavalry captain due to misconduct. His son, Xidari (), inherited the title and earned multiple military merits, eventually being promoted to first-class light chariot captain. His descendants' titles fluctuated, but his great-grandson, Nayantai (), settled on the title of third-class light chariot captain. Other descendants of Ashen Darhan served in various positions such as guards, defenders, and assistant commanders.
Baierhetu () of the same banner, related to Gintaisi, served as a forward banner commander. He earned multiple military merits in battles at Jinzhou, the southern campaigns, and capturing the Yongli Emperor of the Southern Ming in Burma. He was awarded the title of first-class baron. His third son, Bairken (), inherited the title, served as a minister without portfolio and banner commander, and was later granted the title of third-class viscount due to his father's previous military achievements. His son, Baiqing’e (), inherited the title and served as deputy commander. Baierhetu's eldest son, Sehe (), served as a guard commander and died in battle against Ma Bao () in Yanshanling, Huguang, and was posthumously awarded the title of Yun Qiwei. Baierhetu's second son, , served as a censor, and other descendants held various positions such as banner commanders, clerks, and more.
Other members of the same clan as Gintaisi included Huniu (), Esen (), Husala (), Gangada (), Harsai (), Aimintaiji (), Badang’a (), Bayali (), and Buyantu (). Huniu served as a guard commander, earned military merits in campaigns in Sichuan and Yangping Pass, and was posthumously awarded the title of cavalry captain. His son, Yanbu (), inherited the title and earned military merits in campaigns in Yunnan, being awarded the title of Yun Qiwei. Esen's great-grandson, Qina (), served as a seventh-rank official and earned military merits in campaigns against the Chahars and was awarded the title of Yun Qiwei. Esen's nephew, Budangqili (), served as a guard commander and earned military merits in Jinzhou, Shandong, Henan, and Jiangnan, being awarded the title of cavalry captain. Husala's grandson, Sehe (), served as a guard commander and earned military merits in campaigns in Shandong, Chahar, and Yunnan, being awarded the title of cavalry captain. Gangada surrendered before the fall of Yehe and was awarded the title of lieutenant general. Harsai, Aimintaiji, Badang’a, Bayali, and Buyantu did not have hereditary titles.