Battle of Sarhu
Near Fushun, Liaoning, China
What happened
The Later Jin (Manchu) army of Nurhaci and his son Hong Taiji fought a Ming Chinese army under Yang Hao, with a Korean Joseon force under Gang Hong-rip. In 1618 the Manchu leader Nurhaci rebelled against the Ming dynasty. The Ming sent four separate columns to attack his capital. Nurhaci kept his own army together and defeated the Ming columns one at a time over five days.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It showed that the Manchu horsemen could beat Ming armies equipped with guns and cannons. The Ming lost a large army in the north-east, and the Manchus grew stronger.
What came next
Nurhaci was finally stopped at Ningyuan in 1626. His successors founded the Qing dynasty, which later ruled all of China.
Did you know?
Nurhaci also ordered a new written script for the Manchu language, adapted from the Mongolian script.
Timeline
- 1616Nurhaci founds the Later Jin dynasty.
- 1618Nurhaci issues the Seven Grievances against the Ming.
- 14-18 April 1619Nurhaci defeats the Ming columns at Sarhu.
- 1626Nurhaci is defeated at Ningyuan and dies.