Heseri
Encyclopedia
Clan Heseri is a Manchu clan
which came from Jianzhou Jurchens
. It was once the most important and powerful family in the early Qing Dynasty
in China
, second only to the royal House of Aisin Gioro
, to whom they were closely related by marriage. The power of the family reached its peak in the period of Marquess Heseri Sonin
and his second son Duke Heseri Songgotu
and then declined after the death of Songgotu. However, power remained in other branches to the clan until the fall of Qing Dynasty.
( AD 618-907) in China. The name, Heseri, was first recorded in the Thirty Common Surnames of Jurchen in late Tang dynasty
, and it is said to be from a name of a river (seri loosely means a water-spring in Manchu language
). Though someones think it was from a name of an ancient tribe
.
In the early 1900s, after the Xinhai Revolution
of 1911, people from this clan changed their surname to He (Chinese: 赫/何) for short. In Hong Kong
and some other Cantonese-speaking regions, He is commonly spelled as "Ho". There were also a few people from this clan who changed their surname to Kang 康) or Zhang 张).
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
which came from Jianzhou Jurchens
Jianzhou Jurchens
The Jianzhou Jurchens were a grouping of the Jurchens as identified by the Chinese of the Ming Dynasty. They were the southernmost group of the Jurchen people The Jianzhou Jurchens (Chinese:建州女真) were a grouping of the Jurchens as identified by the Chinese of the Ming Dynasty. They were the...
. It was once the most important and powerful family in the early Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, second only to the royal House of Aisin Gioro
Aisin Gioro
Aisin Gioro was the family name of the Manchu emperors of the Qing Dynasty. The House of Aisin Gioro ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which established a republican government in its place. The word aisin means gold in the Manchu language, and "gioro" is the name of the place in...
, to whom they were closely related by marriage. The power of the family reached its peak in the period of Marquess Heseri Sonin
Sonin
Sonin, also known as Soni, and rarely Sony , was a senior regent of the Four Regents during Chinese Kangxi Emperor's minority in the Qing Dynasty. Sonin was from the Heseri clan, belonged to the Plain Yellow Banner....
and his second son Duke Heseri Songgotu
Songgotu
Songgotu was a minister during the reign of Emperor Kangxi. He was an uncle of the emperor's official wife, Empress Xiaochengren of the Heseri clan who died during childbirth. He was the son of Sonin, one of the four regents appointed to assist the young Emperor Kangxi during his minority...
and then declined after the death of Songgotu. However, power remained in other branches to the clan until the fall of Qing Dynasty.
Origins
Heseri clan can trace its origin back to the Jurchen people of Tang DynastyTang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
( AD 618-907) in China. The name, Heseri, was first recorded in the Thirty Common Surnames of Jurchen in late Tang dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, and it is said to be from a name of a river (seri loosely means a water-spring in Manchu language
Manchu language
Manchu is a Tungusic endangered language spoken in Northeast China; it used to be the language of the Manchu, though now most Manchus speak Mandarin Chinese and there are fewer than 70 native speakers of Manchu out of a total of nearly 10 million ethnic Manchus...
). Though someones think it was from a name of an ancient tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
.
In the early 1900s, after the Xinhai Revolution
Xinhai Revolution
The Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, also known as Revolution of 1911 or the Chinese Revolution, was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing , and established the Republic of China...
of 1911, people from this clan changed their surname to He (Chinese: 赫/何) for short. In Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and some other Cantonese-speaking regions, He is commonly spelled as "Ho". There were also a few people from this clan who changed their surname to Kang 康) or Zhang 张).
In Jin Dynasty
In the 119-year history of Jin Dynasty，at least 52 people from this clan were powerful enough to affect the government's decisions. Their names were recorded in the History of Jin Dynasty- Heseri Zhining (Chinese: 纥石烈志宁)
- Heseri Liangbi (Chinese: 纥石烈良弼)
- Heseri Ziren (Chinese: 纥石烈子仁)
- Heseri Cupei (Chinese: 纥石烈腊醅)
- Heseri Machan (Chinese: 纥石烈麻产) Cupei's brother
- Heseri Zhizhong (Chinese:纥石烈执中,?-1213)
- Heseri Yawuta (Chinese: 纥石烈牙吾塔； ?-1231) A general
In Qing Dynasty
- Heseri Shuose (Chinese:硕色), Sonin's father. Fluent in Mandarin, MongolianMongolian languageThe Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
and ManchuManchu languageManchu is a Tungusic endangered language spoken in Northeast China; it used to be the language of the Manchu, though now most Manchus speak Mandarin Chinese and there are fewer than 70 native speakers of Manchu out of a total of nearly 10 million ethnic Manchus...
. Awarded 'Bakeshi (Chinese 巴克什)' by Qing Dynasty's founding father, NurhaciNurhaciNurhaci was an important Jurchen chieftain who rose to prominence in the late sixteenth century in what is today Northeastern China...
. Bakeshi means 'Knowledgeable Man' in Manchu language. - Heseri Xifu (Chinese: 希福; ?-1662), Shuose's brother. He had the same language skill as his elder brother. Also awarded 'Bakeshi'
- Heseri E'erdeni (额尔德尼 please do not confuse with the 班禅额尔德尼), originally from the NaraNara (clan)Nara is a major Manchu clan. The Hūlun Four States -- Hada , Ula , Hoifa and Yehe -- were ruled by this clan...
clan, one of the two inventors of the Manchu script. He was given the surname Heseri, by Emperor Huang Taiji, as an award of his contribution to Manchu script. - Heseri SoninSoninSonin, also known as Soni, and rarely Sony , was a senior regent of the Four Regents during Chinese Kangxi Emperor's minority in the Qing Dynasty. Sonin was from the Heseri clan, belonged to the Plain Yellow Banner....
(Chinese:索尼; ?-1667), Chief minister, Grand Councillor (議政大臣) of Emperor Shunzhi. Top of The Four Regents of Emperor KangxiThe Four Regents of Emperor KangxiThe Four Regents of the Kangxi Emperor were nominated by the Shunzhi Emperor to oversee the government of the Qing Dynasty during the early reign of the Kangxi Emperor, before Kangxi came to of age. The four were Sonin, Ebilun, Suksaha, and Oboi....
, Conferred MarquessMarquessA marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam...
in his lifetime and a title of Duke after his death. - Heseri SonggotuSonggotuSonggotu was a minister during the reign of Emperor Kangxi. He was an uncle of the emperor's official wife, Empress Xiaochengren of the Heseri clan who died during childbirth. He was the son of Sonin, one of the four regents appointed to assist the young Emperor Kangxi during his minority...
(Chinese: 索额图; ?-1703), second son of Sonin (some say the third), Grand Councillor (議政大臣), Chief Minister of Emperor Kangxi. - Heseri GabulaGabulaGabula of the Manchu Heseri clan was a duke and military general during the Qing Dynasty. He was Empress Xiaochengren's father and son of Sonin, one of the Four Regents of the Kangxi Emperor....
(Chinese:噶布喇), first son of Sonin, inherited his father's title of Duke. Minister of Emperor Kangxi - Empress Xiaochengren (1653～1674), married to Kangxi EmperorKangxi EmperorThe Kangxi Emperor ; Manchu: elhe taifin hūwangdi ; Mongolian: Энх-Амгалан хаан, 4 May 1654 –20 December 1722) was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the first to be born on Chinese soil south of the Pass and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.Kangxi's...
, also known as "Empress Heseri". - Heseri Suwayamboo (帅颜保;1641–1684), son of Xifu, SoninSoninSonin, also known as Soni, and rarely Sony , was a senior regent of the Four Regents during Chinese Kangxi Emperor's minority in the Qing Dynasty. Sonin was from the Heseri clan, belonged to the Plain Yellow Banner....
's cousin. Minister of River Transport (漕运总督 康熙8年-康熙20年), 禮部尚書 - Heseri Niuniu (牛钮; 1648–1686), 內閣學士, 禮部侍郎.
- Heseri Dingshou (Chinese:定寿；?-1731), One of the greatest military generals of early Qing Dynasty. Vice Governor of the Mongolian Plain Yellow Banner
- Heseri Songzhu (松柱;1657–1735), Grand Councillor (議政大臣), 內閣學士兼禮部侍郎, 禮部尚書兼文華殿大學士，太子太傅
- Heseri Sungseo (嵩寿； ?-1755), Grandson of Shuaiyanbao, 禮部右侍郎.
- Heseri Jiamo (嘉谟 1711-1777), Minister of River Transport (漕運總督), Minister of Home Office (內務府大臣).
- Heseri Guangliang (广亮;?-1800), General of HeilongjiangHeilongjiangFor the river known in Mandarin as Heilong Jiang, see Amur River' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. "Heilongjiang" literally means Black Dragon River, which is the Chinese name for the Amur. The one-character abbreviation is 黑...
- Heseri Fuzhina (富志那,?-1810), ViceroyViceroyA viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
(or more precisely Governor-GeneralGovernor-GeneralA Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
) of GuizhouGuizhou' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
(貴州提督) - Heseri Saichong'a (Chinese:赛冲阿；?～1826), a minister. Dead as the Governor of the Mongolian Plain Yellow Banner. Served also as the Governor of the Manchu Plain Red Banner; the Mongolian Bordered Blue Banner. Gained the title 太子太师 after his death.
- Heseri Jilun (吉纶 ?-1826), Governor of the Manchu Plain Blue Banner, Minister of River Transport (漕運總督),山东巡抚，Co-Minister of Industry 工部右侍郎
- Heseri Fulehong'a (福勒洪阿;?-1829), 内阁学士, Co-Minister of Defense (兵部右侍郎), Co-Minister of Foreign Affairs (理藩院左侍郎)
- Heseri Nadanzhu (那丹珠 ,?-1832), 内阁学士兼礼部侍郎，兵部右侍郎
- Heseri Shutong'a (舒通阿;1776–1836), Vice Military Conmmander of ZhiliZhiliZhílì was a northern province in China from the Ming Dynasty until the province was dissolved in 1928 during the Republic of China era.-History:...
(直隶副总兵). - Heseri Chunqing (淳庆,?-1847), Viceroy of YunnanYunnanYunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
and GuizhouGuizhou' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
(云贵总督) - Heseri Muteng'e (穆腾额 ;1780–1852), General of Jiangnin (江宁将军)
- Heseri Shuxing'a (舒兴阿 ?-1858, Viceroy of ShanxiShanxi' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
and GansuGansu' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
(陕甘总督), Co-minister of Defence (兵部右侍郎), 军机大臣, dead as 云南巡抚. - Heseri Shuyuan (书元；?-1859), 大理寺少卿,盛京戶部侍郎兼奉天府府尹，戶部右侍郎兼管錢法堂事務
- Heseri Hebao (和宝), 兵部员外郎, 通政司参议
- Heseri Yinggui (英桂，?-1879), Viceroy of FujianFujian' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
and ZhejiangZhejiangZhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
(闽浙总督), General of the army (步军统领，同治13年-光绪3年). Gained title 太子太保 after his death. - Heseri Wa'erda (Chinese:洼尔达), a general
- Heseri Tundali (Chinese:吞达礼), an important military commander
- Heseri Hechun (Chinese:和春; ?-1860), Viceroy of JiangnanJiangnanJiangnan or Jiang Nan is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of the Yangtze Delta...
(southern region of the Yangtze RiverYangtze RiverThe Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
) (江南提督，钦差大臣，被赐黄马褂，military commander - Heseri Enchang (恩长), a military commander
- Heseri Rushan (如山), 四川按察使
- Heseri Sepuhuie (色普徵额 ?-1907), General of NingxiaNingxiaNingxia, formerly transliterated as Ningsia, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Located in Northwest China, on the Loess Plateau, the Yellow River flows through this vast area of land. The Great Wall of China runs along its northeastern boundary...
(宁夏将军)