| Nurhachi united the Juchen tribes and adopted the name "Manchu" for his people. He proclaimed himself emperor of the Later Jin1 ("golden") dynasty in 1616. His son, Abahai, changed the name of the dynasty to Qing1 ("pure") in 1636. In 1644, under the regency of Dorgon, the Manchus entered Beijing and declared themselves the rulers of China. However, the last remnants of the Ming dynasty in the south weren't defeated until 1662. In fact, some historians don't even begin counting the Qing emperors until Kangxi's annihilation of the Ming in 1662. Hence, the emperors from Nurhachi to Kangxi are all considered "founders" of the Qing dynasty. Although the Manchus saw themselves as separate from the Han Chinese, today Manchus have become totally assimilated into Chinese society, and are virtually indistinguishable from the Han. In the last years of the dynasty, ultra-conservative Qing leaders promoted policies that led to several revolts, the last of which began on October 10, 1911, the date now celebrated in Taiwan as National Day, toppled the Qing and established a republic. |
| No. | Reign Title | Personal Name | Temple Name | Reign | Lifetime | Relation to Previous Emperor | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| --- | Kundulun Khan Tian1 Ming4 (1616 - 1626) |
Nurhachi | Tai Zu | 1583 - 1626 | 1559 - 1626 | None | Unified Manchu tribes and founded the Manchu state. Named state Jin1 in 1616. |
| --- | Tian1 Cong1 (1627 - 1636) Chong2 De2 (1636 - 1643) |
Abahai | Tai Zong | 1627 - 1643 | 1592 - 1643 | 8th son | Renamed dynasty Qing1 in 1636. |
| 1 | Shun4 Zhi4 | Fu Lin | Shi Zu | 1644 - 1661 | 1638 - 1661 | 9th son | Manchu conquest of China proper, 1644. |
| 2 | Kang1 Xi1 | Xuan Ye | Sheng Zu | 1662 - 1722 | 1654 - 1722 | 3rd son | Consolidated Manchu control of China. |
| 3 | Yong1 Zheng4 | Yin Zhen | Shi Zong | 1723 - 1735 | 1678 - 1735 | 4th son | Concentrated power in Emperor's hands. |
| 4 | Qian2 Long2 | Hong Li | Gao Zong | 1736 - 1795 | 1711 - 1799 | 5th son | Height of Qing power. |
| 5 | Jia1 Qing4 | Yong Yan | Ren Zong | 1796 - 1820 | 1760 - 1820 | 5th son | Attempted to restore flagging state of empire. |
| 6 | Dao4 Guang1 | Min Ning | Xuan Zong | 1821 - 1850 | 1782 - 1850 | son | Lost Opium War to Britain |
| 7 | Xian2 Feng1 | Yi Zhu | Wen Zong | 1851 - 1861 | 1831 - 1861 | son | Signed "unequal treaties," fought against Taiping rebels. |
| 8 | Tong2 Zhi4 | Zai Chun | Mu Zong | 1862 - 1874 | 1856 - 1875 | son | Weak ruler under his mother, the Empress Dowager Cixi. Revitalized government. |
| 9 | Guang1 Xu4 | Zai Tian | De Zong | 1875 - 1908 | 1871 - 1908 | cousin | Installed and controlled by the Empress Dowager Cixi. Attempts at reform stifled by Cixi. |
| 10 | Xuan1 Tong3 | Pu3 Yi2 | None | 1909 - 1912 | 1906 - 1967 | nephew | Abdicated. Installed as Chief Executive (1932 - 1934), then as Emperor (1934 - 1945) of Manchukuo by the Japanese under the reign title Kang De. |