Hong Taiji Renames the State Qing

After Nurhaci died in 1626, his eighth son Hong Taiji (1592–1643) succeeded as khan and changed the era name to Tiancong the next year. On taking power he strengthened the khan's authority, gradually ending the practice of "jointly deliberating state affairs" with the other beile, and set up six ministries on the Ming model, appointed Han officials, improved Manchu-Han relations and developed agriculture, strengthening the state. He sent troops to Korea and finally forced it to sever its tributary relationship with the Ming, and repeatedly marched on the Mongols south of the Gobi, defeating Ligdan Khan, after which the Mongol tribes there submitted one after another. In 1635 Ligdan's son Ejei surrendered and presented the Yuan jade seal, the "Seal of Imperial Edicts"; the same year Hong Taiji ordered the ethnic name "Jurchen" changed to "Manchu". In 1636 he proclaimed himself emperor at Shenyang, changed the state name to "Qing" and the era name to Chongde, and is known as Emperor Taizong of Qing. Qing forces then repeatedly went around through Mongolia, broke through the Great Wall and penetrated north China, seizing people and goods and seriously damaging the Ming. From 1640 to 1642 the Qing army defeated the Ming at the Battle of Songshan and Jinzhou and captured the Ming governor-general Hong Chengchou, leaving the Ming with only a few cities such as Ningyuan beyond Shanhaiguan. In 1643 Hong Taiji died and his son Fulin succeeded as the Shunzhi Emperor, with his uncle Dorgon and others as regents.