Meng Gu Zhezhe, although this name is not as well-known as Wu Zetian and Empress Dowager Cixi, her life is equally ups and downs and fascinating. At the age of 14, she married her mother's enemy, Nurhachi, and became the latter's wife. Soon after, she gave birth to a son, Huang Taiji, who later became the founding emperor and laid the foundation of the Qing Dynasty. However, the good times did not last long, and the 29-year-old Meng Gu Zhezhe died with hatred. Her life always seems to be hovering in the cracks of family and country grievances, what has she experienced? Why did she die with hatred? What is her relationship with the famous old daughter Dong Ge Yehe?
Born into a powerful family: The noble blood of Menggu Zhezhe
Menggu Zhezhe was born in the Yehe tribe, the most powerful Jurchen tribe in Haixi, and her father Yang Jitong was the leader of the Yehe tribe, Baylor. From the point of view of blood, Meng Gu Zhezhe is undoubtedly an authentic aristocratic lady.
The Yehe tribe has the highest status among the four major tribes of the Jurchens in Haixi, and is known as the head of the "Hulun Four Tribes". They are the Yeh, Hada, Ullah, and Huifa divisions. These four tribes are closely connected to each other while maintaining a relatively independent status. Ye Hebu controls the military, political and economic power of the entire Hercynian Jurchens, and is a well-deserved "first brother".
As the only daughter of Yehebe Beyler, Mengu Zhezhe received an aristocratic education from a young age, learning various etiquette rules of female celebrities. She was taught to be demure and gentle, and to be a qualified aristocratic woman. At the same time, she was also trained in military skills such as archery and mounted archery in case of emergency.
As early as the beginning of Menggu Zhezhe's birth, her father Yang Jitong was already the famous Yehebe Beyler. In 1545, he led the Yehe tribe to support the Ming Dynasty against the Mongol Northern Yuan army, and made great contributions. After that, Yang Jitong established great military exploits in many wars with the Jurchen tribe and the Mongol tribe, and almost dominated the military policy of the entire Haixi Jurchen.
Power and wealth naturally followed. Yang Jiyan's family has countless treasures and beautiful women, and his status is second only to the supreme ruler of the Jurchens. His tribe also played a pivotal role among the Haixi Jurchens because of their outstanding military achievements. It can be said that Menggu Zhezhe has lived in a powerful family since he was a child and absorbed the rich aristocratic culture.
However, the prosperity of the aristocracy was often accompanied by intrigue and family feuds. The contradictions between the four major Jurchen tribes in Haixi were particularly prominent, and they constantly competed with each other for the position of leader, and their power was uncertain. As the precious daughter of Ye Hebu, many of Meng Gu Zhezhe's later encounters and fates are inseparable from these contradictions.
Ill-fated: married at the age of 14
The conflict between Yehebe and Nurhachi has been going on for a long time. In 1583, the eunuch Li Chengliang of the Ming Dynasty conspired to secretly support the southern invasion of the Mongol Northern Yuan army in an attempt to subvert the Ming Dynasty. In this war, Li Chengliang designed the murder of two Baylors of the Yehe Ministry, Yang Jitong and Qing Jiayi, thus seriously damaging the relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the Yehebu.
This incident caused 9-year-old Meng Gu Zhezhe to lose his father, his family was ruined, and his fate was unfortunate. Her elder brother Narimburu succeeded to the position of Xilin Belle, while Qing Jiaping's son Bu Zhai became Donglin Belle. The two were in charge of the military and political power of the Yehbu, respectively.
At the same time, Nurhachi began his own entrepreneurial path. In order to take revenge and seek his own development, he confronted Li Chengliang of the Ming Dynasty and actively co-opted other Jurchen tribes to serve him. In particular, in 1588, the three major Jurchen tribes, the Suwan tribe, the Dong Ebu and the Yargu tribe, successively submitted to him, which greatly increased his strength.
Naturally, Yehebe was not accustomed to Nurhachi's approach, and they believed that Nurhachi was starting a new project, intending to unify the Jurchens against the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, the Yehe tribe united with the other three major Haixi Jurchen tribes, the Ula tribe, the Hada tribe and the Huifa tribe, to form a "nine-part coalition" to jointly defeat Nurhachi.
In the "Battle of the Nine Divisions" in 1593, although the Nine Divisions were outnumbered, they were eventually defeated by Nurhachi. Bu Zhai was killed, Bu Zhantai, the leader of the Ula tribe, was captured alive, and the Nine-Division Coalition suffered a complete defeat. This undoubtedly exacerbated the contradictions and hatred between Yehebe and Nurhachi.
At this juncture, the Yehebe of Sirinbeyl Nalimbulu made an unexpected decision - he personally escorted his 14-year-old sister Mengu Zhezhe to marry the enemy Nurhachi.
Is this an expedient measure, or is it a family sacrifice for his sister? History does not give a clear answer. But what is certain is that Menggu Zhezhe was deeply educated by Yehebu since he was a child, and he has a deep-rooted understanding of the contradictions between his mother's family and his husband's family. Her life is destined to endure the pinching and tearing of two powerful forces.
Life after marriage is not peaceful. Although Nurhachi was very fond of him, Yehebe did not give up the confrontation because he was married to Nurhachi. On the contrary, they continue to secretly sow discord and constantly create right and wrong. The refusal of Yehe's old daughter, Dongge, to marry Nurhachi is a typical example.
In the midst of this contradiction, Menggu Zhezhe lived a miserable life. She often has to choose between her husband's family and her mother's family. On the one hand, as Nurhachi's wife, she is supposed to support her husband's career; On the other hand, she is the leader of Yehebu, and her blood is thicker than water, making it difficult for her to part with her mother's family.
Lingering in the cracks
Husband's family and country grievances
After marrying Nurhachi, Mengu Zhezhe's situation fell into a dilemma. On the one hand, she was born as a native of Yehebu, her father was murdered by the eunuch Li Chengliang of the Ming Dynasty, and there was a deep feud between her mother and her husband's family; On the other hand, she is Nurhachi's wife and is supposed to support her husband's career. This makes her often torn between her husband's family and her mother's family.
Especially after Nurhachi became Khan in 1619, Yehebe's opposition to him became even tougher. Narimbulu did not hesitate to collude with other Jurchen tribes such as the Ula tribe and the Hada tribe to jointly crusade against Nurhachi. In this case, Menggu Zhezhe undoubtedly suffered a double blow.
As a wife, she should be loyal to her husband, but once she betrays her mother's family, it is obvious that she will not tolerate it. As a Yehe person, she should protect the interests of her family, but if she fights against her husband's family, she will definitely be ruined. This makes Meng Gu Zhezhe often fall into a dilemma, and he has no way to follow.
Physical abuse
In the midst of this contradiction, Menggu Zhezhe was not only mentally tortured, but also often physically abused.
At that time, the social ethos was that the wife was submissive, and the husband had supreme authority over his wife. The slightest disobedience will be punished severely. As a daughter-in-law who married into her husband's family, Meng Gu Zhezhe did not have any right to speak.
According to records, Nurhachi was murdered by Mengu Zhezhe for failing to firmly support him when he was at odds with Yehebe, and almost beat her to death. Again, it was because Meng Gu Zhezhe tried to contact his mother's family privately, and after being discovered by Nurhachi, he was severely punished.
This kind of domestic violence was not uncommon in the upper class of society at that time. However, for Menggu Zhezhe, this is undoubtedly worse. Suffering both mental and physical abuse, her situation can be described as a catastrophe.
Mental torture
In addition to physical injuries, Menggu Zhezhe endured more mental torture. She lives in the middle of everything she can't extricate herself from.
On the one hand, it is the persecution of his mother's Yehebe. Narimbulu and the others put pressure on her to be loyal to Yehebu and contribute to the interests of the family. Otherwise, they will bear the hostility of their relatives and accusations of betrayal.
On the other hand, there is the threat of the husband's family. Nurhachi demanded absolute obedience from his wives and concubines, and the slightest neglect would be severely punished. Once it is discovered that he is too close to his mother's family, the consequences are unimaginable.
Under the attack of these two powerful forces, Meng Gu Zhezhe often fell into a painful miserau, and his body and mind were exhausted. Her situation is like a small boat wrapped in a huge wave, and it is in danger of sinking at any moment.
Died with hatred: died young at the age of 29
In the years leading up to her death, she had been in a difficult situation.
In 1625, Narimbulu of Yehebu was captured by Nurhachi, and Yehebu was greatly damaged. But even so, Yehbe's resistance never stopped. In 1626, Serke, the new head of the Yeh tribe, led his men to rebel against Nurhachi again, in an attempt to regain control.
This undoubtedly put Meng Gu Zhezhe, who was in the cracks, in a dilemma. As a wife, she is expected to support her husband; But as a Yehe person, how could she stand up to her own family?
Under the double blow of this contradiction, Meng Gu Zhezhe endured tremendous mental torture. She is often recorded crying alone, screaming frantically, and even committing suicide on several occasions.
In this painful ordeal, Menggu Zhezhe also frequently suffered from Nurhachi's domestic violence. If she neglects the slightest, she will be severely punished by her husband. Once, she was found out for privately contacting her parents' family and almost died.
At the end of 1626, the rebellion of the Silke tribe was finally suppressed by Nurhachi. The resistance of Yehebe was basically completely extinguished. But this did not make Menggu Zhezhe's situation better, but worsened.
The hostility of the Yehebe towards her intensified. In their opinion, Mengu Zhezhe had already completely surrendered to Nurhachi and became the "wife of a slave". Narimbulu and the others even severed all contact with her.
And Nurhachi's side also took precautions against her. After this great rebellion of Yehebu, Nurhachi was even more uneasy about Mengu Zhezhe, for fear that she would take the opportunity to rebel. So he not only strengthened his scrutiny of her, but also often inflicted corporeal and mental punishments.
In this crack, in 1627, Meng Guzhezhe, who was only 29 years old, died with hatred. There are various theories about the cause of her death in the history books, but none of them are completely convincing.
Some say that she was abused by her husband and died, and some say that she was delayed because of mental chilrn. There is also a theory that she tried to commit suicide to escape her pain, but failed. In short, her life has been spent in pain and suffering to the end.
A woman from a delicate background is destined to bear a huge price when she marries into such a family full of contradictions and intrigue. Although she gave birth to the heir Huang Taiji for Nurhachi, she could not escape the sad ending of dying with hatred in the end.
Doping a paragraph: the origin of Dongge and Menggu Zhezhe
In the life of Meng Gu Zhezhe, another important figure is the famous old daughter of Yehe "Dongge". She is entangled with the fate of Meng Gu Zhezhe, and it has almost become an episode in the script of Meng Gu Zhezhe's life.
Dongko's original name was Narazaro, and he was a native of Yehebe. She was born in the Bayern family of Yehebe and is a well-known beauty in the tribe. When she was young, she was already crowned in Kyushu and was known as "Yehe's first beauty".
After the Battle of Kube broke out in 1593, Toko's father, Bai, was captured due to the war. In order to save his father, Dongge was forced to marry Nurhachi, the leader of the victorious nation, as part of his peace relationship.
However, when the wedding date was approaching, Dongge suddenly broke his promise and refused to marry Nurhachi. This was undoubtedly a great rebellion at the time. Nurhachi was furious and led his army to attack Yehebu, taking all the old and young of Dongge's family captive.
It was at this time that Mengu Zhezhe married Nurhachi and became his wife. As a result, the fate of her and Dongge is entangled.
Nurhachi was still reluctant to Dongge, and he tried to persuade Mengu Zhezhe to persuade Dongge to change his mind. But Brother Dong had no intention of changing his mind at all, but refused even more fiercely.
As a result, Menggu Zhezhe fell into a dilemma. On the one hand, as a wife, she should support her husband, but Dongge is of the same clan and clan; On the other hand, if she disobeys her husband, she will be severely punished, but if she disobeys her mother, she will lose her family affection.
Under the attack of these two forces, Meng Gu Zhezhe had no choice but to lobby Dongge with all his might. However, Dong Ge was indifferent to this at all, and insisted on his own views more and more.
The conflict between the two continued in this way until Dong Ge was finally executed. During this period, Meng Gu Zhezhe also suffered a lot of torture and domestic violence, and his spirit almost collapsed.
Dong Ge's death was undoubtedly the last straw that made her worse. Soon after, Meng Gu Zhezhe, who was only 29 years old, died with hatred. Her death is undoubtedly inextricably linked to the Dongge incident.
end
It is often said that there is no place for heroes. Dongge and Menggu Zhezhe, the two beauties of Yehebu, one was forced to helpless in order to save his father, and the other was in a dilemma for the sake of his clan, and finally encountered the end of tragice. Their tragic fate is a vivid portrayal of that era of strife and turmoil.