Why did Nurhachi name his new dynasty Jin in 1616?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

In 1616, Nurhachi proclaimed himself han (emperor) and named his new dynasty Jin—sometimes referred to as the Hou (Later) Jin—to explicitly signal a continuation of the Jin (Juchen) dynasty that had ruled in the 12th century.12

By adopting this historical name, Nurhachi sought to rekindle a sense of imperial greatness and pride among the Juchen people. This choice of name served as a symbolic link to the past power of their ancestors, helping to unify the Juchen tribes under his leadership as he forged a new, more powerful state in Manchuria.12