Later Jin dynasty (1616–1636)

The Later Jin dynasty (1616–1636) was a short-lived Chinese state founded by the Jurchen people, who later became known as the Manchu. It emerged in northeastern China and was a precursor to the Qing Dynasty, which eventually unified China. The Later Jin was established by Nurhaci, a Jurchen leader, who consolidated tribes and military power. In 1636, the dynasty renamed itself the Qing and officially took control of China, marking the beginning of the Qing Empire that would rule all of China until 1912. The Later Jin thus played a crucial role in ending the Ming Dynasty and beginning Qing rule.