Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 25, 2026

Hoifa Nara

Hoifa Nara is a one of the four major branches of the Nara clan and among the eight greatest Manchu families in some of the historical records during Qing dynasty. It was also the ruling clan of the Hoifa tribal nation. Its ancestor, Angguli, originally belonged to the Ikderi clan of the Nimaca tribe in the Heilongjiang region. After migrating south, he adopted the surname Nara through association with local Nara families. By the late Ming period, the clan established the tribal nation in the Hoifa River basin under the leadership of Wangginu (王機褚). After the defeat of his grandson Baindari (拜音達禮) by Nurhaci, the clan and its followers were incorporated into the Eight Banners.

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Jun 25, 2026
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Hoifa Nara
Manchu name
Manchu scriptᡥᠣᡳ᠌ᡶᠠ
ᠨᠠᡵᠠ
Möllendorffhoifa nara
Chinese name
Chinese辉发那拉氏
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinhuī fā nà lā shì
Pronunciation respelling name
Pronunciation respellingHOY-fah-NAH-rah

Hoifa Nara1 is a one of the four major branches of the Nara clan and among the eight greatest Manchu families in some of the historical records during Qing dynasty.2 It was also the ruling clan of the Hoifa tribal nation (輝發國, -1607). Its ancestor, Angguli,3 originally belonged to the Ikderi clan of the Nimaca tribe in the Heilongjiang region. After migrating south, he adopted the surname Nara through association with local Nara families. By the late Ming period, the clan established the tribal nation in the Hoifa River basin under the leadership of Wangginu4 (王機褚). After the defeat of his grandson Baindari5 (拜音達禮) by Nurhaci, the clan and its followers were incorporated into the Eight Banners.6

Overview

During the Qing dynasty, the most distinguished branch was that of the Empress Nara of the Qianlong Emperor, whose father Narbū was posthumously granted the title of a first-rank duke due to his daughter's elevation. Following the empress's fall from favor, however, the family lost its hereditary banner command and declined. Apart from this branch, several members of the clan held hereditary titles such as qingcheduwei (輕車都尉, Light Chariot Commandant) and Qiduwei (騎都尉, Knight Commandant). After the fall of the Qing dynasty, descendants of the Hoifa Nara generally adopted the Sino surnames Zhang (張), Shi (施), Su (蘇), and You (游).7

The descendants of the Hoifa beile family were mainly distributed among the Bordered Red Banner, Bordered Blue Banner, and Imperial Household Bordered Yellow Banner (內務府鑲黃旗). Tunggui (通貴), a grandson of Wangginu, surrendered to Nurhaci and was granted the hereditary rank of Qiduwei and Banner company commander (niru janggin). His descendants and clansmen produced numerous military and civil officials, including Banner-level commanders and company commanders. Mangko (莽科), another grandson of Wangginu, his great-grandson Narbu (納爾布) was the father of the Qianlong Emperor's Step Empress Nara.8

Besides the ruling clan, several unrelated Hoifa Nara families also attained hereditary ranks through military service. Notable among them were the descendants of Sandan, who obtained multiple hereditary titles such as Qingcheduwei and Qiduwei. Another example, Šose Uba, who was granted Qiduwei due to his refusal to surrender while held captive by the Chahar Mongols for three years. After escaping, he served as superintendent of the imperial mausoleums (陵寢總管). 9

References

References

  1. Or Hoifa ba-i Nara (Nara of Hoifa area, 輝發地方那拉氏) in the Manchu Version of the Complete Genealogies of the Manchu Clans and Families of the Eight Banners
  2. Zhaolian (1980). Miscellanies of the Howling Pavilion (嘯亭雜錄) (in Simplified Chinese). Zhonghua Book Company. p. 316. ISBN 9787101017519.
  3. Stary, Giovanni (2000). A Dictionary of Manchu Names: A Name-Index to the Manchu Version of the 'Complete Genealogies of the Manchu Clans and Families of the Eight Banners. Harrassowitz. p. 14. ISBN 9783447042178. Angguli (Hoifa ba-i Nara)
  4. Unknown (1986). Zhonghua Book Coimpany (ed.). Manchu Veritable Record Volume 1 (in Manchu). Zhonghua Book Company. p. 26.
  5. Stary, Giovanni (2000). A Dictionary of Manchu Names: A Name-Index to the Manchu Version of the 'Complete Genealogies of the Manchu Clans and Families of the Eight Banners. Harrassowitz. p. 27. ISBN 9783447042178. Baindari (Hoifa ba-i Nara)
  6. Hongzhou (2002). Complete Genealogies of the Manchu Clans and Families of the Eight Banners (in Simplified Chinese). Liaohai Publishing. p. 312. ISBN 9787806691892.
  7. Zhao, Li (2012). 滿族姓氏尋根辭典 (Dictionary and Origin of Manchu Family Names) (in Simplified Chinese). Liaoning Nationality Publishing House. p. 406. ISBN 9787549702862.
  8. Hongzhou (2002). Complete Genealogies of the Manchu Clans and Families of the Eight Banners (in Simplified Chinese). Liaohai Publishing. p. 312-313. ISBN 9787806691892.
  9. Hongzhou (2002). Complete Genealogies of the Manchu Clans and Families of the Eight Banners (in Simplified Chinese). Liaohai Publishing. p. 313-314. ISBN 9787806691892.