Manchus

Manchus

Manchus were a people who conquered China in the 1600's. They invaded from Manchuria, in what is now northeast China, in 1644. They established the Qing (Pure) dynasty that same year and gradually took control of China. The Qing dynasty prospered in the 1700's but declined in the 1800's. It ended in 1912, when the Chinese overthrew the Manchus.

Manchu rulers forbade marriage between Manchus and the Chinese until the early 1900's. Since then, many Manchus and Chinese have intermarried. Most Manchus now have taken Chinese names.

The Manchus are descended from a people called the Jurchen (also spelled Juchen). The Jurchen, who also came from Manchuria, had occupied all of northern China by 1127 and ruled the area until 1234.

Excerpt adapted from the "Manchus" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999