Mingju

In this Manchu name, the given name is Mingju. In accordance with Manchu custom, it should be used alone or with titles but not with the clan name Yehe Nara.

Mingju (Manchu:ᠮᡳᠩᠵᡠ, Mölendroff: mingju; Chinese: 明珠; pinyin: Míngzhū, November 19, 1635 – June 3, 1708), of the Manchu Nara clan, was an official of the Qing Dynasty during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor. He was thrown in prison for corruption.^[1]

Mingju
Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall
In office 1677–1688
Minister of Personnel
In office November 17, 1675 – August 27, 1677 Serving with Ai Yuanzheng (until 1676), Yao Wenran (since 1676)
Preceded by	Duikana
Succeeded by	Udari
Minister of War
In office December 25, 1671 – November 17, 1675 Serving with Zhu Zhibi (until 1673), Wang Xi (since 1673)
Preceded by	Ke'erkeda
Succeeded by	Sesehei
Minister of Justice
In office October 17, 1668 – July 31, 1669 Serving with Zhu Zhibi
Preceded by	Duikana
Succeeded by	Duikana
Personal details
Born	(1635-11-19)November 19, 1635
Died	June 3, 1708(1708-06-03) (aged 72)
Relations	Yangginu (paternal great-grandfather) Gintaisi (paternal grandfather) Empress Xiaocigao (grandaunt) Narimbulu (granduncle) Ajige (father-in-law) Shunzhi Emperor (second cousin) Consort Hui (relative, possibly niece) Yinzhi (relative, possibly grandnephew)
Children	Xingde Kuiju Kuifang

Second cousin to the Shunzhi Emperor, Mingzhu came from an aristocratic line that belonged to the Plain Yellow Banner of the Eight Banners.^[2] His grandfather, Gintaisi, was the last prince of the Yehe Nara clan.

In 1677, Mingju was named the Grand Secretary, one of the top-ranking positions, and became involved in a long power struggle with Songgotu throughout the middle years of Kangxi's reign. He was related to Consort Hui, one of the Kangxi Emperor's concubines who bore the emperor his first surviving son, Yinzhi. Consequently, he supported Yinzhi during the struggles for succession.

He was sent to prison for corruption and various other charges in his final years.

He married Ajige's fifth daughter and had at least three sons. His oldest son, Nara Singde, grew up to be a famous poet.^[3]

References

1. Hummel, Arthur W. Sr., ed. (1943). "Mingju" . Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period. United States Government Printing Office. p. 577.
2. Hummel, Arthur W. Sr., ed. (1943). "An Ch'i" . Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period. United States Government Printing Office.
3. Wu-chi Liu; Irving Yucheng Lo (1975). Sunflower splendor: three thousand years of Chinese poetry. Indiana University Press. p. 612. ISBN 978-0-253-35580-5. Retrieved 29 April 2019.