The Battle of Sarhū refers to a series of battles between the Later Jin dynasty and the Ming dynasty and their Joseon allies in 1619. The battle is notable for the heavy use of cavalry by the Later Jin in defeating Ming and Joseon forces equipped with hand cannons, cannons, and matchlocks.
The Jurchen cavalry charging Ming infantry in the battle of Sarhu.
Ming dynasty helmet
Jurchen helmet
Jin cavalry attacking the Ming camp from the rear
The Later Jin, officially known as Jin or the Great Jin, was a Jurchen-led royal dynasty of China in Manchuria and the precursor to the Qing dynasty. Established in 1616 by the Jianzhou Jurchen chieftain Nurhaci upon his reunification of the Jurchen tribes, its name was derived from the earlier Jin dynasty founded by the Wanyan clan which had ruled northern China in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Later Jin (后金) c. 1626 shown in light green
Later Jin cavalry charging Ming infantry in the Battle of Sarhū.
Official portrait of Nurhaci, the founder of the Later Jin dynasty.
Official portrait of Hong Taiji, the second khan of the Later Jin dynasty and subsequently the founder of the Qing dynasty.