Yehenara

Yehenara

Nara (Manchu: ᠨᠠᡵᠠ ᡥᠠᠯᠠ, Wade-Giles: Nara hala, Chinese: 納喇氏, 納蘭氏 or 那拉氏) is a major Manchu clan. The Hūlun Four States (扈倫四部) -- Hada (Chinese: 哈達, pinyin: Hādá), Ula (Chinese: 烏拉, pinyin: Wūlā), Hoifa (Chinese: 輝發, pinyin: Huīfā) and Yehe (Chinese: 葉赫, pinyin: Yèhè) -- were ruled by this clan. In English translation, nara is the Mongolian word for 'sun'.

The most prominent of the Naras were the Yehe and the Ula, with the Yehe, belonging to the Bordered Blue Banner, being one of the eight great Manchu aristocratic lines. A number of famous Chinese, including the Empress Dowager Cixi, were from this clan. Present-day descendants of the Nara clan generally adopt "Na" as a family name, so that it would be similar to the usually monosyllabic Han family names. Those descended from the Yehe Nara tribe might also choose "Ye" or "He".