Case of the Posthumous Accusation of Treason against Prince Regent Dorgon

After the death of Huang Taiji, Dorgon served as Prince Regent for the young Shunzhi Emperor, wielding supreme power and being honored as "Imperial Father Regent". He died in December 1650 during a hunting trip and was initially given the posthumous title "Emperor Yi". However, shortly after Shunzhi assumed personal rule in early 1651, Prince Zheng Jirgalang and other nobles accused Dorgon of fourteen major crimes, including usurping imperial authority, plotting treason, and hoarding regalia. The emperor swiftly stripped Dorgon of all titles, had his corpse exhumed and flogged, confiscated his property, and purged his faction, turning the funeral honors into a posthumous condemnation.

Dorgon was posthumously found guilty of treason. All his posthumous titles and honors were revoked, his name was removed from the imperial clan register, his body was exhumed and publicly flogged, and his vast estate was confiscated. His supporters were executed or exiled. Nearly 130 years later, the Qianlong Emperor rehabilitated Dorgon, restoring his princely title and honor.

The central dispute was whether Dorgon was truly guilty of treason or whether the charges were fabricated by his political rivals to dismantle his power base and allow the Shunzhi Emperor to reclaim absolute authority. The retrospective nature and the brutal desecration of his corpse also raised lasting questions about the legitimacy of posthumous political trials.

The case immediately consolidated Shunzhi’s personal rule and ended the regency system’s dominance, reshaping the Qing political structure. It served as a stark warning to ambitious nobles and intensified factional struggles at court. Dorgon’s eventual rehabilitation under Qianlong reflected the dynasty’s effort to stabilize its historical narrative, acknowledging his foundational contributions while reaffirming absolute imperial prerogative.