The Manchus, along with the Japanese pirates (Wako), had been the main source of problems for China and Korea even before the Imjin Wars. Before the Mongol invasion of China and Yuan Dynasty, various tribes from northeastern regions that later became known as Manchuria, were always a thorn on the side of China. During the Korean Koguryo Empire which took up all of the area known as Manchuria today, the northern half of Korean peninsula, and part of what is now Siberia, relations between various Chinese Dynasties and Koguryo were lukewarm at best. Koguryo was never a vassal state of China, in fact, China feared that Koguryo might decide to take over its territory. It is no wonder then that when Silla needed an ally to conquer Koguryo, Tang Dynasty China jumped at the opportunity and helped destroy the empire. However, with the break-up of Koguryo, various tribes became independent and privately conducted periodic raids into China and Korea.
During the Mongol reign (Yuan Dynasty) over China, the various Manchu tribes were more or less quiet, since most of them had joined the Mongol cause earlier and had been part of the Mongol army that had the largest empire known in the world. But with the fall of Yuan and the establishment of Ming Dynasty, the Manchu tribes started to become more belligerent.
It was during the Imjin Wars, when Japanese had pushed all the way to the Manchurian border, that the name Nurhachi became known. The Japanese made the mistake of crossing into Manchuria and raiding one of Nurhachi's castles. Nurhachi, who was a Chieftan of the Jurchens, struck back at the Japanese and drove them back deep into Korea. He then offered to ally with the Koreans to fight the Japanese. But the Korean king very foolishly rebuffed his offer, saying something to the effect that Korea did not need "barbarians" as allies! Nurhachi swore that he would make Korea pay, and this he did after the Imjin Wars ended.
The Koreans asked for Chinese help and the Ming army came to Korea and helped to repel the Japanese. On their way to Korea, they naturally passed through Manchuria and indiscriminately killed and looted any Manchu settlements they came across. Nurhachi protested to the Ming court, but his so-called "seven grievances" were ignored by the Chinese. When the Imjin Wars ended, Nurhachi united all of the Manchu tribes and declared that henceforth they were to be called Manchus, after the place where Jurchens called home in southern Manchuria by the Korean border.
Nurhachi had no trouble subjugating the much weaker Chosun (Korea) which had just emerged from devastating Imjin Wars. He then turned his attention to China. Initially he waged war against China with only a few thousand man army of Manchus, but as years went by, he increased his army considerably by taking a page out of Mongol strategy. He formed an army of "bannermen," Mongols, Koreans, and Chinese who pledged loyalty to him. This increased his army considerably and although he did not see the conquest of China in his lifetime, his descendants accomplished that goal. Mainland China came under Manchu rule by 1650, and by 1683, the Manchus managed to control the remaining territory including Taiwan, which held the last remains of Ming resistance.
Although the Manchu rule lasted until early 20th Century, like all invaders, the Manchus were swallowed up, absorbed by the great Chinese culture and influence. Initially, like the Mongols, the Manchus tried to stay separate, maintain their traditional culture and ways. But, just like their predecessors, within a couple of generations, they were Manchu in name only, they became Chinese.
China, it seems, is like a great sponge, it absorbs all of its invaders and turns them into Chinese!
The Manchus rise to power was fast and spectacular, but their decline and disappearance from prominence was unremarkable, almost unnoticeable. The great Ching Dynasty simply disappeared over night!
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