Hong Taiji (28 November 1592 - 21 September 1643; reigned 1626 - 1643), was the first Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Hong Taiji was responsible for consolidating the empire that his father, Nurhaci, had founded. He laid the groundwork for the conquering of the Ming dynasty in China proper, although he died before this was accomplished. He was responsible for changing the name of his people from Jurchen to Manchu in 1635 as well as that of the dynasty from Later Jin to Qing in 1636.