Wu Sangui

Wu Sangui (Chinese: 吳三桂; pinyin: Wú Sānguì; Wade–Giles: Wu San-kuei; 1612 – 2 October 1678) was a prominent Chinese military commander who played a crucial role in the transition from the Ming to the Qing dynasty. He is often referred to as the "Traitor to the Ming Dynasty" for his actions that led to the fall of the Ming and the establishment of the Qing dynasty in China. Wu Sangui's name can be translated to Hebrew as וו סאנגוי (Vu Sangui), to Japanese as 吳三桂 (Go Sankei), and to Korean as 오삼계 (O Samgye). Wu Sangui's strategic decisions, particularly his alliance with the Manchu-led Qing forces against the Ming loyalists, significantly altered the course of Chinese history. His actions are a subject of extensive debate among historians, with some viewing him as a pragmatic leader who made difficult choices in a time of crisis, while others condemn him for his role in the fall of the Ming dynasty. Wu Sangui's legacy continues to be a topic of interest in Chinese historical studies.