Age of Empires Series Wiki

Feel free to comment on a page! To do this, simply scroll to the bottom at type into the box.

READ MORE

Age of Empires Series Wiki
Age of Empires Series Wiki
Age of Empires Wiki
7,344
pages
in: Age of Empires II, Civilizations (Age of Empires II), Asian civilizations, The Three Kingdoms
English

Jurchens

Edit
Civilization Technology tree Strategy

“ Dominate the rugged terrain of northeast China with the skilled hunters, armored cavalry, and gunpowder weaponry of the Great Jin dynasty. The Jurchen unique units are the Iron Pagoda, a cavalryman that occasionally blocks melee attacks, and the Grenadier, a foot soldier who hurls deadly incendiary bombs at his enemies. ”
—In-game description

The Jurchens are an East Asian civilization introduced in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms based on the Jin dynasty (also known as the Jurchen Jin). The Jurchens were the ancestors of the Manchu people from the Age of Empires III time period, who were also the founders of the Qing dynasty, represented by the Chinese civilization.

Characteristics[]

Unique units[]

  • Iron Pagoda: Heavy cavalry who periodically brushes off a melee attack.
  • Grenadier: Ranged gunpowder unit who throws explosives dealing blast damage.

Unique technologies[]

Civilization bonuses[]

Team bonus[]

Gunpowder units +2 Line of Sight.

Overview[]

This section is most likely incomplete and may need expansion. You can help by adding to it.

Changelog[]

The Three Kingdoms[]

  • With update 147949:
    • Grenadier HP increased from 35 → 40, Cost reduced from 35 food 70 gold → 35 food 65 gold, and Attack increased from 11 → 12.
    • (Elite) Iron Pagoda Ability recharge reduced from 60 (50) → 40 (30) seconds, and upgrade cost reduced from 950 food, 750 gold → 950 food, 550 gold

Campaign appearances[]

The Jurchens have no campaign of their own. They appear as AI players in the following scenarios:

Genghis Khan[]

Victors and Vanquished[]

  • Xie An
    • Murong Wei - Enemy
    • Fu Jian - Enemy

In-game dialogue language[]

The Jurchens use the same language as the Chinese. While the use of Chinese voice lines is supposed to reflect the sinicization of the Jurchen/Manchu people, this can be considered anachronistic within the time period because the Jurchens would have spoken their own language, and did not adopt Chinese as their official language until the Qing Dynasty, when the Jurchens renamed themselves as Manchu under the reign of Hong Taiji.

The modern equivalent of the Jurchen language would be Manchu (the same language spoken by the namesake mercenary unit from Age of Empires III), which would have been more appropriate for the Jurchen units instead of the Chinese language. However, the use of the Chinese language can be justified because the Manchu language is considered a critically endangered language with few speakers left, and the Jurchens' descendants, the Manchu, speak Mandarin Chinese as their primary language instead of their ancestral language.

Villager
Military
Monk
King

AI player names[]

  • Hanpu (函普): Leader of the Jurchen Wanyan clan in the early tenth century.
  • Wulu (乌禄/烏祿): The eldest son of Hanpu, who is regarded as the ancestor of the Wanyan clan.
  • Wanyan Wugunai (完颜乌骨廼/完顏烏骨廼): Leader of the Jurchen Wanyan clan, grandfather of Aguda.
  • Wanyan Aguda (完颜阿骨打/完顏阿骨打): Jurchen leader who conquered much of the territory of the Song dynasty in northern China and founded the Jurchen Jin dynasty.
  • Wuqimai Taizong (吴乞买太宗/吳乞買太宗): The second emperor of the Jin dynasty, he destroyed the Liao dynasty and the Northern Song dynasty in twelve years
  • Hela Xizong (合剌熙宗): Third emperor of the Jin dynasty.
  • Digunai (迪古乃): Also known as Wanyan Liang, fourth emperor of the Jin dynasty.
  • Wulu Shizong (乌禄世宗/烏祿世宗): Fifth emperor of the Jin dynasty.
  • Madage Zhangzong (麻达葛章宗/麻達葛章宗): Sixth emperor of the Jin dynasty.
  • Wanyan Yongji (完颜永济/完顏永濟): Seventh emperor of the Jin dynasty.
  • Wudubu Xuanzong (吾睹补宣宗/吾睹補宣宗): Eighth emperor of the Jin dynasty.
  • Ningjiasu Aizong (宁甲速哀宗/寧甲速哀宗): Ninth emperor of the Jin dynasty. During his reign, the Mongol army marched southward and the Jin dynasty was destroyed.
  • Puxian Wannu (蒲鲜万奴/蒲鮮萬奴): A Jurchens warlord in the early 13th century, founder of Eastern Xia dynasty.
  • Dudu Mengtemu (都督孟特穆): Jianzhou Jurchen leader, his descendants later destroyed the Ming dynasty and established the Qing dynasty.

History[]

“ The Jurchen people originally came from the forests of northeast China, where they primarily relied on hunting and fishing to survive. Hunting was culturally significant for the Jurchen people, and all Jurchen men were expected to participate in group hunts. Archeological finds also cement this fact: excavated Jurchen tombs contain significantly more hunting and fishing implements than agricultural ones.

The Jurchens rose to power under the leadership of Wanyan Aguda in 1115 CE. Originally subjugated by the Liao dynasty of the neighboring Khitans, Wanyan spurred his people to rebellion and eventually overthrew the Khitans in a series of military offensives. The Jurchens found allies in the Song, who were also keen to be rid of the Liao, before eventually betraying them as well to establish the Jin dynasty. The destruction of the Khitans in 1125 CE cemented Jin dominance of the northern steppes, but Wanyan Aguda died the same year. His brother, Wanyan Sheng, took up the reins of leadership and continued Jin incursions south, pushing further into Song territory.

From a military perspective, the Jurchens knew from their previous alliance that the Song armies were ripe for conquest. Their geographic origin as a northern steppe tribe meant superior horses, and nearly the entire Jurchen army was comprised of cavalry units. Primarily fighting as mounted bowman[sic], the Jurchen cavalry attacks devastated the southern armies and allowed them to gain control over southern China all the way to the Huai River. While the bow and arrow were their preferred weapons, they also effectively used spears and swords from horseback. One of their most famous forces were the iron pagodas, formidable heavily armored cavalry units, which fought in tight formations with Dao swords or spears.

The Jurchens famously utilized gunpowder to devastating effect in battle. After the Song armies deployed gunpowder bombs and gunpowder arrows against the Jurchens in their 1126 CE attack against Kaifeng, the Jurchens quickly created their own explosives. They returned to Kaifeng and – in one of the first battles in world history to showcase gunpowder weapons on both sides – prevailed against the Song with gunpowder bombs, fire lances, and fire arrows. They eventually developed a weapon called the thunderclap bomb, which they used against Mongol invaders in the siege of Kaifeng in 1232 CE.

The Jurchens successfully maintained the Jin dynasty without contention for almost 80 years until the Mongols arrived. Successfully unified under Genghis Khan in 1206 CE, the Mongols in turn looked south and attacked the Jin in 1209 CE. Like the Song and Liao dynasties before them, the Jurchens' long tenure in power had caused them to neglect their armies, placing them in a dangerous position. The Mongols destroyed the Northern Jurchen capital Zhongdu (modern day Beijing) in 1215 CE, forcing the Jin to flee to their southern capital, Kaifeng, which was deep in originally Song territory. The Song, seeing a powerful ally against a common rival, joined forces with the Mongols. These powers simultaneously defeated the Jurchens in 1235 CE, toppling the Jin dynasty. 		”
—In-game history section

Trivia[]

  • The Jurchen civilization icon is based on banner of the Jin dynasty, that can notably be seen on the Ruiyingtu scroll painting.
  • The user interface emblem is based on the helmet of the Iron Pagoda.
  • The design of the Jurchens has notable historical inaccuracies:
    • Historically, the Jurchens were known for their mastery of mounted archery and archery, which was part of their way of life for hunting in the forests. The in-game Jurchens have below-average cavalry archers and foot archers, lacking Thumb Ring, Parthian Tactics, and Arbalester (which is a stark contrast to the Manchu mercenary unit in Age of Empires III that accurately represents the Jurchen and Manchu traditions of mounted archery).
      • The Jurchens, alongside the Koreans, Portuguese, Franks, and Vietnamese, are one of the five civilizations that have a bonus that directly affects their Cavalry Archers that lack access to Parthian Tactics (in this case, their Cavalry Archers attack 20% faster). While their increased attack rate compensates for the lack of Thumb Ring, they preform slightly worse than a generic fully-upgraded Heavy Cavalry Archer without Parthian Tactics, due to lacking the increased accuracy from Thumb Ring, making them situational units at best.
    • The Jurchens are noted to have Steppe Lancer and lack the Knight line, alongside meat from hunted animals and livestock not decaying, implying the Jurchens to be a nomadic civilization. In real life, the southern Jurchens (Jianzhou Jurchens, the ancestors of the Manchus) were known to be sedentary farmers living in small towns and villages in heavily forested areas in Manchuria, much like their descendants, the Manchu. The northern Jurchens (Wild Jurchens), meanwhile, were mostly nomadic with some known to be semi-nomadic (Haixi Jurchens), making the presence of Steppe Lancers reasonable.
    • The Jurchens use Chinese voice lines instead of the more modern equivalent to the Jurchen language, Manchu.
  • Prior to update 144358, the Jurchens used the Tengri shaman and ovoo for their Monk and Monastery models, respectively. While the shaman model accurately represent their own shamanistic faith, the Jurchens would later adopt various Chinese religions, such as Buddhism and Taoism, due to the sinicization of their culture. The Monk and Monastery models were updated to a Buddhist Monk and East Asian model to reflect their adoption of various Chinese faiths.
    • The Jurchens were the first civilization to have their Monk and Monastery model changed in an update after the implementation of regional Monk models. They are also one of only two Steppe Lancer civilizations (alongside the Tatars) to not use the Tengri shaman for their Monk, and the only Steppe Lancer civilization to use a Buddhist Monk model.
  • The Jurchens are distinct from other Steppe Lancer civilizations in that, while many of them have below-average defenses and lack gunpowder units, the Jurchens have access to the Bombard Cannon and have solid defensive bonuses (including having all the important defensive technologies, minus the Bombard Tower). They are also the only Steppe Lancer civilization to not have access to Camel Riders, Thumb Ring, and Parthian Tactics, as well as being the only Steppe Lancer civilization to have access to Arrowslits and Architecture.
    • The Jurchens are the only Steppe Lancer civilization using East Asian UI rather than nomadic one.
  • They are the first civilization to be unable to upgrade their Militia line to Long Swordsmen.
  • The Jurchens and Khitans share similarities in both gameplay and themes. Historically, both were equestrian peoples based in northern China that formed their own "conquest dynasties" with the Jin and Liao Dynasty respectively. These often fought against each other and the Song dynasty, and were eventually conquered by the Mongols. Both peoples were also seen as "steppe nomad" civilizations by the Chinese (although the Jurchens were more sedentary farmers). In-game, both civilizations have economic bonuses related to livestock (shepherds and herders generating 10% more food and Pastures for the Khitans, meat not decaying for the Jurchens), have bonuses and unique technologies that affect their Steppe Lancers, Cavalry Archers, and Light Cavalry (mounted units attacking 20% faster for the Jurchens; access to Heavy Cavalry Archer upgrade an Age early and Ordo Cavalry for Steppe Lancers and light cavalry for the Khitans), have very potent siege weapons (Mounted Trebuchet for the Khitans; Siege Engineers available in the Castle Age, siege technologies costing less wood, and units taking less friendly fire damage for the Jurchens) and have access to regional gunpowder units (i.e. the Fire Lancer and Rocket Cart) to reflect their adoption of gunpowder from the Chinese. Both have average-to-subpar Monks. The only significant difference is that the Jurchens have better defenses, but lackluster infantry, whereas the Khitans are the opposite.
    • The Jurchens are also tied with Khitans as the civilizations with access to the most lines of regional units, with four unit lines each: The Jurchens have the Steppe Lancer line, the Fire Lancer line, the Rocket Cart line, and the Lou Chuan. The Khitans do not have the Lou Chuan, but have access to the Camel Rider line instead.

Gallery[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Refers to Castles, Town Centers, walls, gates, and the Watch Tower line. It can affect Bombard Towers, though the civilization does not have access to them. It does not affect the Outpost.
  2. ↑ Animals killed by and animals whose food was last collected by Jurchen Villagers do not decay. This is reset when a non-Jurchen Villager starts collecting from the carcass. The opposite works too; if an animal was killed by a non-Jurchen Villager, it will decay until a Jurchen Villager starts collecting from the carcass.
  3. ↑ Refers to:
Civilizations in Age of Empires II
Categorised by architecture sets
African Ethiopians · Malians
Central Asian Cumans · Tatars
Central European Goths · Huns · Teutons · Vikings
East Asian Chinese · Japanese · Jurchens · Khitans · Koreans · Mongols · Shu · Vietnamese · Wei · Wu
Eastern European Bohemians · Bulgarians · Lithuanians · Magyars · Poles · Slavs
Mediterranean Armenians · Byzantines · Georgians · Italians · Portuguese · Romans · Sicilians · Spanish
Middle Eastern Berbers · Persians · Saracens · Turks
Native American Aztecs · Inca · Maya
South Asian/Indian Bengalis · Dravidians · Gurjaras · Hindustanis · Indians (removed)
Southeast Asian Burmese · Khmer · Malay
Western European Britons · Burgundians · Celts · Franks
Categorised by expansions
The Age of Kings Britons · Byzantines · Celts · Chinese · Franks · Goths · Japanese · Mongols · Persians · Saracens · Teutons · Turks · Vikings
The Conquerors Aztecs · Huns · Koreans · Maya · Spanish
The Forgotten Inca · Indians (removed) · Italians · Magyars · Slavs
The African Kingdoms Berbers · Ethiopians · Malians · Portuguese
Rise of the Rajas Burmese · Khmer · Malay · Vietnamese
The Last Khans Bulgarians · Cumans · Lithuanians · Tatars
Lords of the West Burgundians · Sicilians
Dawn of the Dukes Bohemians · Poles
Dynasties of India Bengalis · Dravidians · Gurjaras · Hindustanis
Return of Rome Romans
The Mountain Royals Armenians · Georgians
The Three Kingdoms Jurchens · Khitans · Shu · Wei · Wu
Español Français
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms