Ashoka the Great vs Dorgon

Ashoka launched a brutal conquest of the Kalinga region (modern Odisha). The war caused massive casualties, with over 100,000 killed and 150,000 deported. The suffering witnessed during this campaign led Ashoka to renounce military conquest and embrace Buddhism.

After the Kalinga War, Ashoka converted to Buddhism under the guidance of Buddhist monks. He adopted the principle of Dhamma (righteous law) and began promoting non-violence, vegetarianism, and religious tolerance throughout his empire.

Ashoka ordered the carving of edicts on pillars and rocks across the Indian subcontinent. These inscriptions, written in Prakrit and other languages, proclaimed his policies of non-violence, social welfare, and religious harmony. They are the earliest deciphered written records from ancient India.

Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra to resolve doctrinal disputes within the Buddhist monastic community. The council standardized the Buddhist canon (Tripitaka) and decided to send missionaries abroad, including to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

Ashoka built thousands of stupas and monasteries across his empire, including the Great Stupa at Sanchi. These structures became centers of Buddhist worship and pilgrimage, spreading Buddhist art and architecture throughout Asia.

Upon the death of Hong Taiji, Dorgon was appointed as regent for the young Shunzhi Emperor. This position gave him effective control over the Qing government and military, enabling him to direct the conquest of Ming China.

Dorgon allied with Ming general Wu Sangui to defeat Li Zicheng's rebel forces at Shanhai Pass. This victory allowed Qing forces to enter Beijing and establish the Qing dynasty as the ruling power in China.

Dorgon led Qing forces in a campaign against the Southern Ming regime, capturing Nanjing and defeating the Hongguang Emperor. This campaign extended Qing control over the Yangtze River valley and weakened Ming loyalist resistance.

Dorgon mandated that all Chinese men adopt the Manchu queue hairstyle as a sign of submission to Qing rule. This policy caused widespread resentment and resistance, but was enforced to consolidate Qing control over Han Chinese subjects.

Dorgon died suddenly while hunting. After his death, the Shunzhi Emperor accused him of plotting to usurp the throne, stripped him of all titles, and had his corpse mutilated. This posthumous purge reflected court factional struggles.