[3] In the Jurchen language, Nikan Wailan means "secretary of Han Chinese", thus his existence is suspected by some historians.
In 1582, Nurhaci's father Taksi and grandfather Giocangga were killed in an attack on Gure (in present-day Xinbin Manchu Autonomous County) by Nikan, while being led by Li Chengliang.
The following year, Nurhaci began to unify the Jurchen bands around his area.
In 1584, when Nurhaci was 25, he attacked Nikan Wailan at Turun (also in Xinbin) to avenge the deaths of his father and grandfather, who are said to have left him nothing but thirteen suits of armour.
Nikan Wailan this time fled to Li Chengliang's territory.