Geket

Overview

Geket was a member of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner Majia clan in the early Qing Dynasty. His family had lived in Suifen for generations and submitted to the Qing during the Tiancong era. The official genealogy of the Eight Banners Manchu Clan, Volume 7, compiled during the Qianlong reign, records that his son Huishan served as a scribe, his grandson Handu as a deputy commander, and Wase as a scribe. Another grandson, Tuntai, participated in the battles of Dalinghe, Beijing, and Shandong from a leisurely position, and was the first to scale the city walls during the attack on Weixian, earning the title of Baturu and the hereditary rank of Qiduwei.

The Tiancong era generally corresponds to 1627-1636, the reign title used by Huang Taiji during the Later Jin period. A scribe handled paperwork such as copying and translation; the Manchu word *bithesi* is related to *bithe* meaning "book" or "document." A deputy commander was a banner camp administrator. Tuntai's acquisition of his hereditary rank from a leisurely position was a path of military merit leading to officialdom; the other descendants' clerical positions cannot be considered the same hereditary post.

Tun Tai's son, Wen Tai, inherited the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank) by imperial decree. Having no heir, the title passed to his uncle, Gui Shan, and then through Xi Ge and others until it reached Jiu Ge. When Jiu Ge inherited the title, the imperial decree was revoked, but the rank of Yunqiwei was retained. His great-grandson, Ha Shi Tai, was appointed as a military officer. The family lineage included uncles and nephews, and should not be changed to a continuous line of father and son. The individual's official position, the modern village address of Suifen, and the dates of appointment are unverified; Tun Tai's merits are solely attributed to him.