Taranju

Overview

Talanzhu was a member of the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner Majia clan in the early Qing Dynasty. His family had lived in Mudan for generations and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. He served as a vanguard commander. The official clan genealogy of the Qianlong era, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, Volume 7, records that his son Samuxi served as a defense commander, his grandson Sange as a military officer, and his great-grandson Bolemergen as a defense commander and Daiyinbulu as a third-class imperial bodyguard, reflecting different military duties and guard positions.

The vanguard commander was responsible for the corresponding military affairs of the vanguard camp, the military officer was a junior officer in the guard, and the third-class imperial bodyguard was a rank of palace guard; their respective institutions and responsibilities differed. His fourth-generation descendant, Ashtan, served in the campaigns of Jinzhou and Qiantunwei from a leisurely position, and died in battle, receiving the title of Cavalry Captain. He had no heir, so his brother Suilan inherited the title. Suilan also received the title of Yunqiwei for his merits in the conquest of the Central Plains, so their merits cannot be combined into one.

Suilan's descendant, Weihede, also had military merits in Hunan, Zhoushan, Xiamen, and Chahar, and his rank was progressively increased; his branch, Mangjitu, also received the title of Independent Yunqiwei. The original book contains lengthy records of military achievements and imperial favors bestowed upon multiple generations. Later reductions in rank should be interpreted according to the specific lineage; the highest rank within the family cannot be used to explain Taranju's personal official title. The clan annotation states that he was of the same clan as the Plain Red Banner's Luoerji, but being of the same clan across banners does not equate to being from the same household. The modern correspondence between Mudan and others, the appendix to Bellergen, and the complex lineage still require verification.