Dongjin

Overview

Dongjin was a member of the Hesheli clan of the Manchu Plain Red Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. He was the great-grandson of Huxinbulu, the eldest son of the Muhulu Commander-in-Chief. His family had lived in Heduomuhalian for generations and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume Nine of the official clan genealogy compiled during the Qianlong reign, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he held the official rank of City Garrison Commander and concurrently Zuo Ling (a military officer). His son, Talaktu, served as Canling (another military officer) and concurrently Zuo Ling; his grandson, Changming, served as the General Administrator of Chahar; and his great-grandson, Fashan, served as Zuo Ling.

The title of City Garrison Commander involved garrisoning cities and managing banner-affiliated military affairs. Zuo Ling managed grassroots soldiers and households, while Canling was the corresponding military officer in charge of camp affairs. The Chahar General Administrator was a clearly defined military and political title, and the family's original residence could not be changed to Chahar based on the appointment of a grandson. Several generations of official records did not necessarily mean that the same position was legally hereditary.

His cousin, Haisai, died in battle while attacking Xiamen as a third-class imperial guard and was posthumously awarded the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank). His eldest son, Hexitun, also distinguished himself in the campaign against Galdan. His cousins, Muchengge and Luoduohun, received hereditary titles, but these could not be combined with the titles of direct descendants of the Dongjin clan. His cousin, Daduhu, and his descendants also held positions such as Imperial Censor, Doctor, and Commander of the Imperial Guard, reflecting the civil and military service of the collateral branches. This article focuses on his own positions as city garrison commander and Zuo Ling (a military rank), while other military achievements are clearly attributed to his clan. The modern positioning of Heduomuhalian and the complete paternal lineage of his collateral branches still require verification.