Ayanta

Overview

Ayanta was a member of the Hesheli clan of the Bordered Blue Banner of the Manchus in the early Qing Dynasty. His family had lived in Hada for generations and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at its beginning. Volume Nine of the official genealogy of the Manchu Eight Banners, compiled during the Qianlong reign, records that he participated in the Battle of Datong as a non-official, being the third to scale the city walls of Chang'an Ridge. He also participated in the campaign to enter the Central Plains, earning the rank of Yunqiwei (yunqiwei), and was later promoted to Qiduwei (qiduwei) by imperial decree. This text retains the order of his third ascent as recorded in the original text.

The term "non-official" refers to a Bannerman who did not hold a corresponding official position. The hereditary title indicates that he received a hereditary rank due to military achievements, but it does not necessarily mean he had already assumed the position of officer in a cavalry battalion with the same name. The promotion to Qiduwei came from an imperial decree and cannot be used to fabricate another unrecorded battle. His son, Nikan, inherited the title and was further promoted to Third-Class Light Cavalry Captain by imperial decree. Later, his nephews, Garhan and Garu, joined the family branches.

His son, Yazhu, served as a scribe; his grandson, Samuha, served as a treasurer; and Dayanga served as a Xiaoqixiao (xiaoqixiao). The clerks handled official documents and Manchu-Chinese writing; the treasurer managed the treasury; and the cavalry captains held military positions. These three roles represented different services. The original text's annotation lists this branch as belonging to the same clan as Anchu, Ayana, Muyana, and Uyana, but cross-regional and cross-banner clan kinship does not necessarily mean everyone is a direct descendant. The details of the Chang'anling battlefield, the individual's official position, and the complete succession process between uncles and nephews still require verification in the original engraving.