Eheli Shaman

Overview

Eheli Shaman was a member of the Niohuru clan of the Plain White Banner of Manchuria, the younger brother of Gahachaluan, who submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume 5 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* identifies his branch based on this kinship. While the entry includes "shaman," it does not describe his own sacrificial activities, nor does it provide the original Manchu text; therefore, his religious history cannot be expanded upon solely based on this appendix.

His fourth-generation descendant, Juehetuo, served as a military officer, participating in battles in Jingzhou and Jiujiang, Jiangxi. He was awarded the rank of Qiduwei for his meritorious service in scaling city walls, and later, by imperial decree, was promoted to Third-Class Qingche duwei. His hereditary title was inherited by descendants such as Wada and Cunzhu, but the rank granted by imperial decree was later revoked. A military officer was a junior officer in the military system, while a hereditary title was a rank that could be inherited according to the system; the two were different in nature.

Another fourth-generation descendant, Guntai, participated in the Battle of Yanshanling as an Assistant Minister, died in battle, and was posthumously awarded the title of Yunqiwei. His descendants, Song Eto and Shang Ali, inherited this title. The position of Yuanwailang was a civil post at the department level in the central government. The article did not specify the ministry to which it belonged, so it could not be supplemented. The fifth-generation descendant Luo Tuo once served as Luan Yi Shi (Imperial Attendant), Chang You once served as a Reader in the Cabinet, and the sixth-generation descendant Bai Su served as Zan Li Lang (Master of Ceremonies), indicating that the family's descendants entered different systems such as the ceremonial guard, central civil service, and ritual services. These positions should be assigned according to the individual's affiliation and cannot be regarded as concurrent positions held by Eheli Shaman.