So and Tomergen

Overview

Suohe Tomergen was a member of the Niohuru clan of the Bordered Red Banner of the Manchus. He was the second son of Dersu Fangyin and later moved to Warka, submitting to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume Five of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* identifies this branch based on father-son relationships and migration records, without mentioning his specific official position. Warka is a historical place name and cannot be directly replaced with a modern village or town without geographical information.

His fourth-generation descendant, Zhaohai, served as a military officer; his fifth-generation descendant, Chanbu, served as the Provincial Governor of Xi'an; and his sixth-generation descendants, Changnai, served as a military commander, and Muluna served as the Deputy Military Governor of Hangzhou. A military officer was a mid-level officer in the banner garrison, while military commanders and deputy military commanders were high-ranking banner military positions. A provincial governor was the head of provincial civil administration, finance, and other administrative affairs; the civil and military positions should not be confused simply because the same family held these positions.

His seventh-generation descendant, Sige, was appointed as a military officer by the Ministry of Personnel, and for his meritorious service in Tibet, he was awarded the title of Yunqiwei, which was later inherited by Huashan. The title "Zhangjing" could be used as an official title in various contexts during the Qing Dynasty. It should be understood in light of the specific ministry and the background of this expedition, and not directly applied to modern military ranks. "Yunqiwei" was a hereditary title. The entry retains the supplementary title "Mergen," but its original spelling and the specific reason for its conferment here have not been verified, and it cannot be used to fabricate a story of archery prowess. All subsequent appointments and military achievements in Tibet must be attributed to the corresponding individuals.