Ban Zhu

Overview

Banzhu was a member of the Niohuru clan of the Plain Blue Banner of the Manchus, whose family had lived in Hunchun for generations and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume Five of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* records that his eldest son, Banbuli, served as a Zuo Ling (military officer); his second son, Engetu, served as a Second-Class Guardian; and his fourth son, Duikana, served as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall, and Minister of Personnel concurrently serving as a Zuo Ling, with the posthumous title of Wenduan.

A Zuo Ling was a basic-level military officer in the Eight Banners responsible for the organization and management of households. A Second-Class Guardian belonged to the guard system of princes' residences and should not be confused with a Second-Class Imperial Guard. A Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall was a high-ranking civil official in the central government, and the Minister of Personnel was the head of the ministry in charge of official selection and appointment. The title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince was also used as an honorary title in the Qing dynasty, and it cannot be assumed that Duikana actually tutored the Crown Prince for a long period based solely on the title.

Among Banzhu's grandchildren, Zhepukene served as a Second-Class Guardian, Huxiteng held the hereditary title of Second-Class Light Cavalry Captain, and Heishan served as a Zuo Ling. The title of Light Cavalry Captain was a hereditary military rank, distinct from the actual duties of guards and lieutenants. The historical place name relationship between Hunchun and present-day Hunchun, Jilin, provides a geographical understanding, but cannot confirm the specific village location of the family. The author's official rank and the terms of office of his descendants are not recorded; Duikana's posthumous title and experience as a high-ranking civil official should be attributed to the author himself and should not be attributed to his father, Banzhu.