Ke Chu

Overview

Ke Chu was a member of the Tatara clan of the Bordered White Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. Volume 11 of the official clan genealogy compiled during the Qianlong reign, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he served as a vanguard bodyguard, listing him among the families who had long resided in Zakumu and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at its inception. The vanguard was a unit within the Eight Banners military system tasked with leading, reconnaissance, and combat duties. The relevant bodyguard titles should be understood in conjunction with the vanguard organization; omitting the word "vanguard" does not mean they are recorded as ordinary bodyguard ranks.

The text lists his grandson, Pai Lüli, as having served as a military commander; his great-grandson, Marda, as a third-class bodyguard; Guoli as a student of the Imperial Academy; and Luo Mi as an assistant secretary. His great-great-grandsons, Yatu and Shuangge, are currently serving as scribes. A military commander managed the military; an assistant secretary was an administrative official in ministries and departments, and should not be considered the same position simply because they appear in the civil service system. The original text does not specify Luo Mi's department, so his affiliation is not provided.

The title of "Jiansheng" (jiansheng (Imperial Academy student status)) refers to the educational and social status associated with the Imperial Academy (Guozijian (Imperial Academy)), not an officially conferred position. Therefore, the official document cannot state that the person held the title of "Jiansheng" along with other younger generations. The "Bitieshi" (bithesi (clerk)) were responsible for document and translation work. The "Kechu" (Ke Chu) section contains information on military rank, academic qualifications, and document duties; readers should distinguish these according to their respective systems. The individual's term of office, the location of Zakumu village, and the complete paternal lineage of their descendants require further verification.