Ma Fuchan

Overview

Ma Fuchan is a member of the Tatara clan of the Plain Blue Banner, recorded in Volume 11 of the official genealogy of the Manchu Eight Banners, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, compiled during the Qianlong reign. His family had lived in the Zakumu area for generations and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. This entry does not include his official title or birth and death dates, only the official positions held by his grandchildren and later generations: his grandson, Saksaha, served as a Yuanwailang (Assistant Secretary); Hushiba served as a Hujunxiao (Military Officer); Dushiba served as a Xiaoqixiao (Military Cavalry Officer); and Sige served as a seventh-rank official. The names "Sige" and "seventh-rank official" must be understood separately; the numerical names should not be interpreted as a number of official positions.

A Yuanwailang was an official in the Qing dynasty's ministries and departments, handling official business. The "Yuanwai" in the title did not indicate a wealthy household. A Hujunxiao managed the affairs of the lower-level guards, while a Xiaoqixiao was related to the affairs of soldiers under the banner's Zuoling (military commander). The two belonged to different military organizations. The seventh-rank official only indicates the rank; the original entry does not specify the official position, therefore Sige cannot be classified as a civil or military official.

Great-grandson Hulengeji is currently a third-class guard, and great-great-grandson Fengsheng is currently a scribe. Guards were commonly found in the guard systems of princely mansions and should not be confused with imperial guards; scribes were responsible for copying, writing documents, and translation. A confirmed characteristic of the Ma Fuchan family is that later generations held both clerical and military positions, but this cannot be used to conclude that he himself held the same profession. Specific agencies, terms of office, paternal lineage, and former residence still require further verification.