Gentai

Overview

Gentai is a member of the Tatara clan of the Plain Blue Banner, listed in Volume 11 of the official genealogy of the Manchu Eight Banners compiled during the Qianlong reign. He lived in the Zakumu area, and the year of his submission is unknown. The Plain Blue Banner indicates his affiliation within the Eight Banners, while the Tatara clan indicates his clan identity. The original entry does not mention Gentai's official position. The fact that the list is placed after the early Qing dynasty family group does not mean that the unverified period of "early Qing dynasty" was included in his submission date.

The entry records that his grandson Tangjitu once served as a garrison commander, his great-grandson Maitu is listed as a current military officer, Qihang'a once served as a deputy military officer, and his great-great-grandson Huashan is listed as a current deputy military officer. Maitu and Qihang'a were both great-grandsons, while Huashan was a younger generation; there is no written evidence that Huashan was Qihang'a's son; similar official titles cannot be used as evidence to establish a father-son relationship.

"Governor" was a military rank within the banner camp and garrison system, and the military officer participated in the management and guard duties of the guards. The "Deputy" in "Deputy Military Academy Officer" is a rank designation and must be distinguished from the rank of officer. It is inappropriate to lump together Qihang'a and Huashan as Military Academy Officers. The positions and ranks of deputy officers in different battalions have historical variations. When the specific organization is unclear, the job category should be explained without specifying the battalion or uniform rank. The individual's deeds, the terms of office of each successor, and Zakumu's modern-day equivalent all require verification.