Wu Ban

Overview

Wu Ban is the original name preserved by Mu Ku. Volume 12 of the official clan genealogy of the Qianlong era, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, lists him as a member of the Irgen Gioro clan of the Plain Yellow Banner. He was originally from Yehe and surrendered during the Tiancong reign, serving as a Langzhong (a mid-level official) and Zuo Ling (a mid-level officer). One cannot change their clan simply because their name resembles a Han surname; their banner affiliation, surname, and former residence should all be based on the corresponding chapters and the surrender descriptions at the end of the relevant sections. Langzhong was an official in the Qing dynasty's ministries and departments handling administrative affairs, not a doctor's title; Zuo Ling managed the corresponding Eight Banners' organizational structure. The concurrent appointment of civil servants and banner officials is mentioned in Wu Ban's resume, but the original entry does not specify the Langzhong's department or Zuo Ling's origin, so it cannot be added to a specific department or division, nor can the specific number of households under his jurisdiction be determined. Early systems had changes in titles and ranks; the later unified official rank was not rigidly applied to his personal term of office. His son, Luo He, served as a military officer, and his grandsons, Chang Shou and Turha, both served as cavalry officers. The Imperial Guard School was associated with the management of the Imperial Guard and the Imperial Bodyguard, while the Valiant Cavalry School was associated with the management of the Banner Army. The military positions of the younger generation had to be separate from those of the original Langzhong and Zuoling. Tiancong was the reign title of Huang Taiji during the Later Jin period. Giving only the period does not mean giving the exact year. Wu Ban's birth and death dates, his official positions, complete paternal lineage, and the old site of Yehe Village still need to be supplemented by the original inscription and other historical materials.