Zhu Huda

Overview

Zhu Huda was a member of the Irgen Gioro clan of the Plain Blue Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. His family had lived in Xingkan for generations and he was originally a local minister. Volume 12 of the official clan genealogy compiled during the Qianlong reign, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he led his sons and brothers to submit to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty, and was appointed as a Beiyu (a military officer) and assigned to manage affairs as a Zuoling (a military rank). Here, "minister" refers to a regional tribal leader, and "Beiyu" is an early title; neither can be directly translated as a modern minister or applied according to the fixed military ranks of the late Qing Dynasty. "Zuoling" also refers to the banner's organizational structure and management officials, reflecting the entry of the population under their jurisdiction into the Eight Banners organization.

His son, Bi Lu, participated in military operations in Heilongjiang, Shandong, and Jiujiang as a Zuoling, and was awarded the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank), later further promoted by imperial decree; his grandson, Heli, inherited this title, and served as both a Dutong (a military commander) and Zuoling. There are also records of internal transfers within the clan and reductions in the imperial decree's additions. Yunqiwei and Qingche Duwei were hereditary titles of meritorious officials, while Dutong and Zuoling were actual military and political positions; inheriting a hereditary title does not automatically mean succeeding to the position of Dutong.

Later generations also recorded official positions such as clerks and local officials. For example, the fourth-generation descendant, Su Chang, was recorded as acting Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Anhui. The Provincial Surveillance Commissioner was in charge of provincial judicial and supervisory affairs, and the title "acting" must be retained and cannot be changed to "already officially appointed." All merits, titles, and official positions of later generations should not be attributed to Zhu Huda; the geographical location of Xingkan, the context of the early imperial guard system, and the long paternal lineage still need to be supplemented by the original inscription and archives.