Miao Shihun

Overview

Miao Shihun was a member of the Tongjia clan, Plain White Banner, and his family had lived in Macha for generations. He was of the same clan as Ba Duli Zhalguqi and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume 19 of the official *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* records that he himself held a sixth-rank official position, with his main military achievements attributed to his son, Shuose.

The sixth-rank official position only provides the grade; the original text does not give a specific title. Therefore, Miao Shihun cannot be directly written as a Guardsman. Shuose was the one who participated in battles as a Guardsman: he was wounded while first scaling the city walls at Gushan, and also participated in battles at Datong and Xinhui in Guangdong. For his military achievements, he was awarded the rank of Cavalry Captain and served as a Commander. A Guardsman was a junior officer in the Guardsman's Army, while a Commander was a higher command level, and a Cavalry Captain was a hereditary title of merit. These three titles had different institutional natures. After Shuose's death, his grandson Yingge inherited the position, which was later passed to his uncle's son, Sangge. The inheritance listed in the original genealogy involves collateral branches, not a continuous succession of the same position from father to son. Miao Shihun's grandchildren also held positions such as Third-Rank Imperial Guard, Assistant Minister, and Clerk, respectively involved in palace security and administrative affairs. This article retains the scope of information regarding the author's sixth-rank official position, as well as the differences in the specific titles among his descendants.