Su Mindudu

Overview

Su Mindu was a member of the Tongjia clan, belonging to the Bordered Red Banner. His family had lived in Jiaha for generations and were of the same clan as Hun Tuohe. They submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume 19 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that his great-great-grandsons included a Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, an Assistant Instructor, a Defense Officer, and a Military Officer, reflecting the coexistence of civil and military positions within this family.

The Court of Imperial Sacrifices handled state affairs such as sacrifices and music, with the Minister as its superior. The Assistant Instructor was an educational official, while the Military Officer was a military officer and cannot be uniformly described as a military officer. His great-great-grandson, Bo Tuoli, served as a Military Officer in the campaign against Huguang and died in battle at Huitong County, receiving the posthumous title of Yunqiwei. His son, Biaoha, inherited the title without an heir, and his brother, Baotai, succeeded him. Baotai distinguished himself and was promoted to Cavalry Captain. After the original number of hereditary titles was exhausted, he was granted the title of Yunqiwei again by special favor, which was inherited by his third son, Sang Adai. This new special conferment of titles was not entirely the same as the continuation of the original hereditary positions; the distinction in the narrative should be preserved. The original genealogy separately lists the branches of Su Mindu's eldest and second eldest brothers, and their descendants cannot all be listed as Su Mindu's direct descendants. "Dudu" is retained as part of the original entry, and its etymology or official title is not explained according to modern Chinese characters.