Tong Guogang

Overview

Tong Guogang was a member of the Tongjia clan, the eldest son of Tong Tulai, and originally belonged to the Bordered Yellow Banner. The Qing Dynasty official clan genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, Volume 20, states that while serving as a first-class imperial bodyguard, he inherited his father’s title of first-class duke. He served as Grand Minister, Commander-in-Chief, and Minister of State Affairs. In the fourteenth year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, he was appointed to a command as General for Pacifying the North and dispatched to Xuanfu. Later, he was wounded by a gunshot and died in battle at Ulan Butong. He was posthumously awarded the title of Zhongyong (meaning loyal and brave).

The title of First-Class Duke was a title held by relatives of the imperial family and meritorious officials, not in the same rank as that of princes of the imperial clan. The First-Class Imperial Guard was an actual position of palace guard, the Commander-in-Chief managed banner affairs, and the General of Anbei was a specific military appointment; these four titles were of different natures. He was posthumously awarded the title of Qiduwei and concurrently a Yunqiwei, and later posthumously awarded the title of Grand Tutor. However, posthumous honors did not indicate actual leadership of the corresponding institutions during his lifetime. His sons, Orondai and Kuadai, and their descendants inherited the title of Duke, while his grandson, Buxi, inherited the hereditary title bestowed upon him upon his death. These various honors must be considered separately. The Tongjia clan's banner affiliation involves issues related to the evolution of Manchu and Han military organization. It is necessary to examine the era in which they served as officials, and the entire family cannot be categorized solely based on their clan name.