Tong Yangze

Overview

Tong Yangze was a member of the Tongjia clan, Plain Blue Banner, and a relative of Tong Yangzheng. His family had lived in Tongjia for generations and submitted to the Qing dynasty from Fushun at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume 20 of the official *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* records that he was awarded the rank of Third-class Qingche duwei, which was downgraded to Qiduwei after his death and inherited by his eldest son, Tuzhan.

Qingche duwei and Qiduwei were hereditary titles based on merit, and the rank inherited could be adjusted; it did not automatically mean automatic assumption of a military command position. Tuzhan died in battle during the campaign against Ningyuan, killed by artillery fire on the return march to attack Taiwan. His son, Huifu, and his collateral descendants inherited the title. Huifu accumulated hereditary titles due to military achievements and imperial favors, and served as a zuoling (banner-company commander); when his descendants lost these imperial favors, the inherited rank changed again. The original genealogy also lists branches of Tong Yangze's younger brother, uncle, and cousin, including those holding positions such as Prefect, County Magistrate, and General, belonging to different family branches and not all of them should be referred to as his grandsons. The descendants of this branch are noted in the genealogy as belonging to the Han Army of the Plain Blue Banner. Fushun, as the source of the surrender, is preserved alongside the ancestral home of the Tongjia people to avoid confusing the place of migration, ancestral home, and place of official appointment as the same location.