Kang Wuli

Overview

Kang Wuli was a member of the Namudulu clan of the Plain White Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. His family had lived in the Namudulu area for generations. Volume 21 of the official Qing Dynasty genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he was originally a local chieftain who, before the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, led his brothers and clansmen to submit to Nurhaci. Here, "chieftain" refers to a local leader, different from the later ministers of the Six Ministries in the central government. Those who submitted were organized into two Zuo-ling (military units), one each led by Kang Wuli and his third brother, Kakduli. He also married a Qing princess, was granted the title of Efu (efu (imperial son-in-law)), and was awarded the rank of Third-Class Viscount, listed among the Sixteen Ministers, and appointed Minister of Revenue and Commander of the Imperial Guard. The Zuo-ling was both a basic unit of the Eight Banners and referred to the official in charge of that unit, overseeing the banner people's population and military affairs. Efu was a title obtained through marriage within the imperial family, while Viscount was a hereditary title for meritorious officials; these should be understood separately from actual official positions. The original genealogy then details the military achievements of his fourth son, Laita, who later became the Generalissimo of the Southern Expedition; his military experience belongs to the next generation. Kang Wuli's records mainly reflect the process by which local leaders and their clansmen were incorporated into the Eight Banners and subsequently participated in early military and political affairs.