Benkeli

Overview

Benkeli was a member of the Shajifucha clan in the early Qing Dynasty. His original genealogy listed him as belonging to the Plain Yellow Banner, but noted that he had been transferred from the Plain Red Banner. Volume 25 of the official Qing Dynasty genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he was of the same clan as Wangjinu. After surrendering to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty, he was ordered to suppress the rebellious tribes of Zhusheli, and was awarded the title of Suhe Baturu, becoming a zuoling (a military unit) under his command. Here, Baturu is a bestowed title, while zuoling was a lower-level banner officer position; the two should not be considered the same official post. Transferring banner affiliation did not automatically equate to relocation; the specific date and reasons still require archival documentation. His son, Dunbai, participated in battles in Jinzhou, the entry into the Central Plains, and in Guangdong and Guangxi, gradually receiving additional titles and ranks, eventually becoming the Fengtian General. He died without an heir, and the title was inherited by a collateral branch, Hushibu. Another son, Jixiha, served as Vice Minister of Works, Minister of Justice, and Commander-in-Chief. Feiyasiha also held an independent hereditary military title. The Fengtian General was the garrison commander, while the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Justice were respectively responsible for engineering and administrative affairs and central criminal administration. Multiple hereditary titles held by descendants each have their own origins in military merit, performance evaluation, or imperial decree, and cannot be combined to form the title promotion of the individual in this section. The individual's deeds in this section are conquest, bestowal of titles, and organization of banners; lengthy information about descendants needs to be handled separately.