Hu Xitai

Overview

Huxitai was a member of the Yehe Fucha clan of the Plain White Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. His family had lived in Yehe for generations and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume 25 of the official Qing Dynasty genealogy, *the Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he served as a third-class imperial bodyguard. His son, Salin, served as a city gate captain, and his grandson, Wangshibao, served as an infantry officer. Piantu, as a deputy commander, participated in the campaign against the Dzungars and died in battle at Hetong Hurhana'er. He was posthumously awarded the title of Yunqiwei, which was inherited by his son, Fulonga. His great-grandson, Fuerqin, served as a scribe. The third-class imperial bodyguard was a rank of palace guard. The city gate captain was responsible for guarding the city gates and managing entry and exit. The infantry officer belonged to the infantry system, and the deputy commander was a banner officer; their official ranks and scopes differed. The title of Yunqiwei in this context refers to a posthumous military merit title, and cannot be written as a position held by Piantu in another cavalry battalion during his lifetime, nor can it be inferred that Fulonga simultaneously assumed the position of deputy commander. The scribe was a clerk responsible for writing and translating Manchu and Chinese texts and handling official documents. Husitai's confirmed official position was Third-Class Imperial Guard, and the Dzungar campaign was fought by his grandson. Yehe was his ancestral home, but it is not stated that his descendants were all stationed there. The exact dates of their service and deaths still need to be supplemented by other official appointments and war documents.