Meng An

Overview

Meng An was a member of the Wanyan clan of the Bordered Blue Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. Volume 28 of the official Qing Dynasty compilation, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he was of the same clan as Ye Chen, and that they had lived in the Wanyan region for generations. After the Qing Dynasty submitted to the Qing, a zuoling (military command) was established, which he was in charge of. The title of zuoling in the Eight Banners had two meanings: a basic organizational unit and a senior official title. It involved managing military registers, household registration, and other affairs. The term "establishing a zuoling" should not be interpreted as creating an ordinary local county office.

His son, Mu Nai, served as a zuoling in the campaign in Heilongjiang. He died in battle and was posthumously awarded the title of Qiduwei. His grandson, Mursai, inherited the title and was granted the additional title of Yunqiwei (a military rank) by imperial decree. He served as a zuoling but was later dismissed due to some incident. The titles of Qiduwei and Yunqiwei were hereditary, part of the merit-based reward and inheritance system; zuoling, however, was an actual banner-level position, and both could appear simultaneously in the same person's resume.

Later, the title was inherited by Ayitu, the son of Mursai's younger brother. The additional title granted by imperial decree was removed, but the Qiduwei title was retained. After Ayitu resigned due to illness, his son, Lao Ge, succeeded him. The original genealogy also records that later generations served as ceremonial officers, cavalry commanders, guards, and scribes, respectively involved in government etiquette, military affairs of different units, and clerical work. The specific dates of the Heilongjiang war, the chain of succession of collateral branches, and the ancestral home are yet to be verified and cannot be attributed to Meng An's own military achievements.