Saida

Overview

Saida was a member of the Ujara clan of the Plain White Banner. Volume 30 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that his family resided in Guarcha. The year of his submission is unknown. He participated in battles in Shandong as a staff officer in the Ministry of War, later distinguishing himself in battles at Jinzhou, the Central Plains, and Taiyuan, earning the title of Yunqiwei. The Ministry of War managed military and political affairs, and the staff officer title was a ministerial title in the early Qing dynasty, encompassing both administrative duties and military operations.

The Yunqiwei title was a hereditary honor awarded for merit, distinct from the actual duties of a staff officer in the Ministry of War. After Saida's death, there is no direct record of him inheriting the title. His nephew, Guangningji, succeeded him, receiving the title of Third-class Qingche duwei through imperial decree. The title was then passed down through collateral branches. When his descendant, Sahai, inherited the title, the imperial decree's additional rank was removed, but the Yunqiwei title was retained. Finally, it was inherited by Dase.

The original genealogy also lists descendants of Shuzhuqi and Kuobi, who served as infantry officers, deputy commanders, scribes, or guards. These are collateral official records and cannot be included in Saida's personal career; the scribes were government office clerks, not personal secretaries. The location of the Guaercha, the term of office of the councilor, and the chain of kinship succession are yet to be verified, and the year of surrender remains unknown.