Buyali Mergen

Overview

Buyali Mergen was a member of the Ujara clan of the Bordered Blue Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. Volume 30 of the official Qing Dynasty genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that his family originally lived in Guaercha. He submitted to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty and was awarded the title of Yunqiwei (hereditary merit rank) for persuading Shaputu to surrender. Later, he distinguished himself in the campaign against Heilongjiang and was promoted to Qiduwei (hereditary merit rank). He served as Xieling, but his hereditary title was not inherited after his death. His experience in persuading surrender and fighting is clearly documented with meritorious service and rewards.

Xieling was a military position in the banner camp, while Yunqiwei and Qiduwei were hereditary titles. Military rank and rewards should not be confused. The phrase "hereditary title not inherited" indicates that his rewards were not directly inherited in that area and cannot be omitted to directly pass on to his son. His son, Fucheng'e, separately obtained the title of Qiduwei for military merit and served as Hujun Canling. After Ulanbutong's death in battle, he was posthumously awarded further merit.

His grandson, Futai, and great-grandson, Suming'a, inherited this branch of his son's military achievements. The original genealogy also records that his elder brother, Shuo Mushun, was in charge of half a zuoling (a military unit), as well as the descendants of his cousins. Half a zuoling involved basic organizational structure, not half a Qiduwei. The location of Guaercha, the Manchu name of the elder, and the two sources of rewards are yet to be verified, maintaining the distinction between those not inherited and those granted separately.