Yinek

Overview

Yinek was a member of the Sikterli clan of the Plain Yellow Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. Volume 34 of the official Qing Dynasty genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that his family had lived in the Guarcha region for generations. At the beginning of the dynasty, he surrendered without military force and was awarded the title of Yunqiwei (hereditary merit rank). The original record states that the award was based on his surrender, not on his participation in any siege. Yunqiwei was a hereditary title, different from a regular military officer position.

His son, Hun, inherited the title and participated in battles such as Jinzhou and Songshan as a bodyguard. He single-handedly defended the camp gate, was wounded, and refused to retreat, earning him the title of Baturu and a higher hereditary title. Later, he received imperial edicts, additional awards for military merit, and demotions for various reasons. Bodyguards participated in the emperor's guard duties; Baturu was an honorary title, while Qingche duwei (hereditary merit rank) and Nan (baron (hereditary peerage)) were ranks of merit-based rewards, each with its own nature.

The hereditary title of Hun's branch passed to Xiantu and Mingtai. His grandson, Akani, served as a first-class bodyguard in the campaigns in Jiangxi and Huguang, died in battle at Mule Mountain, and was awarded the title of Qiduwei (hereditary merit rank). He had no heir, and his reward was given to another branch, Mingtai, making them both third-class Nan. The attribution does not imply that several people held the same official position. The details of the location of Gua'ercha, the relatives of Mingtai, and the dates of various rewards and punishments are pending verification; the military achievements of later generations are not attributed to Inek.