Taola

Overview

Taola was a member of the Sakda clan of the Bordered Yellow Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. Volume 35 of the officially compiled *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* records that his family had lived in the Sakda region for generations and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. His great-great-grandsons Tukeshan, Tulai, and Laishu served as scribes; his fourth-generation descendant Marse served as a censor, Shise as a defense officer, and Benlou as a Qiduwei during the compilation of the genealogy; Suozhu, though in a non-official capacity, participated in campaigns in Zhejiang and Fujian, and was the first to scale the city walls of Quanzhou.

Suozhu was granted the title of Baturu and the rank of Third-class Qingche duwei, and served as the vanguard commander. He retired due to illness, and his son Tula and grandson Deming succeeded him. Baturu was an honorary title, Qingche duwei was a hereditary position awarded for merit, and the vanguard commander was responsible for vanguard military affairs. Retirement and succession differed from newly established military merit.

Censors participated in supervision and verification of memorials, while scribes handled official documents. Not all descendants held similar military positions. The original genealogy also listed Imperial Academy students and Third-Class Imperial Guards, representing educational qualifications and the position of imperial bodyguards, respectively. The location of Sakda, the years of the Soju War, and the connections between generations are yet to be verified, and the achievements of the fourth-generation descendant are not written as Taola's own experiences.