Ya Nai

Overview

Ya Nai was a member of the Sakda clan of the Bordered Yellow Banner during the early Qing Dynasty. Volume 35 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 Sakda region for generations. At the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, he led his brothers and clansmen to submit to the Qing, and was granted the title of Beiyu (beiyu (early Qing banner official)). Beiyu was an official title in the early Qing Dynasty and needs to be understood in the context of the system at the time; it cannot be directly applied to a fixed position in the late Qing Dynasty. His sons, Langxi, Tuntai, and Saiyinbu, served as zuoling, managing the household registration and military registers of the lower-level banner people.

His grandsons included Langzhong, Zhushi, Fangyu (fangyu (banner garrison officer)), and Bitieshi. His great-grandson, Changshu, served as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and concurrently as zuoling. Changcun served as a Hujunxiao in the campaign against the Dzungars and died in battle, receiving the posthumous title of Yunqiwei, which was inherited by his son, Defu. The Ministry of Personnel was responsible for the selection and assessment of officials. Hujunxiao was a military officer under the Hujun (hujunxiao (banner guard officer)) system, while Yunqiwei was a posthumous hereditary title awarded for merit. The nature of these positions and rewards differed.

This biography also lists the descendants of his elder brother, Asuhunzhan, younger brother, Yilanzhu, uncle, and great-uncle, among other branches. Military merits and qualifications for the imperial examinations were attributed separately to each branch. The location of Sakda, the period of defense, the list of brothers, and the connection of the long lineage are yet to be verified. Changcun died in battle and could not return to Yanai.