Mutun

Overview

Mutun was a member of the Sakda clan of the Bordered Red 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 originally lived in the Arla region and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. His grandson, Shuoerhe, served as a clerk, and Luobi as a military officer. His great-grandson, Yaqi, served as a military officer in the campaign against Chahar and participated in the battles of Shimenkan and Huangcaoba in Yunnan, earning the rank of Qiduwei for his meritorious service. After his death, his sons, Madase and Wuyatu, successively inherited the title.

The clerk handled official administration and paperwork, the military officer led his subordinate guards and performed military duties, and the Qiduwei was a hereditary title awarded for merit. These three titles were of different natures; the two sons inherited the title as an award, which does not imply that they both successively held the same position as military officer.

Other great-grandsons, Shuoer'e, served as a scribe, Luoerdai as a defender, and Xilantai as a deputy military officer, respectively involved in administrative and military positions. The "deputy" title and the original nature of the position must be retained; it cannot be elevated to a formal command. The original text of "Xian Cong" in the records of Arla Diwang and Madase Wu Yatu, as well as the year of the Yunnan war, are yet to be verified. The military achievements of the great-grandson are not included in the personal experience of Mu Tun.