Dashiha

Overview

Dashiha was a member of the Saimile clan of the Plain Blue Banner. Volume 36 of the Qing Dynasty official clan genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he lived in the Heilongjiang region and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at its beginning. This provides context for the family's ancestral home and their entry into the early Qing regime. The Plain Blue Banner was one of the Eight Banners, and banner affiliation alone cannot replace evidence of an individual's official position or military achievements.

His great-grandson, Niqina, served as an infantry officer; his great-great-grandson, Alka, served as a third-class guard; Suobai served as a zuoling (military commander); and Chahala served as a Zhushi (officer); his fourth-generation descendant, Ahantai, served as a Zhushi; Foyueluo served as a Xiaoqi Xiao (Qiduwei); and Huantai served as a Hujun Canling (military commander); his fifth-generation descendant, Hesheng'e, served as a sixth-rank Dianyi (ceremonial official). zuoling managed the basic organizational structure within the banner, while Zhushi held a substantive official position, with specific duties depending on the organization. Guards and imperial guards should not be confused.

A sixth-rank Dianyi was a rank-based ceremonial official; the title of Dianyi did not automatically equate to the Minister of Rites. The genealogy records administrative, military, and ceremonial positions appearing simultaneously, belonging to different descendants, and cannot be combined to represent the experiences of Dashha alone. In the Qing Dynasty, one rank could correspond to multiple official positions; rank and title were not synonymous. The ancestral home in Heilongjiang, the yamen under the jurisdiction of the head official, the princely residence under the ceremonial office, and the various successive officials await verification.