Iza

Overview

Yiza was a member of the Zakuta clan of the Plain Yellow Banner. Volume 36 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *the Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he lived in Gaharibihan'eli Village and submitted to the Qing dynasty at its beginning. The Zakuta clan is a separate Manchu surname listed in this volume and cannot be merged with the Jingqili clan entry; the Plain Yellow Banner was his banner affiliation, and the village name indicated his ancestral home.

His great-grandson, Nushan, served as Vanguard Commander and, due to his service and military achievements, was awarded the rank of Third-Class Qingche duwei (hereditary merit rank). After fighting in Shandong and Jinzhou, and receiving imperial decree, he was further promoted to Second-Class Baron, later becoming a Grand Minister of the Interior. Vanguard Commander and Grand Minister of the Interior were substantive positions, while Qingche duwei (hereditary merit rank) and Baron were hereditary ranks. Changes in hereditary ranks, such as dismissals and deductions of imperial decree grants, when passed down to Tuodai and subsequent relatives, must be described according to the specific positions held.

His great-grandson, Jishan, served as zuoling (military officer) and later as Deputy Commander-in-Chief. He died in battle in Suzhou and was posthumously awarded the title of Qiduwei (hereditary merit rank). Other branches of this branch inherited this title. Tai Bishan, the great-grandson, served as a minister in the Imperial Stables, which was responsible for matters such as the imperial horses. Jue Hetuo, the fifth-generation descendant, died in battle in Jiangxi and was posthumously awarded the title of Yunqiwei, which is another clue. It is impossible to combine the positions held by the three great-grandsons with the military achievements of their descendants into the account of Yizha himself. The location of the ancestral village and the complex hereditary system of official positions require further verification.