Martu

Overview

Martu was a member of the Zakuta clan of the Bordered White 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 the Heketongji area. At the beginning of the dynasty, he led over a hundred people to surrender and was organized into a zuoling (banner-company commander), receiving the rank of Qiduwei. He later died in battle at Jinzhou. These are his personal experiences; zuoling represents a basic organizational and administrative position within the banner, while Qiduwei was a hereditary title.

His son, Wukuli, inherited the position and, through military merit and imperial decree, was appointed General of Fengtian concurrently serving as zuoling. General of Fengtian was a high-ranking military officer stationed there, not a local civil official like a prefect. After Wukuli, the hereditary title was divided between the Emoktu and Fobao branches. When descendants inherited the title, the portion granted by imperial decree was deducted, reflecting the division of inheritance and rank adjustment; the titles of different branches could not be superimposed on Martu.

This branch is also recorded as having been transferred from the Plain Yellow Banner to the Bordered White Banner, with descendants holding titles such as Second-Class Guard and Sixth-Rank Ceremonial Officer. Guards and ceremonial officers belong to their respective guard and ceremonial duties and cannot both be considered battlefield officers; a change of banner affiliation does not equate to a change of ancestral home. The electronic text also contains the term "First-Rank Guard," which awaits verification of the original printed source; the official title will not be automatically determined through editing. The location, transfer date, and succession procedures of He Ketongji also await verification; the original records will be preserved.