Yi Gou

Overview

Yi Gou was a member of the Bayara clan of the Plain White Banner. In the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, Volume 38, the corresponding entry is written as Yi Gou. The original record retains this entry, stating that his family resided in Mulun, surrendered to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty, and he originally served as a zuoling (banner-company commander). Mulun was the original name of his ancestral home and cannot be directly equated to a modern homophonous county or city without independent evidence.

His son, Yapuka, participated in the battles of Jinzhou and Shandong as a zuoling and was awarded the title of Yunqiwei (a military rank). He was later granted the title of Third-class Qingche duwei by imperial decree and appointed as a City Garrison Captain. His successor, Xilai, served as Acting Deputy Commander-in-Chief and zuoling, but was dismissed and the title was inherited by the 48th. zuoling, City Garrison Captain, and Deputy Commander-in-Chief were substantive positions, while Yunqiwei and Qingche duwei were hereditary titles. The word "Acting" indicates the status of office and cannot be shortened to "officially appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief."

His grandson, Eheden, also achieved military merit and was awarded the title of Yunqiwei. His collateral descendant, Boji, inherited this title and served as General of Guangzhou, forming another line of succession. Guangzhou refers to the place where the descendants served, not the modern equivalent of the ancestral home of Mulun. The number 48 in the entry is a personal name, not an indication of age; the military achievements of each branch cannot all be attributed to Yi Gou. The names Gou and Wei, the location of Mulun, the appointment procedures, and the order of the two branches' hereditary positions need to be verified.