Aibo Baturu

Overview

Aibo Baturu was a member of the Nimacha clan of the Bordered Red Banner. Volume 39 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he was a native of Nimacha. He submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty and, as a banner member without a regular appointment, accompanied Nurhaci on a hunt. When a wild boar suddenly appeared, he killed it with an axe and was awarded the title of Baturu. Here, Baturu is a bestowed title of bravery and should not be directly interpreted as a fixed official rank.

The original genealogy also records that he led twenty men to capture Shishan Fortress and was awarded the rank of Qiduwei. During the conquest of Korea and the attack on Uiju, he charged in with forty men and was awarded the hereditary merit rank of third-class Qingche duwei. Qiduwei and Qingche duwei were hereditary merit ranks; *xiansan* describes his initially unappointed banner status, not an official post. The hunting and siege stories are part of the genealogy and should not be expanded with specific dialogues, psychological details, or unverified combat details.

His son, Ai Dahan, inherited the title and was further granted it by imperial decree. His grandson, Alai, received additional honors for his military achievements in Jiangxi and Yunnan. The title was subsequently passed down through Daixibu, Zhulantai, and collateral branches, with changes in rank occurring after deducting the portion awarded by imperial decree or subsequent military merits. The military achievements of later generations could not all be attributed to Aibo himself. The location of Shishan Station, the date of the bestowal of the title, the events in Yizhou, and the complex succession relationships require verification from the original printed source and archives.