Chongshika

Overview

Chongshika was a member of the Irkule clan of the Bordered White Banner. Volume 39 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he lived in the Nuoluo region. He surrendered to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty and, as a zuoling (banner-company commander), injured his eye during the campaign against Ningyuan. He also injured his foot in the battle of Jingzhou. For his merits, he was awarded the rank of Third-class Qingche duwei, later demoted to Qiduwei, and then granted the rank of Second-class Qingche duwei by imperial decree. The locations and body parts of his injuries are clearly recorded in the genealogy and will not be elaborated upon further.

The zuoling was a substantive administrative position at the grassroots level within the banner, while Qingche duwei and Qiduwei were hereditary titles. A person's military achievements, demotions, and imperial decrees all affected their hereditary rank. One cannot conclude that his rank remained unchanged throughout his life based solely on the last rank, nor can one consider the zuoling rank as another title that could be added to his hereditary rank.

His son, Luomi, inherited the title but was later dismissed. His brother, Engelde, inherited it. When the title was passed to Shizhu, the portion granted by imperial decree was deducted, but the Qiduwei rank was retained. Later, Baishuose inherited the title. Sun Zhubao was appointed as a cavalry commander. The succession of official positions, hereditary titles, and kinship ties must be separated here; the dismissal of descendants is not a matter for Chongshika himself. The dates of the battles between Ningyuan and Jingzhou, the reasons for the demotion, and the complete succession details are pending verification.