Yizhu

Overview

Yizhu was a member of the Ningguta clan of the Bordered White Banner. Volume 41 of the official Qing dynasty compilation, *the Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that his family had lived in Ningguta for generations. At the beginning of the Qing dynasty, they submitted to the Qing, and this branch was transferred from the Bordered Yellow Banner to the Plain Blue Banner, sharing the same village, party, and clan. The transfer to a different banner indicates a change in banner affiliation, while sharing the same clan indicates a family relationship; neither directly determines a specific place of migration.

His great-grandson, Donika, served in the campaign as a non-official and was the first to scale the walls of Laiyang, earning the title of Baturu (a military rank) and Qiduwei (hereditary merit rank). He was later granted the title of Yunqiwei (another military rank) by imperial decree. Another great-grandson, Qiergeshen, also received the title of Qiduwei (hereditary merit rank) due to his service and was further granted this title by imperial decree. Donika had no heir, so his hereditary title was merged into Qiergeshen's. He was later promoted to Third-Class Baron, which was inherited by his grandson, Meng'ada, who also served as a Military Commander.

Baturu was a title of honor; Qiduwei (hereditary merit rank), Qingche duwei (hereditary merit rank), and Baron were hereditary titles; Military Commander was a substantive position. The merger and inheritance cannot be interpreted as Yizhu's continuous promotion. Later generations also held positions such as Censor, Principal Clerk, Clerk, and Ceremonial Officer, respectively in charge of supervision, administration, document management, and ceremonial affairs. The two branches of the great-grandson lineage, the dates of imperial edicts and succession, the ancestral home, and the time of reassignment await verification from the original engravings and archives.