Guo Mushao

Overview

Guo Mushao was a member of the Manchu Gejile clan, belonging to the Plain White Banner. His family had lived in Yalan for generations and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume 45 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *the Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, begins with his family entry, primarily recording his grandsons Meihene and Duotonuo. Yalan is the name of the family's former residence recorded in the genealogy and cannot be determined as a specific village or town today based solely on a similar pronunciation.

Meihene was originally a second-class imperial bodyguard who died in battle during the Huguang campaign and was posthumously awarded the title of Qiduwei. His son, Shuoerhuo, and grandson, Yakesan, succeeded him. The original text shows this succession chain revolving around Meihene; therefore, Shuoerhuo and Yakesan are Meihene's son and grandson, not Guo Mushao's son and grandson. Another grandson of Guo Mushao, Duotonuo, originally served as a cavalry captain.

A second-class imperial bodyguard was a rank of imperial bodyguard, responsible for court escort and guard duties; bodyguards might also be ordered to accompany the army. The rank of Qiduwei was a hereditary title of meritorious service; the use of "granted" in this entry indicates that the grant occurred after death in battle, unlike the position held during one's lifetime. The rank of Valiant Qiduwei, on the other hand, belonged to the lower ranks of the Eight Banners officers, responsible for the training and duties of their subordinate soldiers. These entries illustrate the different paths within the same family: palace guards, those inheriting military merit, and those holding lower-ranking banner positions; the specific years of the battles and the family's migration process require further investigation.