Songguotuo

Overview

Songguotuo was a member of the Manchu Suochuoluo clan, belonging to the Bordered Red Banner. His family had lived in Huifa 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*, records that he participated in the campaign from Beijing into Shandong under a non-military title. He was the first to scale the city walls during the siege of Linqing, and was awarded the title of Baturu and appointed Qiduwei. The term "non-military" indicates the status of a bannerman at the time, not that he did not participate in military operations.

Songguotuo later received the title of Yunqiwei for his meritorious service in the conquest of the Central Plains, and was further promoted to First-Class Qingche duwei by three imperial edicts. His son, Shuhude, and grandson, Tonggu, inherited the title. When Tonggu's son, Fengsheng'a, inherited the title, the additional imperial edicts were deducted, and he inherited the title of Qiduwei and concurrently Yunqiwei. Baturu was a title of commendation for bravery, while Qiduwei and other similar titles were hereditary positions; a title of bravery should not be considered another administrative position.

Other members of the family, such as Shulkh, served as a military officer, Shultu as a defender, and his great-grandson Tusana as a guard officer, should be distinguished from Songgoto's individual military achievements. Huifa is the family's ancestral home; historical relics of the ancient city are preserved in Huifa Town, Huinan County, Jilin Province, but this only provides a geographical understanding and cannot determine the exact location of Songgoto's former residence. The exact years of the battles and the dates of succession are yet to be verified.