Tongatul Baturu

Overview

Tongatul Baturu was a member of the Manchu Eji clan, belonging to the Plain Red Banner. His family had lived in Yehe for generations, and he and his elder brother, Daiyinguli, submitted to the Qing dynasty at its beginning. Volume 46 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *The Complete Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he participated in the Khorchin campaign as a non-official, entering the Ming border region. During the siege of Desheng Fort in Datong, he was the second to scale the city walls, earning the title of Baturu and the rank of Qiduwei. He was later promoted three times by imperial decree to Second-Class Qingche duwei.

Baturu was a title of praise for bravery and is now part of the official lexicon; Qiduwei and Qingche duwei, however, were hereditary titles of merit. The title of bravery and hereditary title should not be considered the same as an official rank. The original phrase "second to scale the city walls" should also be distinguished from "first to scale the city walls," and should not be rewritten to emphasize his military achievements.

His grandson, Heise, inherited the title, which was then inherited by Heise's sons, Dase and Bag, and finally by Bag's brother, Changge. Changge served as a zuoling (military officer) at the time of the compilation. Thus, the hereditary title and the actual position of zuoling coexisted. Records also indicate that the elder brother, Daiyinguli, had descendants including the Director of the Imperial Household Department, a student of the Imperial Academy, and a master of ceremonies. These descendants belonged to the elder brother's branch and were not direct descendants of Tongatubaturu. The exact year of the Deshengbao battle, details of the succession, and the location of the Yehe's former residence are yet to be verified.