Sahalian

Overview

Sahalian, simplified as Sahalian, was a member of the Toholo clan, belonging to the Bordered Yellow Banner. His family had lived in the Heilongjiang region for generations and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. His biography is included in Volume 49 of the official Qing dynasty compilation, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, under the Toholo clan section. Clan affiliation is a crucial factor in identifying a person; one cannot simply assume a member of the imperial clan by name alone.

Sahalian's great-grandson, Hushou, participated in the siege of Wenshang in Shandong as a non-official. He was the first to scale the city walls and was awarded the title of Baturu and Qiduwei. He subsequently participated in the conquest of the Central Plains and battles in Taiyuan, among other places, and was promoted to Yunqiwei for his merits. Hushou's son, Shuose, inherited the title and was promoted to Third-Class Qingche duwei by imperial decree, also serving as Deputy Commander-in-Chief. His grandson, Wu Xitan, inherited the title, but the imperial decree was removed, and he inherited the title of Qiduwei and Yunqiwei. Wu Xitan's son, Wu Dahai, retired due to illness, and was succeeded by Wu Jie. The Deputy Commander-in-Chief was a substantive position managing the banner garrisons. The hereditary title was inherited according to a merit-based reward system. Shuose and Wu Xitan were grandfather and grandson, not father and son. Other members of the clan held positions such as Commandant of Ceremonial Guards, Imperial Guard Commander, Captain, and Cavalry Commander, belonging to different descendants. Specific terms of office, dates of battle, and their residence in Heilongjiang still need verification.