Wusuzhan Clan

Overview

The Wusuzhan clan is a Manchu surname recorded in Volume 53 of the officially compiled *Comprehensive Genealogy of Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*. Their ancestral home was in the Hailan River region of Warkash. Niu Yantu of the Plain Red Banner surrendered to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. His son, Yanbu, served as a seventh-rank official, and Nantai served as a garrison commander. Another son, Chanbu, served as a military officer in the campaign against Zhejiang, fighting against Zhou Lie's forces in Quzhou, and was awarded the title of Yunqiwei for his meritorious service. After Chanbu's death, his son, Chaertu, inherited the title, and Chaertu also served as a zuoling (military officer).

The term "Military Officer" here refers to the type of soldier used in combat; it is inappropriate to add the word "Xiao" (Xiao) to write it as "Military Officer Xiao." Yunqiwei was a hereditary title awarded for merit, while zuoling was an official position in charge of the basic organization of the Eight Banners, explaining the award and the appointment respectively. The genealogy only records Yanbu as a seventh-rank official, without specifying his exact duties, and it is inappropriate to add a seventh-rank official title.

The clan of the same surname, Alan of the Plain Red Banner, also resided in the Hailan River region of Warkash and surrendered to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Some of his descendants served as Dianyi (ceremonial officers) and Xiaoqixiao (military officer). The two clues together provide information on surname, region, and banner affiliation, but cannot yet prove the specific kinship between Niu Yantu and Alan. The scope of the compound place name, the generational order in which the character "Sun" appears again in the Alan entry, and the military achievements and dates of office of each individual still need to be verified against the original printed edition and other historical materials.