Alan

Overview

Alan, mentioned in Volume 53 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, under the Wusuzhan clan, belonged to the Plain Red Banner and lived in Hailan River, Warkash. He submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. The original entry uses the term "grandson" twice, listing Huxitun as a former ceremonial officer and Chuonai as a former cavalry officer. These should be preserved as belonging to the same grandson generation; the latter should not be arbitrarily changed to a great-grandson.

The ceremonial officer was a ceremonial official, responsible for etiquette and guidance within the system of princely residences. The cavalry officer was a basic military rank in the Eight Banners' cavalry organization, involved in the management and training of their subordinate soldiers. One leaned towards ceremonial duties, the other towards military organization; they cannot be written as the same type of officer simply because they were both bannermen. The specific residence of the ceremonial officer, the cavalry officer's unit, and their terms of office are not recorded.

Wusuzhan was a Manchu clan, the Plain Red Banner was the organizational structure, and Hailan River, Warkash was the ancestral home of this branch. The original text does not mention Alan's personal official position, nor the names of his sons or their hereditary titles; therefore, the military achievements of the neighboring Niuyantu branch cannot be used to fill this gap. The ancestral records along the river cannot be simply attributed to the modern river based on similar pronunciations; historical and geographical verification is still needed. Furthermore, the fact that they belong to the same clan and banner does not constitute evidence that Alan and Niu Yantu are brothers.