Aidu

Overview

Aidu, also known as Aidu, appears in Volume 53 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* under the entry for the Niqili clan. He belonged to the Bordered Yellow Banner and his family had lived in Hunchun for generations. During the Tiancong reign (1620-1625), he led his brothers to submit to the Qing dynasty. Tiancong was the reign title of Huang Taiji. Hunchun is related to the place name of present-day Hunchun, Jilin, but the original entry did not specify a village.

His son, Sakchu, served as a cavalry commander; his grandson, Bulada, served as a defense commander; his great-grandson, Tulada, served as a military officer; Zhaqin served as a centurion; and Fulu was a military graduate. The original book also lists the branch of his elder brother, Deerxiu, and the branch of his uncle, Gunaka, including members of the Qingzhou deputy commander, those with hereditary privilege, fourth-rank officials, officials of the rank of Langzhong, and third-class imperial guards. Not all members of these collateral branches are direct descendants of Aidu, and their lineages cannot be combined.

The titles of cavalry commander, military officer, defense commander, and centurion represent different military ranks; a military graduate was a status obtained through the provincial military examination and did not equate to official appointment. A hereditary privilege was a status obtained through specific favoritism and was different from passing the provincial examination. The records of appointment and educational selection must be separated, and it is not possible to supplement Fu Lu's specific military unit. The existing texts can confirm the brothers' allegiance and the connections between several branches of descendants, and the individual's birth and death dates, the year of allegiance, and the various positions are pending verification.