Gang Ge

Overview

Gangge, originally named "Gangge," was the great-grandson of Jing Yilu of the Hong'e clan. Volume 55 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* records that he served as a fifth-rank official. The Jing Yilu family had long resided in Jilin, surrendering to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty and being listed under the Bordered White Banner; the entry also states that they were transferred from the Plain White Banner. This information provides the historical background of Gangge's branch of the family.

The term "fifth-rank official" only indicates the rank, not the job title. In the Qing dynasty, civil and military officials were generally ranked into nine ranks, each with a "principal" and "subordinate" designations; the same rank could correspond to different institutions and responsibilities. For example, a third-class imperial bodyguard was designated a fifth-rank official, as were Eight Banners defense officers, but the original text provides no basis for classifying Gangge as one of these. "Fifth-rank" cannot be directly interpreted as a modern job title.

This branch also includes Deke serving as a cavalry captain, Hutu as a general of Hangzhou, Niuniu as a deputy commander of Guangdong, Wuli as a deputy commander of Heilongjiang, and Zhaoxing and Zhuoheli as scribes. The coexistence of positions in the clerical, garrison, and banner system indicates that Gang's affiliation cannot be determined solely based on his clan records. His exact official title, rank, years of service, and direct father still require further investigation of his resume or relevant appointment documents; for now, the original record of him as a fifth-rank official is retained.