Nizhuhun Clan

Overview

The Nizhuhun clan is a Manchu surname listed in Volume 56 of the officially compiled *Comprehensive Genealogy of Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, and its ancestors resided in the Changbai Mountains. Their chief ancestor, Gandu, led his sons to surrender at the beginning of the dynasty. Because of his fluency in Mongolian, he was appointed a banner commander (ZuoLing) ​​during the establishment of the Mongol banner system. The genealogy records him as a member of the Plain Yellow Banner, noting that he was transferred from the Bordered Blue Banner; therefore, his surname classification, language ability, and actual banner affiliation require separate descriptions.

Gandu participated in the battles of Ningyuan, Jinzhou, and after the conquest of China. During the Tiancong era, he donated grain to support the households under his banner, earning him the promotion to Vice Minister of War and concurrently Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Later, through military merit and imperial decree, he was granted the title of Baron. After his death, the hereditary title was inherited by relatives such as Wu Shanbu and Balsa. When Zongjia inherited the title, the portion granted by imperial decree was reduced, retaining only the rank of Third-Class Baron.

The title of Baron was a hereditary title for meritorious officials, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief was a high-ranking military officer in the Eight Banners, and the Vice Minister of War was a central government official in charge of military administration; these three titles reflected different social statuses. The term "zuoling" (ZuoLing) ​​has both the function of a grassroots organization and an official title. In the story of Gan Du, it also involves his Mongolian language skills and the process of banner organization, so it cannot be written that he was assigned to a specific banner solely because of his surname. The time of his reassignment, the original titles he received at each appointment, and his specific residence in Changbai Mountain still need to be verified.