Kualda Clan

Overview

The Kualda clan is a Manchu surname recorded in Volume 56 of the officially compiled *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, and its ancestral home was Hada. The main ancestor, Wu Yunzhu, belonged to the Plain Red Banner and surrendered at the beginning of the dynasty. His grandson, Ajintai, served as a layman in the army during the attack on Longping County. He was the second to scale the city walls and was awarded the title of Yunqiwei (YunQiWei), later receiving an imperial edict that promoted him to Qiduwei (QiDuWei). Ajintai died without an heir, and his elder brother, Ahanikan, inherited the title, also receiving an imperial edict that promoted him to Yunqiwei.

Ahanikan's son, Juehote, inherited the title and participated in the war against Chahar Burni, distinguishing himself at Dalu and rising to the rank of Third-Class Qingche duwei. When the title passed to Kurchen, the imperial edict's additional grant was removed, and the title was changed to Qiduwei. Kurchen retired due to illness, and his son, Qige, inherited the title, again removing the post-edict's military merit grant, but retaining the Yunqiwei rank.

This continuous record demonstrates the acquisition, promotion, and demotion of hereditary titles, indicating that successors did not always retain the highest rank. Yunqiwei, Qiduwei, and Qingche duwei were all titles awarded for merit and should not be mistakenly written as the same substantive position in the county government or military camp. The genealogy also mentions that Wu Yunzhu's great-grandson, Fulong'e, served as an infantry officer, which represents another line of official appointment. The dates of succession, the ancestral settlement of Hada, and the relationships with collateral branches still need to be verified.