Nie Du

Overview

Nie Du appears in Volume 60 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, under the entry for the Zhahama clan. He belonged to the Plain Red Banner and was categorized as one of those who surrendered to the Qing dynasty in the early years. The clan's general overview records that the family had lived in Nimacha for generations, but Nie Du's personal entry does not specify his birthplace or official position. Therefore, it is necessary to distinguish between the clan overview and his personal details.

The original text records that his great-grandson, Fudang'a, served as a Langzhong (a mid-level official); his great-great-grandson, Dalihu, served as a seventh-rank official, and Baishan also served as a Langzhong; his fourth-generation descendant, Along'a, served as a Yuanwailang (another mid-level official), and Niyahan served as a Zhushi (a high-ranking official); and his fifth-generation descendant, Nierjin, served as Tongzhi (another mid-level official) when the genealogy was compiled. These official positions involve different administrative levels, but the original text does not specify the relevant government office, term of office, or location. In particular, the entry for "seventh-rank official" only records the rank, not the title.

Based on the existing entries, the verifiable information about Nie Du includes his banner affiliation, the approximate time of his surrender, and the official ranks of his descendants. Arranging these materials by generation can preserve a clue to the family history of Manchu bannermen in the Qing Dynasty, but it cannot be used to infer an individual's political activities, military achievements, or complete life story. Any variant spellings of place names, official titles, and personal names should be verified again if a facsimile of the original is obtained in the future.