Ma Jihu

Overview

Ma Jihu (originally written as "MaJiHu") is recorded in Volume 61 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*. The original record states he was from the Bordered White Banner, but the year of his arrival is unknown, and the entry concludes with a note stating "transferred from the Plain White Banner." This note is important evidence for studying the changes in the banner affiliation of his branch, but it does not clearly specify the exact year of the transfer or who handled it, so it cannot be used to construct an unverified account of a banner change.

The genealogy records that his great-great-grandson, Haoshan, served as a Qiduwei; Marhan served as a guard captain; his fourth-generation descendant, Zhaobaozhu, served as a guard captain; Garhan served as a ceremonial officer; and Alhan served as a Qiduwei; his fifth-generation descendant, Bash, served as a guard captain; and Qi Shijiu served as a sixth-rank ceremonial officer; his sixth-generation descendant, Changming, served as a guard captain at the time the genealogy was compiled. Descendants who served as ceremonial officers should be listed separately from those who held military positions in the banner garrisons, and a sixth-rank ceremonial officer cannot be automatically equated with a ceremonial officer whose rank is not specified.

The genealogical records contain almost no information about Ma Jihu's official career or his birth and death dates, mainly focusing on clues about changes in banner affiliation and records of several generations of his descendants. In particular, the original text lists officials starting with his great-great-grandson, and it is inappropriate to add the specific names of his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons, let alone attribute the positions of his descendants to Ma Jihu himself.