Arjitu

Overview

Arjitu (originally written as "Arjitu") is a figure recorded in Volume 61 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, listed as a member of the Bordered Red Banner, but the year of his arrival is unknown. The original book does not specify his official position, but it records the positions held by his descendants and the changes in banner affiliation within this branch, providing a brief clue for studying the internal status changes of the Eight Banners during the Qing Dynasty.

His son, Ang'ahai, served as a military officer, as did his grandson, Tuhuqi; his great-grandson, Eighty-Eight, served as a ceremonial officer, and Eighty-Nine served as a scribe; his great-great-grandson, Fude, served as a principal officer when the genealogy was compiled, while Fucheng and Funai served as scribes. "Eighty-Eight" and "Eighty-Nine" are personal names in the genealogy, not ages or numerical values; the duties of a ceremonial officer and a scribe are also different, and they cannot be collectively referred to as military officers.

The original text notes at the end that the branch was "transferred from the banner's bondservants status," indicating that this branch had indeed changed their status from bondservants to officialdom. However, it does not directly specify in which generation or year this change occurred, so it is inappropriate to attribute the date of the change to Aljitu himself. His name, Bordered Red Banner registration, the official positions of his descendants, and this clue about the change can be found in the original text. Apart from this, his birth and death dates and specific migration experiences are still lacking.