Gao Clan

Overview

The Gao family is listed under "Appendix: Nikan Surnames within the Manchu Banners" in Volume 74 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*. This entry introduces the Gao family branches recorded in this volume. Gao Yunlong was a bondservant of the Bordered Blue Banner, residing in Shenyang. He surrendered during the Tiancong reign. His son, Dizangbao, served as a guerrilla commander, fighting in Zhejiang and Fujian, and died in battle at Yongningwei. He was posthumously awarded the title of Yunqiwei, which was later inherited by the Seventy-Fourth and Sandasexiang.

Another branch, Gao Mingxuan, resided in Liaoyang and surrendered at the beginning of the dynasty. Originally a bondservant of the Bordered Yellow Banner, the genealogy records that in September of the thirteenth year of the Yongzheng reign, due to his status as a relative of the Imperial Concubine, he was ordered to leave the bondservant status and rejoin his original Manchu banner. His descendants include Gao Dengyong, Gao Yanzhong, Shuming, Gao Bin, and Gao Yu, whose positions included Military Commissioner, Secretary, General, and Governor-General; these titles should be interpreted according to the era recorded in the original text.

The branch of Gao Deyou belonged to the Plain White Banner's bondservants, residing in Shenyang. His son, Budali, served as a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and Vice Minister of Rites. The three branches belonged to different banners and had different organizational structures; listing the same surname in the original text does not necessarily prove a common ancestor. Bondservants were a specific subordinate status; "leaving the bondservant" signified a change in status and organizational structure. Yunqiwei was a hereditary title, distinct from actual military ranks like guerrilla commander. The complete lineages and terms of office for each branch still await verification through the original printed edition and archival records.