Ji Clan

Overview

The Ji family is recorded in Volume 80 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, under the name of Mingzhan, listed as a Nikan surname in Fushun within the Manchu banner system. Mingzhan was a bondservant of the Bordered Red Banner, residing in Fushun for generations. He surrendered to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty and served as the Zhili Military Commissioner. His son, Erqian, served as a guerrilla commander, and his grandson, Chouzi, served as a military officer. The original genealogy uses the Ji family name to encompass these individuals whose names were not individually given surnames.

The Military Commissioner was a type of local official responsible for matters related to military preparedness and local military administration. "Zhili" indicates the geographical context of this position, but it cannot be used to change Mingzhan's ancestral home to Zhili. A guerrilla commander was a military officer, while a military officer was a junior officer within the military system, involved in the management, training, and guard duties of his troops. Each of the three generations held positions with distinct organizational backgrounds.

bondservant were a specific subordinate status within the banner system, which could appear simultaneously with local official and military positions, and cannot be simply interpreted as a modern-day private employee. This section helps distinguish between ancestral home, banner affiliation, and place of office: Fushun is the ancestral home, the Bordered Red Banner is a banner unit, and Zhili is part of the official positions recorded by Ming Zhan. The specific jurisdiction of the Military Commissioner, the year of his submission, the term of office of his descendants, and the original names are yet to be verified. At this time, no unseen promotion order or military achievements will be added.