Lukesu

Overview

Lukesu was a member of the Dong'e clan of the Plain White Banner of the Manchus in the early Qing Dynasty. He was a relative of Heheli and his original name was Lunbu. The official genealogy of the Manchu Eight Banners, Volume 8, compiled during the Qianlong reign, records that he and his brother Tunbu led 400 men to surrender to Nurhaci at the beginning of the dynasty. Nurhaci bestowed upon him the name Lukesu and assigned him to a Zuo Ling (military command), which was managed by his second son, Xiertai. The bestowal of the name was indeed personal and could not be used to change the names of clan members or sons.

The Zuo Ling managed the basic banner-registered soldiers. Xiertai later became one of the Sixteen Ministers, receiving the early hereditary title of Youji (guerrilla commander). He died in battle during the campaign against Shenyang. The hereditary title of "Youji" here must be understood according to the merit-based system of the early Qing Dynasty and cannot be directly equated to the later Green Standard Army guerrilla officer. The later ban on sacrificial rites also belonged to Xiertai's branch of the family and was separate from his father's.

His eldest son, Xihan, died in battle during the campaign against Korea, and his hereditary title was inherited by his son, Eshuo. Eshuo had made numerous military achievements against the Ming Dynasty and during the conquest of the Central Plains. As the father of Empress Duanjing, he received a special title. His son, Feiyanggu, was promoted to Duke after conquering Galdan, forming another branch of meritorious nobility. Empress Duanjing was a posthumous title, and her personal title cannot be deduced from her descendants' imperial lineage. Information regarding his original residence in Dong'e, his younger brother's branch in the Bordered Red Banner, and his own branch in the Plain White Banner has been preserved separately. His current location and the change of his former title still require verification from the original inscription.