Yodani

Overview

Yodani was a member of the Tongjia clan, Plain White Banner, whose ancestral home was Macha. He was of the same clan as Badulizhalguchi and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume 19 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he served as a vanguard commander in campaigns in Sichuan and Huguang, fighting against the forces of Zhang Xianzhong and He Tengjiao, and was awarded the title of Yunqiwei (yunqiwei). Later, due to two imperial edicts, he was promoted to Qiduwei (qiduwei) and concurrently held the title of Yunqiwei.

The vanguard battalion was responsible for leading the troops and providing security, while the commander was responsible for leading the troops under his command. Yunqiwei and Qiduwei were hereditary titles for meritorious service, not simply another name for the vanguard commander. After his son Dalian inherited the title, the hereditary title was transferred to his nephew Nianchaha. When Nianchaha inherited it, the imperial edict-granted promotion was revoked, and he was restored to Yunqiwei. Subsequently, it was inherited by his brother Foertun. Foertun was then serving as an acting infantry officer; the acting position and the hereditary title were separate. Yodani's other sons served as guards, assistant ministers, and commanders, respectively, while his third son, Dingzhu, was a student of the Imperial Academy. The position of Imperial Academy student belonged to the Imperial Academy and its official selection system, not a military officer position. Therefore, this record not only documented the individual's military achievements but also the inheritance and different official positions of their descendants.