Yin Deqi

Overview

Yin Deqi was a bondservant of the Bordered Yellow Banner of the Xilin Gioro clan, whose family had lived in the Changbai Mountains for generations and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Volume 17 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that his eldest son, Dandali, served as a minister in the Imperial Stables; his second son, Yong'an, served as a secretary; and his grandson, Meng'etu, served as a first-class bodyguard and concurrently as the head of the tea service. Bondservants (booi (banner bondservant)) indicated a specific affiliation within the Eight Banners and cannot be simply interpreted as ordinary employees; members could also hold official positions, and the actual work of family descendants must be determined item by item based on their titles. The Imperial Stables was responsible for the breeding and allocation of imperial horses; the "si (horse team)" (si) was related to horses and not a modern department in charge of vehicle maintenance. The head of the tea service was involved in the management of court tea affairs, while bodyguards were responsible for security duties; concurrent positions should be explained separately and not one of two. His great-grandson, Jing'etu, and great-great-grandson, Changxing, later transferred to the Bordered Blue Banner as bondservants; the original genealogy only indicates these transfers and cannot directly change Yin Deqi himself to the Bordered Blue Banner. Other positions included Warehouse Keeper, Cavalry Commander, and Guard Commander, belonging to the warehouse and military systems respectively. The original book does not specify the exact village where he lived in Changbai Mountain.