Masha

Overview

Masha was a bondservant of the Aha Gioro clan in the Plain White Banner, whose family had lived in Liandaowan for generations. The year of their submission to the Qing dynasty is unknown. Volume 18 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *The General Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he himself served as a shepherd, his son Mahu as an inner steward, his grandson Hexu as a clerk, Bailing as an inner steward, his great-grandson Erge as a scribe, Luomi as a blue-feathered bodyguard, and his great-great-grandson Naqin as a scribe.

The shepherd was an official in charge of pastoral management. The Qing dynasty court system included herds, stables, and allocation management, and the shepherd cannot be directly equated with ordinary herders. The inner steward had more contact with his bondservant personnel and supply affairs, while the clerk handled corresponding administrative affairs of the government office. The blue-feathered bodyguards belonged to the palace guard system, and the scribe handled Manchu and Han documents and archives; these positions were not the same as those of shepherds. From his own shepherd position to his descendants' administrative, clerical, and bodyguard appointments, it can be confirmed that this branch spanned multiple systems and positions. The original genealogy does not specify any particular pasture or institution, and even Daowan remains a historical place name; therefore, Masha will not be located in a modern village or town with the same pronunciation for the time being. Generational relationships are preserved according to the original genealogy, and the official titles of descendants are not considered as concurrent positions held by the individuals themselves.