Xierbu

Overview

Xierbu was a member of the Usu clan of the Plain Blue Banner. Volume 37 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that he originally lived in Hailan, surrendered to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty, and served as a military officer. It also notes that he was of the same clan as Susuku of the Ula region of the Bordered Blue Banner. While their banner affiliations and ancestral homes are recorded separately, being of the same clan does not require unifying place names, nor can it be directly identified as brothers.

His son, Sartu, served as the Grand Supervisor of the Imperial Mausoleums, and Kartu as a Military Officer; his grandson, Sake, was appointed an Assistant Minister, Kurchan as a Principal, and Niyada as a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and concurrently Vice Minister of Rites; his great-grandson, Urchan, served as a Clerk. The Grand Supervisor of the Imperial Mausoleums managed affairs related to the imperial mausoleums; the Military Officer was a military officer; and the Assistant Minister and Principal were administrative officials whose duties depended on their respective departments.

The position of Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and concurrently Vice Minister of Rites involves the central government's civil service system and concurrent titles; it cannot be simply stated as simultaneously presiding over two government offices. The Manchu title for scribe was bithesi, responsible for handling documents and related written affairs. The original genealogy lists official positions by lineage; Niyada's appointment cannot be attributed to Sylbu himself. The location of Hailandi, the specific mausoleum, the term of office of the cabinet, and the kinship with Susuku require verification from the original printed source and archives.