Lou Deng

Overview

Lou Deng was a member of the Huxihali clan of the Bordered Yellow Banner. Volume 42 of the official Qing Dynasty compilation, *the Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records that his family resided in Yilanfeiertaha Village, and submitted to the Qing Dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. This village is the historical ancestral home name mentioned in this entry, and the clan title confirms the Huxihali clan's affiliation; it cannot be combined with other families simply because other surnames also resided in the village.

His son, Liaodan, served as Minister of Personnel; his grandson, Bandi, served as a scribe; his great-great-grandson, Hu'ernai, served as a principal; and Hulinga served as a military officer. The Ministry of Personnel was responsible for the selection, appointment, and evaluation of civil officials, and the Minister was a high-ranking official in the ministry. This position belonged to Liaodan; it cannot be written that Lou Deng himself held the position of Minister of Personnel, nor can it be mistakenly written as Minister of War.

The Manchu title for scribe is bithesi, responsible for documents and related written affairs; the principal was in charge of the administration of their respective government offices; and the military officer belonged to the military establishment of the Imperial Guard. The central government affairs, scribeship, and military post belong to different descendants in this entry and cannot be combined to represent one person's career path. The current status of the great-great-grandson's official title only reflects the state at the time of compilation, not their current position. The term of office of the Liao Dan Minister, the office to which the principal official belonged, the rank and document agency, the village and place of origin, and the intermediate lineage need to be verified against the original engraving and appointment records.