Wu Zhu

Overview

Wu Zhu was a member of the Yuhulu clan, whose ancestors resided in Ying'e and Luo. Volume 46 of the Qing Dynasty official genealogy, *The Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, records him as a bondservant of the Bordered White Banner, explaining that he was transferred from the Plain White Banner, but the exact date of his transfer is unknown. This record of transfer implies that the genealogy simultaneously preserves the previous and current banner affiliations; one cannot conclude that the family never changed its affiliation based solely on banner color.

Boatservant were a specific group within the Eight Banners with a particular affiliation. Their members were incorporated into corresponding zuoling or Guan Ling organizations, and could undertake various tasks such as household chores, production, documentation, and military affairs. They also had pathways to official positions and to obtain qualifications through the imperial examinations. The Wu Zhu family provides concrete evidence of this coexistence of status and official position: his grandson, Entai, served as a sixth-rank official; Santai served as a ceremonial official; and his great-grandson, Wu Zong'a, obtained the Jinshi degree. The position of ceremonial official was related to ceremonial affairs within the princely court, while Jinshi was a qualification obtained through the imperial examinations. These two positions, one representing a job and the other an examination qualification, could not be combined into a single official post. Entai's records only specify his rank, not his official title, therefore his duties cannot be fabricated based on his "sixth rank." The modern equivalents of Ying'e and Luo, the time of their reassignment, and Wu Zong'a's academic year still need to be verified.