Wencha Clan

Overview

The Wencha clan is a Manchu surname, simplified as Wencha. Volume 48 of the official Qing dynasty genealogy, *the Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, states that its members were scattered in Yehe and other places. Key figures include Antai of the Plain Red Banner and Bodohun of the Bordered White Banner. The appendix also mentions Bahana of the Plain Red Banner and Nandao and Niyaha of Huifa of the Bordered Blue Banner. Yehe and Huifa are different historical regions; the phrase "Yehe and other places" in the genealogy should be understood as a multi-regional distribution, not a generalization about all branches being recorded as belonging to Yehe.

Antai's son, Moluohun, served as an assistant department director (*yuanwailang*). He was first granted the title of Qiduwei by imperial decree, and later received additional honors for overseeing the construction of the Qianqing Palace and other halls. He later died in battle in Xiamen. Bodohun's descendant, Manse, served as Vice Minister of Rites at the time of the genealogy's record, and others held positions such as Guards, Ceremonial Officer, and Bodyguard. These materials involve engineering, warfare, etiquette, and banner affairs, with varying origins of titles and ranks. The genealogy only clearly indicates the same clan between Antai and Bahana, and cannot expand the relationships of other branches that are not explicitly stated to be siblings or direct descendants of a particular ancestor. Clan names are not official titles or ranks, and banner affiliation is not unified with surname. The original Manchu form of Wencha, the process of acquiring the surname, and the complete lineage of each branch still need to be verified.