Qingnai

Overview

Qingnai was a great-grandson of the Hushitun family of the Hong'e clan. Volume 55 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* records that he once served as a *zhushi* (shi, a type of official title). Hushitun was a member of the Bordered White Banner, and his family had lived in Hada for generations. They submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty, and Qingnai himself served as a military officer. The entry also lists his son, Ahanikan, and grandson, Edebei, as serving as *langzhong* (LangZhong, a type of official title) and *zuoling* (ZuoLing, a type of military officer title).

*Zhushi* was an official title in the ministries and departments of the Qing dynasty. Taking the Six Ministries as an example, *langzhong*, *yuanwailang*, and *zhushi* constituted the official hierarchy for handling specific administrative affairs. *Zhushi* was often designated as a sixth-rank official, but their responsibilities had to be explained in conjunction with the institution they served in. The original book does not list Qingnai's department, and it is incorrect to refer to Qingnai as a *zhushi* of the Ministry of Works simply because his relative, Tuna, served as Minister of Works.

The entry for Hushitun also mentions military positions, *zuoling*, and civil service positions in ministries and departments. *Zuoling* belonged to the lower-level military households of the Eight Banners, while *zhushi* belonged to the administrative affairs of government offices. These two systems could coexist within the same family, but they could not replace each other. The Hada is a historical record of the family's residence, not Qingnai's confirmed birthplace. His great-grandchildren, Qingde and Qingge, served as zuoling and Bitieshi, respectively. Each of the three had their own names and official titles, and the text does not specify their exact father-son or brother relationships; these must be distinguished according to their individual records.