Shu Bi

Overview

Shu Bi 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 his current position as an assistant department director (*yuanwailang*). The Hushitun branch belonged to the Bordered White Banner, residing in Hada for generations, and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Among his ancestors were military officers, ministers concurrently holding the title of zuoling, and Minister of Works.

An assistant department director (*yuanwailang*) was an official title within the ministries and departments of the Qing dynasty. Taking the Six Ministries as an example, it was below the minister and above the clerk, usually a fifth-rank official, handling specific administrative affairs within their department. "assistant department director (*yuanwailang*)" was a inherited title and did not indicate that Shu Bi was a temporary employee or worked outside the official government. Different institutions had different structures and divisions of labor; the specific duties should be described after determining the official office to which he belonged.

The original text does not specify which ministry or department Shu Bi served in; therefore, it is incorrect to write Shu Bi as an assistant department director (*yuanwailang*) of Works simply because his ancestor Tu Na served as Minister of Works. Shu Zan, who was listed alongside him as a great-grandson, once served as a scribe, a clerical position held by another person; the text also does not prove that the two were brothers. The current status refers to the historical context of the materials used in compiling the book and should be preserved in its original meaning, without being converted to today's equivalent. Further investigation is needed regarding Shu Bi's direct father, the date of his appointment, and his specific department.