Xierbi Clan

Overview

The Xierbi clan is a Manchu surname recorded in Volume 59 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, an official compilation of the Qianlong Emperor's reign. They resided in Yehe. During the reign of Emperor Tiancong of the Plain Yellow Banner, Eyise submitted to the Manchu government. His sons, Ahantai and Dahantai, served as scribes and cavalry commanders, respectively. His grandsons, Yanzhuhu and Hanban, served as acting military commanders and military officers.

The title "scribe" is a transliteration of the Manchu word "bithesi," encompassing writing, translation, and document processing. The cavalry commander was responsible for basic military management of the banner troops, while the military commanders and military officers were part of the military organization. The "acting" preceding Yanzhuhu's title indicates that he was appointed to a position on behalf of the emperor; it cannot be omitted to write that he was already officially appointed as a military commander.

The different positions held by descendants of the same generation represent a specific record of service within the clan. Ahantai and Dahantai's positions belonged to the sons, while Yanzhuhu and Hanban belonged to the grandsons, not to Eyise's own list of concurrent positions. Yehe was their ancestral home, while the Plain Yellow Banner was their organizational affiliation; the two cannot be interpreted interchangeably. Tiancong was the reign title of Huang Taiji during the Later Jin period, which only specified the era of submission and not the individual's term of office. The specific settlement of Yehe, the term of appointment, the Manchu spelling of each name, and the complete father-son relationship still need to be investigated.