Kangxili Clan

Overview

The Kangxili clan is a Manchu surname recorded in Volume 61 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, an official compilation from the Qianlong reign. They resided in Ibadan. The Ershuose of the Bordered Red Banner submitted to the Qing dynasty during the Tiancong era, and their grandson Kangge served as an Assistant Minister. Here, "Ersuose" is a complete personal name; the initial "Er" should not be misread as referring to two individuals named Shuose, nor should Kangge's official position be attributed to his grandfather.

An Assistant Minister was a civil official within ministries and other government departments, assisting in and handling related administrative affairs. Their responsibilities varied depending on the institution. It was neither a title for members of the imperial family nor a general term for ordinary, unofficial staff. The original text does not specify which ministry Kangge served in, so it cannot be assumed he served in the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, or other government departments.

Tiancong was the reign title used by Huang Taiji during the Later Jin period, beginning in 1627 and ending in 1636, indicating that Ershuose's submission occurred before the Qing dynasty entered the Central Plains. Since the exact dates of the grandson's service are not simultaneously confirmed, the term of the Assistant Minister cannot be directly placed during the Tiancong era. Kangxili is the clan name, Ibadan is the ancestral home, and Bordered Red Banner is the organizational structure; the three are not interchangeable. The geographical correspondence between Ibadan and other similar variants, the Manchu surname, the term of office of Kangge, and the complete lineage still need to be verified.