Tiao Hai

Overview

Tiao Hai is recorded in Volume 73 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* under the entry for the Che clan. He is recorded as a bondservant of the Plain Yellow Banner, originally from Pingyang, who surrendered to the Qing dynasty during the Tiancong reign and served as an interpreter. Volume 73 lists the Che clan as a Korean surname belonging to the Manchu banners, thus this entry contains information on both the early Qing dynasty's history of the Eight Banners' inclusion in the official history of interpreters.

His grandson, Sheng Tieli, served as an interpreter; his great-grandsons, Zhong Tongyi and Xilantai, both served as interpreters; and his great-great-grandson, Heiqi, also served as an interpreter. Other great-great-grandsons, Erge, served as scribes; Fengge served as a military officer; and Bage served as a military commander and lieutenant commander during the compilation of the genealogy. This shows that the position of interpreter appeared consecutively in Tiao Hai's descendants for several generations, but family members also engaged in clerical and military affairs.

"Surrendered during the Tiancong reign" only establishes the general scope of the surrender period; it cannot be used to pinpoint a specific year or action. While there are records of Tiao Hai serving as an interpreter, there is no evidence that he was ever sent as an envoy to a particular country, participated in specific negotiations, or was in charge of any official language. The position of Bagh's military commander and lieutenant commander was held by his great-grandson and cannot be mistakenly attributed to Tiao Hai.