Hu Clan

Overview

The Hu family is primarily recorded in Volume 74 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* through the Hu Hai family, listed under the Nikan surnames within the Manchu banner system.

Hu Hai was a bannerman of the Bordered Yellow Banner, residing in Shenyang. He was originally the General of Yanzhou Prefecture in Shandong during the Ming Dynasty, and after surrendering to the Qing Dynasty, he was granted the title of Third-Class Baron.

His title was first inherited by his son, Hu Wanming, then by Hu Guangyu and his younger brother, Hu Guangqian, before ceasing this inheritance due to his dismissal.

"General" was a military rank commanding an army of a garrison, while "Third-Class Baron" belonged to the Qing Dynasty's system of titles for meritorious officials of different surnames; the two respectively represented the actual official position and the title's status.

The order of inheritance in the genealogy describes the transfer of titles and ranks, and cannot be used to conflate every heir with the General of Yanzhou.

Other descendants of Hu Hai include Hu Shangbin, who served as an Assistant Minister and Commander-in-Chief; Hu Jinbin, who served as a County Magistrate; and his great-grandson, Hu Wenda, who served as a Principal Clerk.

Yuanwailang and Zhushi were administrative positions within government offices. The magistrate governed the county, and the zuoling managed the basic organizational structure within the banner system.

The banner system was a category of organization within the bondservants' system, and its members could not be interchanged with those of the separately established Han Chinese banner system based solely on their Han surnames.