Wei Clan

Overview

The Wei family is recorded in Volume 74 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* under the name of Shou'en, listed as a Nikan surname within the Manchu Banners. Shou'en belonged to the Plain Yellow Banner under the jurisdiction of a bondservant leader, residing in Shenyang for generations; the year of their submission is unknown. His great-grandson, Wushiyi, served as the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department; his great-great-grandson, Qingtai, served as an Inner Steward when the genealogy was compiled; Qingning was a sixth-rank official; Yubaozhu served as a Treasury Manager; and his fourth-generation descendant, Jiqing, served as a scribe.

Although Shou'en and Wushiyi did not explicitly place the Wei surname before their given names, the original book still included them under the Wei family title; their surname affiliation should be identified by referring to the title. The Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Department oversaw the supply of provisions to the imperial court and the administration of the inner court; the Inner Steward was responsible for the management of his subordinate duties, personnel, and supplies; and the Treasury Manager was involved in the specific storage and disbursement of the treasury. These three titles represent different levels of responsibility.

Jiqing's position as a scribe corresponds to the Manchu word *bithesi*, an official responsible for handling documents, copying, and translation. The "sixth-rank official" of Qingning only provides the rank, not the specific title. Family appointments were mostly related to the management of the inner palace, but the exact treasury and supervisor each person belonged to, as well as their specific term of office, still awaits verification from the archives. This article retains the generational titles and original personal names, and does not transfer all official positions to the names of ancestors.