Luo Clan

Overview

The Luo family is recorded under the name of Luo Yongsheng in Volume 74 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, specifically in the section on Nikan surnames within the Manchu banners. Luo Yongsheng belonged to the Plain Yellow Banner under the jurisdiction of the bondservant officials, residing in Shenyang for generations; the year of his submission is unknown. His son, Samuha, served as a scribe; his grandson, Dingzhu, was the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review at the time the genealogy was compiled; his great-grandson, Fuming, also served as a scribe; and Luo Gong was a hereditary official. This record details the different statuses of several generations of the same family.

The Court of Judicial Review was the central judicial institution of the Qing Dynasty, involved in reviewing criminal cases, with the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review as its chief official. Dingzhu's position therefore involved national judicial review; his work could not be limited to domestic duties simply because his ancestors were bondservant. Bondservant status indicated a specific affiliation within the banner, and members could hold positions in central government offices.

The scribes of Samuha and Fuming, whose titles correspond to the Manchu word *bithesi*, primarily handled official documents, copying, and translation. Luo Gong's status as a descendant of a family was a qualification obtained through the official positions or favors of his ancestors, not an officially appointed judicial or clerical position. The original genealogy did not specify Luo Yongsheng's official position, nor did it provide the terms of office for each person; the original names and complete lineages are pending verification, and the Luo family affiliation is retained according to the title.