Wang Yongsheng

Overview

Wang Yongsheng is recorded in Volume 75 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, under the entry for the Wang clan. He belonged to the Plain White Banner's bondservant bannermen, and his family had lived in Liaoyang for generations. The original book states that the year of his arrival is unknown, and it does not provide Wang Yongsheng's personal career details, but it does provide fairly detailed records of his family's civil service examinations and official positions, extending from his grandson to his fifth-generation descendant.

His grandson, Wang Jimin, served as a prefect, and Wang Huimin served as a principal clerk. His great-grandson, Wang Shende, served as an assistant minister when the genealogy was compiled; Wang Xide and Wang Hengde were both *juren* (successful candidates in the provincial civil service examination); and Wang Lingde served as a sub-prefect. His great-great-grandsons, Wang Tingxi and Chenzhu, were both *candidates* for sub-prefect; Yuzhu and Wang Tingdui were *juren*; and Wang Tingzuo served as a scribe. His fourth-generation descendant, Wang Chaobin, served as an eighth-rank official; Wuge served as a county magistrate; and Fubao served as a scribe. His fifth-generation descendant, Erge, served as an eighth-rank official; and Wang Rui and Wang Cong both served as military commanders.

This passage places the imperial examination status, actual official position, and candidate official position within the same family genealogy. Readers must distinguish that "Juren" does not necessarily mean that a person has already obtained an official position, and "candidate for Tongpan" does not mean that a person is currently presiding over a Tongpan office. Volume 75 does not specify the years of service of these people in different provinces, and the official positions of their descendants cannot be used as a record of Wang Yongsheng's own career.