Cui Duo

Overview

Cui Duo appears in Volume 76 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, under the entry for the Cui clan. The original record states he was a bannerman of the Bordered Yellow Banner, and his family had lived in Liaoyang for generations; the year of their arrival is unknown. The genealogy explicitly states "originally a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)," indicating that Cui Duo himself obtained this status; however, it does not specify the year of the examination, his ranking in the palace examination, or his subsequent official position. Therefore, it is inappropriate to infer from his Jinshi qualification that he served as a county magistrate or other official.

His son, Cui Shouyi, was a Gongsheng (tribute student); his grandson, Cui Sheng, served as the Ningxia Circuit Intendant. His great-great-grandson, Cui Wushan, served as a Second-Class Imperial Guard, Commander-in-Chief, and Assistant Commander; his fourth-generation descendant, Sangge, served as a Military Commander; and his fifth-generation descendant, Cui Yuqi, served as an Eighth-Rank Treasury Manager at the time of compilation. Jinshi and Gongsheng represent different qualifications for the imperial examinations and officialdom, while Ningxia Circuit Intendant, Commander-in-Chief, Military Commander, and Treasury Manager were actual positions; these belonged to different generations and cannot be combined into a single account of Cui Duo's career advancement.

This passage is particularly helpful in explaining that members of the Eight Banners' bondservants and their branch could enter the imperial examination system, or hold military positions and positions in the inner court's treasury. However, this institutional background cannot replace Cui Duo's own biography; his birth year, death year, and specific examination year remain unreliable records.