Wu Shangli

Overview

Wu Shangli is a member of the Plain Yellow Banner (a bondservant class) listed in the Wu clan entry of Volume 77 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*. His family had lived in Shenyang for generations, and the year of their submission is unknown. He once served as a Tongzhi (assistant prefect). This book is an official clan genealogy compiled during the Qianlong reign, and this volume includes Han Chinese surnames within the Manchu banner system; the origin of the Wu family's Han surname and their banner affiliation need to be explained separately.

A Tongzhi was a local administrative official. In the prefectural-level organization, the Tongzhi was usually an assistant to the prefect, responsible for duties such as grain administration, salt administration, and bandit suppression. Wu Shangli's prefectural title, responsibilities, and term of office are not recorded; therefore, the institutional position of the official title can be explained, but his general duties cannot be attributed to his known personal achievements.

His son, Wu Jibai, served as a Langzhong (a mid-level official); his grandson, Wu Yunxing, served as a fourth-rank official; and his great-grandson, Sige, was a student. Langzhong was an official in the Ministry or the Imperial Household Department, responsible for handling official duties; the specific department was unclear. A fourth-rank official was only given a grade and could not be given a fixed title. Students were qualified within the school and imperial examination system, not as administrative officials, and could not be directly promoted to Juren or Jinshi.