Jin Tang

Overview

Jin Tang is a member of the Plain Blue Banner bondservant family listed in Volume 77 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, an official compilation of the Qianlong reign. His family had lived in Shenyang for generations, but the year of their submission is unknown. The original record states that his great-grandson, Sektu, served as a scribe, and his fourth-generation descendant, Liushisan, served as a military officer during the compilation process. "Liushisan" is a personal name and cannot be interpreted as sixty-three officials or their age at office.

The title "Bithesi" is a transliteration of a Manchu official title, commonly written as "bithesi," which can be simply understood as a clerical official. Their work involved copying, registration, and matters related to both Manchu and Chinese writing, with specific tasks varying depending on the government office. The original record does not specify Sektu's official position, therefore, his translated or edited documents cannot be fabricated solely based on his title.

The military officer was a military rank within the military organization, and their duties differed from those of clerical personnel. During the Qing Dynasty, the Imperial Guards were responsible for guarding and protecting their entourage. The ordinary Eight Banners and the Bondservants system had different organizational structures. The original genealogy did not specify the 63rd battalion, so it is impossible to apply the rank of a certain institution to it, nor can one infer from the official title that the battalion participated in a specific battle.