Xu Maoguan

Overview

Xu Maoguan was a member of the Plain White Banner under the jurisdiction of the Xu family 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 Liaoyang for generations, but the year of their submission is unknown. The original record states that his grandson, Xu Tianjue, served as an Assistant Secretary; his great-grandson, Jingwen, served as Treasurer during the compilation process; Xu Mengzhong served as a Secretary; and Gan Shou served as a Clerk.

Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries were official titles in government departments, established in central ministries and the Imperial Household Department. Their specific duties depended on the department they served in. The original record does not specify the departments Xu Tianjue and Xu Mengzhong belonged to, so it cannot be assumed they served in the same ministry, nor can a direct superior-subordinate relationship be inferred from their titles.

Treasurers were involved in the management of treasuries. The Imperial Household Department's Guangchu Division system distinguished between Treasurers, Deputy Treasurers, and Treasury Supervisors, and established different material warehouses. Jingwen's specific warehouse location is not recorded, so it is inappropriate to designate a silver or silk warehouse based on general regulations. The term "BiTieShi" is a transliteration of the Manchu word "bithesi," and its main function was to handle documents. The scope of work of Gan Shou and the duties of the treasurer should be explained separately.