Xu Guopin

Overview

Xu Guopin is a member of the Plain White Banner (a bannerman belonging to the Manchu ethnic group) listed in Volume 77 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*. His family had lived in Shenyang for generations, but the year of their submission to the Manchus is unknown. The original record states that his son, Xu Yuanheng, served as a Qianzong (a military officer), his grandson, Xu Kejiu, served as an eighth-rank official, his great-great-grandson, Sun Tai, served as a military officer, and his fourth-generation descendant, Dingzhu, served as a Blue-Lanyard Guard at the time of compilation.

A Qianzong was a military rank in the Qing Dynasty, managing subordinate camps and outposts within the Green Standard Army. The rank of a Qianzong evolved over time, and Xu Yuanheng's specific camp and years of service are not recorded, making it impossible to determine his exact post based on general regulations. The "eighth-rank official" designation only indicates Xu Kejiu's rank, without specifying his duties, and cannot be used to classify him as either a civil or military officer.

A Blue-Lanyard Guard was a rank within the bodyguard system, listed separately from first, second, and third-rank bodyguards in the *Draft History of the Qing Dynasty*. Guards were responsible for shifts, guarding, and escorting, while the Guard School belonged to a separate Guard organization; Sun Tai and Dingzhu held different positions, and the blue feather insignia could not be interpreted as meaning that everyone who wore a blue feather was a guard.