Yao Jiming

Overview

Yao Jiming was a bondservant under the Plain White Banner during the Qing Dynasty. His family had lived in Xiangping for generations, but the year they submitted to the Qing Dynasty is unknown.

The official genealogy of the Manchu Eight Banners, *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, Volume 77, does not record his official position, but it does record that his great-grandson Erge served as an Assistant Minister, and Sele served as a Military Officer; his great-great-grandson Jibao served as a Secretary, Qingbao as an Assistant Minister, and Yongtai as a Prefect; and his fourth-generation descendant Shizhu served as a Clerk.

Secretaries, Assistant Ministers, and Clerks were respectively government officials and clerks, their duties depending on the specific government office. A Prefect was a local government official, and Yongtai's position should not be interpreted as an internal post within the Imperial Household Department.

A Military Officer was a military rank, distinct from the aforementioned clerks and local administrators.

The title "bondservant under the Plain White Banner" indicates Yao Jiming's family status and basic organizational structure, not that he himself was a bonder.

The original text does not list the departments where the Langzhong and Yuanwailang served, nor does it specify which prefecture Yongtai governed; therefore, specific achievements cannot be added.

Xiangping is an important old place name for locating this family, but this entry does not provide the era, administrative level, or precise scope.

Modern geographical correspondence will be added after verification by local gazetteers; until this issue is resolved, this entry will remain in a place name verification pending status.

The local prefect was a fourth-rank official, responsible for prefectural policies, governing subordinate counties, handling taxes and litigation, etc.; Langzhong, Yuanwailang, and Bitieshi were different levels of operational or clerical staff within the government office.

The Inner Palace Administration organized palace duties, while the bondservants and guards were responsible for security and escort.

The official titles of Yongtai, Jibao, Qingbao, Shizhu, and Sele listed by Yao Jiming's descendants are respectively associated with these institutional categories.