Wen Clan

Overview

The Wen family has three branches recorded in Volume 77 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, listed under the Nikan surnames within the Manchu banner system. Wen Shangyuan was a bondservant of the Plain Yellow Banner, residing in Shenyang. His grandson, Huang Ying, served as a *muchang* (herd-management head) during the compilation of the genealogy, and his great-grandsons, Ji Cheng and Ji Sheng, both served as scribes. Wen Deyou belonged to the Plain White Banner, also residing in Shenyang, and his grandson, Haise, served as a deputy *muchang* (herd-management head).

Another branch of the Wen family belonged to the Bordered Blue Banner, residing in Shenyang, and submitted to the Qing dynasty during the Tiancong era. His sons, Wen Jingrong and Wen Jingxing, both served as sixth-rank bondservant officials, and his grandson, Wen Xi, served as treasurer. Tiancong was the reign title used by Huang Taiji from 1627 to 1636; this branch submitted before the Qing dynasty entered the Central Plains.

Headsman and deputy *muchang* (herd-management head) were related to livestock herding and management, treasurer was responsible for treasury affairs, and head bondservant officials were involved in the management of personnel and corvée labor within the bondservant system. The original genealogy clearly records Wen Jingrong and Wen Jingxing as sixth-rank officials, and this rank should be retained instead of being rewritten according to later official systems. The term "BiTieShi" (bǐ tiē shì) corresponds to the Manchu word "bithesi," and their duties included document processing, copying, and translation. Although Huang Ying's name contains the character "Huang" (huáng), he is still listed below the Wen family's main branch of grandchildren; the form of his name, the kinship between the three branches, and his specific duties await verification of the original engraving.