Xia Deqiang

Overview

Xia Deqiang is an ancestor recorded in the Xia family entry of Volume 78 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, an official compilation of the Qianlong reign. He belonged to the Bordered Yellow Banner's bondservants and his family had lived in Shenyang for generations; the year of their submission is unknown. The original record states that his grandson, Wujiu, served as a scribe during the compilation, and Baochang was a warehouse keeper. "Wujiu" is placed in the surname position, not indicating age or number of positions held.

The Manchu official title of scribe is usually transliterated as *bithesi*, which can be colloquially interpreted as an official handling documents. *Bithe* refers to books or documents, and *bithei* is its genitive form with the *i* marker; the latter cannot be directly taken as a complete official title. In Qing dynasty government offices, scribes handled tasks such as copying, registering, organizing, or translating; the specific division of labor depended on the department. The original entry does not specify Wujiu's specific department.

The warehouse keeper was related to warehouse management. The "Draft History of the Qing Dynasty" distinguishes between the treasurer, deputy treasurer, and treasurer in institutions such as the Guangchu Division, indicating that the treasurer's title cannot be automatically changed to treasurer; and although they belong to the same category of treasury personnel, they do not necessarily have the same rank and management authority.