Qin Clan

Overview

The Qin family has two branches recorded in Volume 78 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, listed under the Nikan surnames within the Manchu banner system. Qin Shijie was a bannerman of the Bordered Yellow Banner, residing in Shenyang. His grandson, Qin Zili, served as a scribe when compiling the genealogy. Qin Shide was a bannerman of the Plain White Banner, originally from the Changbai Mountains region. His grandson, Yifune, served as a leader of the archery corps; his great-grandson, Jilin, served as a stable master; and Laoge served as a commissioned official.

Among Qin Shide's descendants, his great-great-grandson, Guanyinbao, served as a scribe; Fuxing served as a military officer; Wujiu once served as a chant master; and his fourth-generation descendant, Zhaltai, also served as a scribe. The title of leader of the archery corps pertains to matters related to bows and arrows; the stable master is related to stable management; and the military officer is responsible for the basic management of the guards, corresponding to military equipment, horse herding, and the imperial guard, respectively.

The title "commissioned official" retains the nature of an acting appointment, while the chant master is an official responsible for ceremonial chanting and guiding rituals. The term "bithesi" is a transliteration of the Manchu word, and the scribes were responsible for document drafting, copying, and translation. The two branches of the Qin clan had different banner affiliations, administrative categories, and ancestral residences; the original genealogy did not record the year of their submission. The specific organizational structure of the leaders of the Beijian clan, the font used in the electronic version of the eulogy, the terms of office of each individual, and the complete genealogy are yet to be verified; a common ancestor is not currently being determined.