Lin Clan

Overview

The Lin surname appears in Volume 78 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners*, under the section on Nikan surnames within the Manchu Banners. One branch of Lin Shangzong belonged to the Plain Yellow Banner under the jurisdiction of a bondservant leader, residing in Fushun; the year of their submission is unknown. His grandsons Keyin and Sange served as sixth-rank officials, and Heshan as a scribe. His great-grandson Chengming served as Deputy Inner Banner Commander, Changzai as a third-class bodyguard, Baozhu and Liuzhu as scribes, and Wuge as stable master. His great-great-grandson Liushi served as Deputy Inner Banner Commander, and Guanyin Baozai served as a scribe when the genealogy was compiled.

Another branch of Lin Dafu belonged to the Plain Red Banner under the jurisdiction of a bondservant leader, residing in Shenyang. They submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. His great-great-grandson Lin Guangzai served as a sixth-rank official when the genealogy was compiled. These two branches belonged to different banners and ancestral homes; the original book listed them together under the title "Lin" without specifying their kinship.

The Deputy Inner Banner Commander was involved in personnel and material management within the Inner Banner system; the stable master was associated with stable management; and the third-class bodyguard belonged to the bodyguard rank. The title "Bitter" (BiTieShi) held by several descendants is a transliteration of the Manchu word "bithesi" (BiTieShi), which involved handling documents, copying, and translation. The titles of Keyin, Sange, and Linguang, all "sixth-rank officials," only specify their rank, not their specific job titles; the punctuation of their names, terms of office, and institutions still need to be verified against the original printed edition, and will not be supplemented based on the positions held by their relatives.