Shen Clan

Overview

The Shen family is listed in Volume 79 of the *Comprehensive Genealogy of the Manchu Clans of the Eight Banners* under the section "Appendix: Surnames of the Tainikan within the Manchu Banners," with the Fengku branch mentioned at the beginning. Fengku belonged to the Plain Yellow Banner, residing in Liaodong for generations; the year of their submission is unknown. Their grandson, Shen Duli, served as an Assistant Minister; Chuoerdai as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel; Maisali as a scribe; and Shenbao as a principal. Their great-grandson, Xinzhu, served as a secretary; Xitai as a deputy commander; Seng'ele as an editor; and Changzhan as a treasurer.

Other descendants of this branch include scribes, principals, and officials of the eighth rank. The genealogy also includes another branch, the Shen Zhou of the Bordered White Banner, whose ancestors resided in Liaoyang and submitted to the Qing dynasty at the beginning of the dynasty. Their great-grandson, Jintai, served as a military officer; Serhudai served as a captain during the compilation of the genealogy; and Duolong'e served as a Qiduwei. This entry introduces the two branches recorded in this volume and does not represent the ancestral origins of the Shen surname nationwide.

The Ministry of Personnel was responsible for the selection, appointment, and evaluation of civil officials, with the Vice Minister being a deputy ministerial-level official. Compilers participated in the Hanlin Academy's historical and literary work, the Treasurer managed the treasury, and the Assistant Commander and Assistant Commander were banner officers in charge of management. The term "Bitter Hesi" is a transliteration of the Manchu word, responsible for handling official documents and translation. The "Tainikan" in the original title refers to compilation and classification; it should be understood in conjunction with banner records and not categorized as Han Chinese based on surname. The historical context of this term and its shared kinship with the two branches require further investigation.