Abstract: The Imperial Translation Examination in the Qing dynasty was a special ladder of advancement for
bannermen． It was an institution that developed from both the Han Chinese governmental system and the
Manchu political tradition． Based on archival documents and histories，this essay examines how the
Imperial Translation Examination developed into a strict system and the role this system played in the
careers of Manchu and Mongolian officials． From a political and cultural perspective，this essay also
discusses the background in which the Imperial Translation Examination was shaped，and the relationship
between this system and political tendencies in the mid-Qing Dynasty．