Abstract: Meritorious service awards in the Qing dynasty were reward certificates that were issued to government personnel who rendered extraordinary service． The awards had five levels which were the first to the fifth level prior to the Jiaqing reign，and there were two types，the ordinary awards for military achievements and the special awards． The latter included the“charge”medal，the“forward”medal，the “carry flag forward “medal and the“naval war”medal． Beginning in the Jiaqing era，the medal ranks were in accord with the last five official ranks and the medals did not differ in kind． Medals changed in the material，size and other aspects in different periods of the Qing dynasty． Medals were issued to Eight Banners military officers and soldiers in the early Qing dynasty but they were issued to people from all circles in the later Qing dynasty． The Ministry of War conferred the medals before the Xianfeng reign．The power of awarding medals devolved from the central to the local authorities in the Qing dynasty． In addition，the Qing government gave medal winners preferences in pension for officers and soldiers and their families，promotion，corvee，and household registration．