Knowra Manchu language Manchu language Manchu is a Tungusic language historically spoken by the Manchu people and written with an alphabet derived from Mongolian script. It was the language of the Qing imperial court.
Tungusic languages : A language family of northeastern Asia that includes Manchu, Evenki, and related languages. Manchu belongs to this family, whose classification and internal relationships remain debated.
Jurchen language : A Tungusic language spoken by the Jurchen people, who established the Jin dynasty in northern China. Manchu developed from the Jurchen linguistic tradition and inherited an earlier writing system.
Qing imperial archives : The documentary collections produced by Qing institutions, including extensive records in Manchu and Chinese. Manchu-language memorials and registers preserve direct evidence of Qing administration.
Manchu-Chinese bilingualism : The use of both Manchu and Chinese in communication, administration, and scholarship during the Qing period. The dynasty’s multilingual institutions generated translation practices and bilingual records.
Mongolian language : A Mongolic language spoken primarily in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, written in several scripts. Its script supplied the model for Manchu writing, though the languages belong to different families.
Manchu alphabet : A vertical script adapted from the Mongolian alphabet to write the Manchu language. Its letter forms and diacritics distinguish Manchu writing from its Mongolian model.
Jurchen script : A script created for writing the Jurchen language, modeled partly on the Khitan large script. It preceded Manchu writing and reflects an earlier effort to record a Tungusic language.
Manchu studies : The scholarly study of Manchu language, literature, history, and documentary sources. Language knowledge enables research across a large corpus of Qing-era materials.
Imperial examination : A system of examinations used in imperial China to select officials through mastery of classical texts. Manchu versions and related examinations connected the language to Qing official training.
Chinese language : A group of related languages, including Mandarin, traditionally written with Chinese characters. Manchu and Chinese coexisted in Qing institutions but differ in language family and structure.
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