Military Mandarin on the Sacred Way

Statue of a military mandarin on the Sacred Way There are six mandarin figures along the Sacred Way, three on each side. Two military mandarins with swords, two civilian mandarins holding tablets, and two retired mandarins.

Mandarin is a word coined by the British in the Nineteenth Century for high officials of the Chinese Empire. By extension it was also used for the northern Chinese language spoken by these officials, which was the language used in the Imperial Court and for state business throughout China. The name is still used for the language by English-speakers, although the word does not exist in Chinese.

This photograph was taken on a visit organised by Renmin University.