This paper was written with the purpose for grasping the overall situations and the features of Chinese novel which were translated into the Manchu language in Qing dynasty. The Manchu people became to have the new Manchu script(新滿文) since 1632 to improve the problems of the old Manchu script(老滿文, 1599). The translation of the Manchu script from the Chinese character had risen in prominence, because Manchurian rulers wholeheartedly accepted the Han Chinese culture and the system from the initial stages of administration.
Manchurian emperors set up the government department to take charge of translation work from Wenguan(文館) to Neisanyuan(內三院), Neke(內閣). Especially, The Kangxi emperor newly established the Neifanshufang(內飜書房) to take compete charge of translation work about in 1671. The Qing government created the Fanyike(飜譯科) in the civil service examination, and also appointed government officials to take charge of the interpretation and translation work, such as Qixinlang(啓心郞) and bitieshi(筆帖式). The advent of the Manchurian translation novels was related to the this historical background.
The Manchu language books were divided into handwritten(抄本) and printed editions(刻本). The printed editions were divided into Guanke(官刻) and Fangke editions(坊刻). The palace edition books of capital Beijing took the absolute parts among the Guanke editions, while provincial Guanke edition books occupied the small part. Fangke edition books were concentrated in Beijing. Fangke edition books were mainly translated into parallel translations in the Manchu and Han script(滿漢合璧). In addition, the most of publishers at that times published the Manchu language books as the secondary items.
According to my research, the Manchurian translation novels were about 48 volumes. About ninety percent were translated into the Manchu language, and ten percent were parallel translations in the Manchu and Han script. Historical novels and love stories about genius and beauty almost occupied 80 percent among them. Sidaqishu(四大奇書) were also very popular novels among the Manchu people. Sanguoyanyi were published in 1650 according to Dorgon's order. The rest three works were presumed to be translated in Kangxi years (1662-1722) in the early Qing dynasty.
In conclusion, Chinese novels translated into the Manchu language were not so many as we expected. Reader class of the Manchu language novels were restricted in Beijing’s qiren(旗人), who were composed of Manchu, Mongol, Han people. Nonetheless, the Manchurian translation novels opened up the way to transmit to the illiterate Manchu people by means of the Manchu traditional oral art like the ulabun(烏勒本), and paved the way to transmit to northern ethnic minorities such as Mongol, Xibo, Daur people within the Manchu language cultural area.