‘捐纳’ refers to a historical practice in imperial China—especially prominent during the Ming and Qing dynasties—where individuals could purchase official titles or government posts by making monetary or grain donations to the state treasury. The character 捐 (juān) means ‘to donate’ or ‘to contribute,’ while 纳 (nà) means ‘to submit,’ ‘to accept,’ or ‘to receive.’ Together, they form a compound noun denoting the formal act of submitting donations *in exchange for* bureaucratic rank or privilege.

This system was not part of the regular civil service examination pathway but served as an alternative route—often criticized for undermining meritocracy and encouraging corruption. It was typically used by wealthy merchants or gentry seeking social prestige or political influence without scholarly credentials. Though abolished in 1906 during the late Qing reforms, ‘捐纳’ remains important in historical texts, academic discussions of Chinese bureaucracy, and literary works set in imperial times.