See here: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/mandarin http://www.dictionary.com/browse/mandarin The relevant definitions are 1. (in the Chinese Empire) a member

See here: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/mandarin http://www.dictionary.com/browse/mandarin The relevant definitions are 1. (in the Chinese Empire) a member of any of the nine ranks of public officials, each distinguished by a particular kind of button worn on the cap. 6. an influential or powerful government official or bureaucrat. It connotes a kind of bureaucratic meritocracy.