请将下面这段话翻译成英文：

八旗

八旗是中国清代满族的社会组织形式，是清太祖努尔哈赤于明万历二十九年(1601年)正式创立，初建时设四旗：黄旗、白旗、红旗、蓝旗。1614年将四旗改为正黄、正白、正红、正蓝，并增设镶黄、镶白、镶红、镶蓝四旗，合称八旗。八旗制度共存在296年，曾为发展和巩固中国多民族的统一国家作出了重要贡献。

　　参考译文

Eight Banners

Eight Banners was the organizational framework of the Manchu society during the Qing Dynasty of China. It was officially created in 1601 by Nurhaci, chieftain of the Jurchens. Four banners were originally created: Yellow, White, Red, and Blue. By 1614, the original four banners had been split into Plain Yellow, Plain White, Plain Red, and Plain Blue, Bordered Yellow, Bordered White, Bordered Red, and Bordered Blue. These were collectively known as the Eight Banners. The system of Eight Banners lasts 296 years, and made important contributions to the development and consolidation of a unified and multi-ethnic China.

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