Water-soluble chitosan oligomers with different molecular weight were prepared by a γ-ray degradation method. Effects of irradiation conditions on the chitosan degradation, molecular weight of the irradiated chitosan and yield of the water-soluble products were studied. ,G,d, value of the chitosan radiation degradation was calculated, and mechanisms of the degradation were discussed. Gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectrometry (UV-VIS) were applied to characterized and analyzed the degradation products. The results indicated that molecular weight of the degraded chitosan decreased remarkably and its chemical structure changed. It was considered that OH radical is vital to the radiation degradation of chitosan.