The C 1s X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy for three C56 fullerene isomers and their chlorinated derivatives have been theoretically simulated by means of density functional theory (DFT). Compared with XPS, the NEXAFS spectra present remarkable dependence on the structures of all the studied molecules and thus can be used to identify the three C56 isomers and chlorinated species. The spectra of the chlorinated species present significant variations compared with the pristine fullerenes. The spectral components of carbon atoms of different local environment have been investigated as well. The spectra of carbons saturated by chlorine atoms exhibit a shift toward higher energies compared with the others.