Great Wall of China: History and Purpose

• The Great Wall of China is an over 13,000-mile network of walls and fortresses in northern China.
• Emperor Qin Shi Huang envisioned it in the third century BCE to prevent incursions from barbarian nomads.

History of Construction

• The Great Wall is the world's longest wall and an ancient defensive building, offering spectacular sights across complex territory.
• The Great Wall is over 2,300 years old, dating back to the Autumn and Spring Period (770-476 BCE).
• The Great Wall was last reconstructed as a defensive structure during the Ming Dynasty from 1368–1644.

Warring States Period (475 BCE-221 BCE)

• Independent states built unconnected walls to defend their territories from enemies.
• The Chu State Great Wall or The Square Wall is an early, well-known structure from this time.

Qin Dynasty (221-207 BCE)

• Qin Shi Huang became the first emperor of unified China after defeating the other states.
• Qin Shi Huang ordered the linking of unconnected walls to form the first sections of the Great Wall.
• The wall was extended to keep the northern Huns away.
• The length built during this period was 3,107 miles.

Han Dynasty (202 BCE-220 CE)

• Emperor Gaozu rose to power after the death of Shi Huangdi, ending the Qin Dynasty.
• The Han Dynasty constructed further extensions and renovated existing sections like the Qin Dynasty Wall.
• The Han Dynasty Wall protected the ancient Silk Road and kept the Huns at bay.
• The length built during this period was 6,214 miles.

The Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589)

• Several dynasties rose after the unified Han Dynasty fell, causing chaos within the empire.
• The Northern Wei, Northern Qi, Eastern Wei, and Northern Zhou Dynasties built their own sections of the Great Wall to defend their territories.

Sui Dynasty (581-618)

• The Sui Dynasty emerged after the chaotic years of the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
• Emphasis was put on territory defense as northern nomadic tribes continued to be threats.
• Northern and southern walls were built, with about 2 million laborers working over 28 years.

Tang Dynasty (618-907)

• Little building occurred as the empire enjoyed peace.
• The length built during this period was 93 miles.

Song Dynasty (960–1279)

• The Song Dynasty was divided into two parts.
• The Northern Song rose after the Tang Dynasty but was in constant war against the Liao, Western Xia, and Jin Dynasties.
• Construction of The Great Wall continued but failed to stop the invasion of the Jin Dynasty, causing the fall of the Northern Song.
• Emperor Gaozu of Song reestablished the dynasty in Lin'an (now Hangzhou) as the Southern Song Dynasty.
• Due to a lack of finances, the Southern Song did not build defense lines on their claimed territory borders.

Jin Dynasty (1115-1234)

• The Jin Dynasty reigned powerfully in China's northeastern parts after the fall of the Song.
• The Jin Dynasty faced threats from the Western Xia and the Mongol Empire.
• The northernmost section of The Great Wall was constructed in 1194 as a line of defense.
• Construction was cut short by drought and objections from ministers.
• Building resumed in 1196 and was finished in three years.
• The Jin Dynasty Wall was 1,025 miles (1,650 kilometers) in length and included garrisons, beacon towers, fortresses, and ditches.

Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368)

• The Mongol Empire absorbed the Southern Song and the Jin Dynasties, the Western Xia, and other independent states in China.
• The unification of all these governments marked the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty.
• Due to its large territory and strong military power, few sections of the Great Wall were built during this period.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

• The Ming Dynasty was "The Great Wall's Golden Age," during which the Wall's history was at its peak.
• The Ming built 5,500 miles (8,851.8 kilometers) of the wall in defense against the Tartars, Jurchens, and other invading northern tribes during its 200-year reign.
• Ming emperors fortified the walls of previous dynasties by doubling and multi-lining them.
• Most of the Wall's popular sites today date back to this period.

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)

• The Ming Dynasty failed to stop the advancing cavalries of the Qing Dynasty established by the Manchu people from northeastern China.
• The Qing Dynasty Wall was known as the Willow Line, consisting of a deep trench with willows planted along it.
• The Qing Dynasty Wall was not a defense line but a means to stop the Han people from migrating into Northeast China and Inner Mongolia.

Location

• The Great Wall of China runs from west to east across northern China.
• The Great Wall encompasses the following provinces: Beijing, Tianjin, Liaoning, Jilin, Henan, Shandong, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, Hubei, and Qinghai.
• The Great Wall of China is 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi) long, half the equator.
• Information about the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, measuring 8,851 kilometers (5499 miles), was published in 2009 by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

How and Why It Was Built

• The Great Wall was constructed with foresight, commitment, blood, sweat, and tears.
• Families were split apart, and many workers died and were buried alongside the Wall.
  • Workers included troops, peasants, and insurgents.
  • Stone, earth, sand, and brick were the materials used.
  • Material distribution methods included hand, rope, wagon, and goat.
• The First Emperor of Qin built the northern walls to prevent northern kingdoms from invading during the Qin Dynasty.
• Emperors of the Han Dynasty extended the Great Wall to defend the Silk Road trade.

Structure

• The Great Wall of China was a military defense system.
• The Great Wall included watchtowers for surveillance, strongholds for command and logistics, and beacon towers for communications.
• The Great Wall was fortified and improved as construction techniques became more sophisticated during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
• The Ming Great Wall typically had battlements 1.8 meters (6 feet) high with loopholes, crenels, and parapet walls 1.2 meters (4 feet) high.
• Every 500 meters (1,640 feet) there would be a flanking tower along the Great Wall which allowed defenders to discharge arrows at attackers.
• Fortresses like Juyong Pass Fortress, Shanhai Pass Fortress, and Jiayu Pass Fortress were built at essential/vulnerable access points (passes).
• Forts had archery windows and gateways.
• Fortress gatehouses were the Wall's most potent and unassailable fortifications.

Significance

• The Great Wall is recognized as one of human history's most impressive architectural marvels.
• The Great Wall was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
• The idea that it is the only manmade structure visible from space evolved in the twentieth century.
• Roadways have cut through the Wall, and parts have deteriorated due to neglect.
• Badaling, the most well-known stretch of the Great Wall, is 43 miles (70 kilometers) northwest of Beijing.
• Badaling was reconstructed in the late 1950s and attracts thousands of national and international tourists daily.
• NASA has disproved the claim that The Great Wall is the only man-made structure visible from space.

Present Condition

• Natural erosion and human destruction have resulted in the loss of around 2,000 kilometers, or 30%, of the Ming Great Wall; the Great Wall from many past dynasties has vanished.

Restoration and Protection

• The Chinese government has taken precautions to prevent further damage.
  • Laws have been made to defend the Great Wall.
  • Protection, restoration, and upkeep funds have been established.
• Individuals can help protect the Great Wall.
  • Plant trees to guard the slopes against erosion.
  • Do not litter or leave graffiti; remove rubbish and graffiti.
  • Do not cause harm to the Great Wall or take bricks home (it is against the law).

Culture

• The Great Wall of China is a symbol of the country.
• The Great Wall demonstrates China's spirit of national pride, massive undertakings, determined opposition, architecture, and ingenuity.

Fun Facts

• Legends and myths arose during the Wall's building, such as Meng Jiangnu sobbing over the Wall.
• The tragic love story is set during the Qin Dynasty.
• Meng Jiangnu cried under the Wall for three days and nights.
• A 400-kilometer-long section of the Wall collapsed over her bitter wail, and she found her husband's corpse.
• The Great Wall is made from stone, rammed earth, and wood, as well as bricks, tiles, and limestone during the Ming Dynasty.
• Glutinous rice, or "sticky rice," was a component in the mortar recipe used for the walls.
• Sticky rice significantly contributed to the walls' endurance and strength.
• In recent times, China recognized the Wall as a symbol of its history and culture, unlike in ancient times.
• People held a negative view of wall construction due to the perilous and strenuous nature of the work involved.
• An estimated 400,000 workers died throughout the Wall's construction and repair.
• Today, the Great Wall of China measures 13,171 miles in length.
• Experts believe the Wall was longer during the Ming Dynasty.
• About 1,200 miles of the Wall have been destroyed since the Ming Dynasty.
• Experts predict that some standing portions will collapse by 2040 due to erosion and weathering.
• New portions of the Great Wall have been discovered as recently as 2012.
• Unearthed parts are said to be located in the northern part of China, on the borders of Mongolia.
• The Great Wall of China received recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
• In 2006, it was designated one of the New Seven Wonders of the World by the New7Wonders Foundation.
• The Great Wall traverses eleven provinces and encompasses two autonomous regions, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia.
• The wheelbarrow was invented in 200 BCE by Zhuge Liang in China.
• The wheelbarrow was used extensively during the construction of the Wall.

Explore the historical purpose, construction materials, and strategic importance of the Great Wall of China. Understand the role of watchtowers, fortresses, and architectural features in its design. Discover how different dynasties contributed to the wall's structural integrity.