THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
The great wall of china is known as “Wanli Changecheng” or “Wan-li Ch’ang- ch’eng” in Chinese, “The Great Wall of China” in English and French, and “the Chinese wall” in other European languages such as german. It is 21,196 km. or 13,171 miles long including those sections that were rebuilt, making it the longest wall in the world. Its ancient designed architecture has made it a spot of attraction for many tourists. It is present in northern China made a long time ago by Chinese emperors to protect their territory.
Historical Background
1. Early Walls:
These walls were constructed during the warring states period by the states of Qin, Wei, Zao, Qi, Han, Yan, and Zhongshan. These walls aimed to protect the territories from enemies. They were made of stones and earth and gravel which was a very difficult and time taking process. The first wall was constructed in 650BC. between the states of Lu and Qi which later becomes part of the Chu state wall.
2. The Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC)
About 220 BC, Qin Shi Huang who was the first emperor of China under the Qin dynasty ordered a combination of all the walls along the northern borders into a single strong wall. The wall covers 10,000 li (1 li = 1/3 of a mile). This task aimed to provide strong protection to northern China. This wall construction involved the death of 400,000 workers and most of the workers were buried inside the wall.
3. The Han Dynasty (206 BC — 220 AD)
Liu Xiu played a key role in the Han dynasty. He ordered to spread the Great Wall west to Yumen Pass and further. This wall was not only a territory for protection but it was also beneficial for trade and travel as it was protecting the silk trade route.
4. The Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)
This dynasty was the only one in which China was under the rule of the Mongols. The work on the great wall stopped during this period as the wall had no importance to Mongols. Genghis Khan was the inventor of this dynasty.
5. The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)
The great wall construction was almost completed during this period. The wall was known as Ming’s great wall. The hero general Qi Jiguang rebuild the great wall around Beijing.
6. Post Ming History (1644- Present)
After the Ming dynasty, the Qing (Manchu) dynasty replaced the Ming. They introduced a new ruling strategy which helped in repairing the Great Wall. Its main target was to stop Han Chinese from conquering Manchuria. This made the wall-less important for defense.
Importance Of The Great Wall
Today, the great wall is among the best architecture built in the entire world. In 1987, UNESCO rewarded the wall honor of a World Heritage site. The Badaling located northwest of Beijing (43 miles i.e 70 km.) is the tourist’s favorite spot of the wall, attracting thousands of tourists every day.
Conclusion
The Great Wall of China is more than 2,300 years old. About, 30% of the Ming’s great wall has vanished due to natural erosion and human damage. The Chinese have made laws to protect the wall and raised funds for its security and maintenance. The great wall is their symbol of identity, making them unique throughout the world.
If you have visited this famous tourist attraction or are willing to visit it, please share your thoughts in the comments below!