History of the Great Wall of China (By Vimal Kodai)

History of the Great Wall of China

~ By Vimal Kodai ~

The Great Wall of China

Duke Qi Huangong began the initial phase of the construction of the Great Wall of China in 656 B.C. This was done in order to prevent invasions and attacks that were undertaken by people from other neighbouring states. Duke Qi Huangong (or, Duke Huan of Qi) ruled his kingdom in the state of Qi (nowadays, known as the Shandong Province). The attempt to secure his people from invading neighbouring people from states, such as, Chu State (found in the south of the state of Qi) were the prime objectives of this Duke. Duke Qi reigned from 685 to 643 B.C.

Initial Map of the Great Wall of China

Further to this initiation of Qi Huangong’s, princes and other reigning lords from other states continued with the construction of the wall in order to keep up with the idea of securing their people from invading neighbouring states. The wall extended gradually, but it was not until the 3^rd Century B.C that the real and main structural construction was pursued.

Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi

Statue of Qin Shi Huangdi

During the Qin Dynasty (221 to 206 B.C), China was at war with its fierce enemies from Mongolia; namely, the Mongols, and other nomad barbarians from tribes; such as: the Xiongnus, the Xianbeis and the Khitans. In the 3^rd Century B.C, China’s emperor, Qin Shi Huang (the very first ever Chinese Emperor) found that he had very few alternatives other than to build a fortification structure which would prevent those nomad barbarians from attacking his country.

Constructing The Great Wall of China

Forced Labour used in the process

Statue of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi

The land of the present and old day Mongolia where lived the nomads such as the Mongols, Xiongnus, Xianbeis and the Khitans—tribes and people whose land consisted mostly of desert (the Great Gobi Desert), led them to move southerly towards China. They were forcing into China while attempting to find a suitable habitat, but Qin Shi Huang was not going to let his people down and he made up his mind to maintain peace that reigned in the three northern states of Qin, Zhao and Yan.

Nomads attacking the Northern parts of China

 Map of The Great Wall of China during the Qin Dynasty

Map of China with all major attractions

Can The Great Wall be seen from the Moon? Answer: No, it can only be seen on radar pictures taken from space by satellites.

Some other features that are key to shaping the various dynasties of China

The Great Wall at various locations on the map of China

All the Provinces of China

The Great Wall of China with all the major dynasties that have helped shape it

Global atlas map of China (with The Great Wall in it)

Qin Shi Huang was the one who kept up with the construction of this wall which was initiated by Duke Huan of Qi. Emperor Qin would assure that such an attempt would be done with the usage of rammed earth in the construction of the wall, that forced labour would be used in the process, and that the erection of such a wall would protect the three northern states of Qin, Zhao and Yan.

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

The general who was in charge of the first constructions of the Great Wall, Meng Tian, said prior to the end of his days that the whole purpose of building this wall was not simply to prevent the intrusion of these barbarians, but the truth was actually more profound and in-depth that what was being conveyed to the people of China. The reality being that Qin Shi Huang used forced labour in the process of building the Great Wall. The construction workers who perished during the construction were buried inside the wall itself. And finally, Qin Shi Huang was involved in making sure that this wall was worthy of its cause, whereby it did not really fully protect his people in the end.  The Mongol, Xiongnu, Xianbei and Khitan tribes were quite successful in disturbing the peace in the northern states despite all the efforts of putting such a wall on the scope.

The broken parts of The Great Wall

 The broken parts of The Great Wall

 The broken parts of The Great Wall

 The broken parts of The Great Wall

The broken parts of The Great Wall

The General (Meng Tian) was himself very willing to conclude that the Great Wall of China was built on grounds that were not deservingly appropriate. The latter stated prior to being forced to committing suicide (after the death of his Emperor Qin Shi Huang) that the entire cause for building the Great Wall of China only served one objective; that was breaking the ties with mother earth while trying to spoil its beauty, and spilling the lives of thousands of construction workers in the attempt of doing so. However, the magnificence and wonder which the Great Wall of China displays today proves that some of its purposes were met.