THE GREAT WALL OF CHINESE
The colossal defensive structures known today as the “Great Wall of China” were built by those who, thousands of years ago, possessed technologies that we have not yet developed. And these were clearly not Chinese...
In China, there is another material evidence of the presence in this country of a highly developed civilization, to which the Chinese have no relation. Unlike the Chinese pyramids, this evidence is well known to everyone. This is the so-called Great Wall of China.
Let's see what orthodox historians have to say about this major architectural monument, which has recently become a major tourist attraction in China. The wall is located in the north of the country, stretching from the sea coast and going deep into the Mongolian steppes, and according to various estimates, its length, including branches, is from 6 to 13,000 km. The thickness of the wall is several meters (on average 5 meters), the height is 6-10 meters. It is alleged that the wall included 25 thousand towers.
A brief history of the construction of the wall today looks like this. The construction of the wall supposedly began in the 3rd century BC. during the reign of the Qin dynasty, to defend against raids by nomads from the north and clearly define the border of Chinese civilization. The initiator of the construction was the famous “gatherer of Chinese lands” Emperor Qin Shi-Huang Di. He gathered about half a million people for construction, which, considering the total population of 20 million, is a very impressive figure. Then the wall was a structure made mainly of earth - a huge earthen rampart.
During the Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), the wall was expanded to the west, reinforced with stone and a line of watchtowers was built that went deep into the desert. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the wall continued to be built. As a result, it stretched from east to west from the Bohai Gulf in the Yellow Sea to the western border of the modern Gansu province, entering the Gobi Desert. It is believed that this wall was built by the efforts of a million Chinese from bricks and stone blocks, which is why these sections of the wall have been preserved to this day in the form in which a modern tourist is already accustomed to seeing it. The Ming Dynasty was replaced by the Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), which did not build the wall. She limited herself to maintaining in relative order small area near Beijing, which served as the "gateway to the capital."
In 1899, American newspapers started a rumor that the wall would soon be demolished and a highway would be built in its place. However, no one was going to demolish anything. Moreover, in 1984, a program to restore the wall was launched on the initiative of Deng Xiaoping and under the leadership of Mao Zedong, which is still being carried out today, and is financed from Chinese and foreign companies, as well as individuals. It is not reported how much Mao drove to restore the wall. Several areas were repaired, and in some places they were completely rebuilt. So we can assume that in 1984 the construction of the fourth wall of China began. Usually, tourists are shown one of the sections of the wall, located 60 km northwest of Beijing. This is the area of Mount Badaling, the length of the wall is 50 km.
The wall makes the greatest impression not in the Beijing region, where it was built on not very high mountains, but in remote mountainous areas. There, by the way, you can clearly see that the wall, as a defensive structure, was made very thoughtfully. Firstly, five people in a row could move along the wall itself, so it was also a good road, which is extremely important when it is necessary to transport troops. Under the cover of the battlements, the guards could secretly approach the area where the enemies were planning to attack. The signal towers were located in such a way that each of them was within sight of the other two. Some important messages were transmitted either by drumming, or by smoke, or by the fire of fires. Thus, the news of an enemy invasion from the farthest frontiers could be transmitted to the center within a day!
During the restoration of the wall, interesting facts were discovered. For example, its stone blocks were held together with adhesive rice porridge with an admixture of slaked lime. Or that the loopholes on her fortresses looked towards China; that on the north side the height of the wall is small, much less than on the south, and there are stairs there. The latest facts, for obvious reasons, are not advertised and are not commented on in any way by official science - neither Chinese nor world. Moreover, when reconstructing towers, they try to build loopholes in the opposite direction, although this is not possible everywhere. These photos show the south side of the wall - the sun is shining at midday.
However, the strangeness with the Chinese wall does not end there. Wikipedia has a complete map of the wall, showing in different colors the wall that we are told everyone built Chinese dynasty. As we see, there is more than one great wall. Northern China is often and densely dotted with the “Great Walls of China”, which extend into the territory of modern Mongolia and even Russia. Light was shed on these oddities by A.A. Tyunyaev in his work “The Chinese Wall - a great barrier from the Chinese”:
“Tracing the stages of construction of the “Chinese” wall, based on the data of Chinese scientists, is extremely interesting. It is clear from them that the Chinese scientists who call the wall “Chinese” are not very concerned about the fact that the Chinese people themselves did not take any part in its construction: every time another section of the wall was built, the Chinese state was far from the construction sites.
So, the first and main part of the wall was built in the period from 445 BC. to 222 BC It runs along 41-42° north latitude and at the same time along some sections of the river. Yellow River. At this time, naturally, there were no Mongol-Tatars. Moreover, the first unification of peoples within China took place only in 221 BC. under the kingdom of Qin. And before that there was the Zhanguo period (5-3 centuries BC), in which eight states existed on Chinese territory. Only in the middle of the 4th century. BC The Qin began to fight against other kingdoms, and by 221 BC. conquered some of them.
The figure shows that the western and northern border of the Qin state by 221 BC. began to coincide with that section of the “Chinese” wall, which began to be built back in 445 BC. and was built precisely in 222 BC.
Thus, we see that this section of the “Chinese” wall was built not by the Chinese of the Qin state, but by its northern neighbors, but precisely from the Chinese spreading to the north. In just 5 years - from 221 to 206. BC - a wall was built along the entire border of the Qin state, which stopped the spread of its subjects to the north and west. In addition, at the same time, 100-200 km west and north of the first, a second line of defense against Qin was built - the second “Chinese” wall of this period.
The next period of construction covers the time from 206 BC. to 220 AD During this period, sections of the wall were built, located 500 km to the west and 100 km to the north of the previous ones... In the period from 618 to 907. China was ruled by the Tang dynasty, which did not mark itself with victories over its northern neighbors.
IN next period, from 960 to 1279 The Song Empire established itself in China. At this time, China lost dominance over its vassals in the west, in the northeast (on the Korean Peninsula) and in the south - in northern Vietnam. The Song Empire lost a significant part of the territories of the Chinese proper in the north and northwest, which went to the Khitan state of Liao (part of the modern provinces of Hebei and Shanxi), the Tangut kingdom of Xi-Xia (part of the territories of the modern province of Shaanxi, the entire territory of the modern province of Gansu and Ningxia-Hui autonomous region).
In 1125, the border between the non-Chinese Jurchen kingdom and China ran along the river. Huaihe is 500-700 km south of where the wall was built. And in 1141, a peace treaty was signed, according to which the Chinese Song Empire recognized itself as a vassal of the non-Chinese state of Jin, pledging to pay it a large tribute.
However, while China itself huddled south of the river. Hunahe, 2100-2500 km north of its borders, another section of the “Chinese” wall was erected. This part of the wall, built from 1066 to 1234, runs through Russian territory north of the village of Borzya next to the river. Argun. At the same time, 1500-2000 km north of China, another section of the wall was built, located along the Greater Khingan...
The next section of the wall was built between 1366 and 1644. It runs along the 40th parallel from Andong (40°), just north of Beijing (40°), through Yinchuan (39°) to Dunhuang and Anxi (40°) in the west. This section of the wall is the last, the southernmost and the deepest penetrating into the territory of China... At the time of the construction of this section of the wall, the entire Amur region belonged to Russian territories. By the middle of the 17th century, Russian fortresses (Albazinsky, Kumarsky, etc.), peasant settlements and arable lands already existed on both banks of the Amur. In 1656, the Daurian (later Albazinsky) voivodeship was formed, which included the valley of the Upper and Middle Amur on both banks... The “Chinese” wall, built by the Russians by 1644, ran exactly along the border of Russia with Qing China. In the 1650s, Qing China invaded Russian lands to a depth of 1,500 km, which was secured by the Aigun (1858) and Beijing (1860) treaties...”
Today the Chinese Wall is located inside China. However, there was a time when the wall marked the border of the country.
This fact is confirmed by ancient maps that have reached us. For example, the map of China by the famous medieval cartographer Abraham Ortelius from his 1602 geographical atlas of the world Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. On the map, north is on the right. It clearly shows that China is separated from the northern country - Tartaria by a wall.
The 1754 map “Le Carte de l’Asie” also clearly shows that the border of China with Great Tartary runs along the wall.
And even a map from 1880 shows the wall as China's border with its northern neighbor. It is noteworthy that part of the wall extends quite far into the territory of China’s western neighbor – Chinese Tartaria...
Interesting illustrations for this article are collected on the “Food RA” website...
Elena Lyubimova
WHO BUILT THIS WALL?
A group of British archaeologists, led by William Lindsay, managed to make a sensational discovery in the fall of 2011: a part of the Great Wall of China was discovered, which is located outside of China - in Mongolia.
The remains of this huge structure (100 kilometers long and 2.5 meters high) were discovered in the Gobi Desert, located in southern Mongolia. Scientists have concluded that the find is part of a famous Chinese landmark. The materials of the wall section include wood, earth and volcanic stone. The building itself dates back to between 1040 and 1160 BC.
Back in 2007, on the border of Mongolia and China, during an expedition organized by the same Lindsay, a significant section of the wall was found, which was attributed to the reign of the Han Dynasty. Since then, the search for the remaining fragments of the wall has continued, which finally ended in success in Mongolia. The Great Wall of China, let us remind you, is one of the largest architectural monuments and one of the most famous defensive structures of antiquity. It passes through Northern China and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
It is generally accepted that it began to be built back in the 3rd century BC. to protect the state of the Qin dynasty from the attacks of the “northern barbarians” - the nomadic Xiongnu people. In the 3rd century AD, during the Han Dynasty, construction of the wall was resumed and it was expanded westward. Over time, the wall began to collapse, but during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), according to Chinese historians, the wall was restored and strengthened. Those parts of it that have survived to this day were built mainly in the 15th – 16th centuries.
During the three centuries of the Manchu Qing dynasty (from 1644), the defensive structure became dilapidated and almost everything was destroyed, since the new rulers of the Celestial Empire did not need protection from the north. Only in our time, in the mid-1980s, did restoration of sections of the wall begin as material evidence ancient origin statehood in the lands of Northeast Asia.
Some Russian researchers (President of the Academy of Basic Sciences A.A. Tyunyaev and his like-minded person, honorary doctor of the University of Brussels V.I. Semeiko) express doubts about the generally accepted version of the origin of the protective structure on the northern borders of the state of the Qin dynasty. In November 2006, in one of his publications, Andrei Tyunyaev formulated his thoughts on this topic as follows: “As you know, to the north of the territory of modern China there was another, much more ancient civilization. This has been repeatedly confirmed by archaeological discoveries made, in particular, in Eastern Siberia. The impressive evidence of this civilization, comparable to Arkaim in the Urals, not only has not yet been studied and comprehended by world historical science, but has not even received proper assessment in Russia itself.”
As for ancient wall, then, as Tyunyaev claims, “the loopholes on a significant part of the wall are directed not to the north, but to the south. And this is clearly visible not only in the most ancient, unreconstructed sections of the wall, but even in recent photographs and works of Chinese drawing.”
In 2008, at the First International Congress “Pre-Cyrillic Slavic Literature and Pre-Christian Slavic Culture” in Leningrad state university named after A.S. Pushkin Tyunyaev made a report “China is the younger brother of Rus',” during which he presented fragments of Neolithic ceramics from the territory of the eastern part of Northern China. The signs depicted on the ceramics were not similar to Chinese characters, but showed an almost complete coincidence with the ancient Russian runic - up to 80 percent.
The researcher, based on the latest archaeological data, expresses the opinion that during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages the population of the western part of Northern China was Caucasian. Indeed, throughout Siberia, right up to China, mummies of Caucasians are being discovered. According to genetic data, this population had the Old Russian haplogroup R1a1.
This version is also supported by the mythology of the ancient Slavs, which tells of the movement of the ancient Rus in an eastern direction - they were led by Bogumir, Slavunya and their son Scythian. These events are reflected, in particular, in the Book of Veles, which, let us make a reservation, is not recognized by academic historians.
Tyunyaev and his supporters point out that the Great Wall of China was built similarly to European and Russian medieval walls, the main purpose of which was protection from firearms. The construction of such structures began no earlier than the 15th century, when cannons and other siege weapons appeared on the battlefields. Before the 15th century, the so-called northern nomads did not have artillery.
Based on this data, Tyunyaev expresses the opinion that the wall in eastern Asia was built as a defensive structure marking the border between two medieval states. It was erected after an agreement was reached on the delimitation of territories. And this, according to Tyunyaev, is confirmed by a map of the time when the border between Russian Empire and the Qing Empire passed precisely along the wall.
We are talking about a map of the Qing Empire of the second half of the 17th–18th centuries, presented in the academic 10-volume “ World history" That map shows in detail a wall running exactly along the border between the Russian Empire and the empire of the Manchu dynasty (Qing Empire).
On the map of Asia of the 18th century, made by the Royal Academy in Amsterdam, two geographical formations are indicated: in the north - Tartarie, in the south - China, the northern border of which runs approximately along the 40th parallel, that is, exactly along the wall. On this map the wall is marked with a thick line and labeled "Muraille de la Chine". Now this phrase is usually translated from French as “Chinese Wall”.
However, when translated literally, the meaning is somewhat different: muraille (“wall”) in a construction with the preposition de (noun + preposition de + noun) and the word la Chine expresses the object and belonging of the wall. That is, the “wall of China”. Based on analogies (for example, place de la Concorde - Place de la Concorde), then Muraille de la Chine is a wall named after the country that Europeans called Chine.
There are other translation options from the French phrase “Muraille de la Chine” - “wall from China”, “wall delimiting from China”. After all, in an apartment or in a house we call the wall that separates us from our neighbors the neighbor’s wall, and the wall that separates us from the street - outer wall. We have the same thing when naming borders: Finnish border, Ukrainian border... In this case, the adjectives indicate only the geographical location of the Russian borders.
It is noteworthy that in medieval Rus' there was a word “kita” - a tying of poles that were used in the construction of fortifications. Thus, the name of the Moscow district Kitai-Gorod was given in the 16th century for the same reasons - the building consisted of a stone wall with 13 towers and 6 gates...
According to the opinion enshrined in the official version of history, the construction of the Great Wall of China began in 246 BC. under Emperor Shi Huangdi, its height was from 6 to 7 meters, the purpose of construction was protection from northern nomads.
Russian historian L.N. Gumilyov wrote: “The wall stretched for 4 thousand km. Its height reached 10 meters, and watchtowers rose every 60–100 meters.” He noted: “When the work was completed, it turned out that everyone armed forces There won't be enough China to mount an effective defense on the wall. In fact, if you place a small detachment on each tower, the enemy will destroy it before the neighbors have time to gather and send help. If large detachments are placed less frequently, gaps will be created through which the enemy can easily and unnoticed penetrate into the interior of the country. A fortress without defenders is not a fortress.”
From European experience it is known that ancient walls more than several hundred years old are not repaired, but rebuilt - due to the fact that the materials also become tired over such a long time and simply fall apart. But in relation to the Chinese Wall, the opinion has been firmly established that the structure was built two thousand years ago and nevertheless survived.
We will not go into controversy on this issue, but simply use Chinese dating and see who built different sections of the wall and against whom. The first and main part of the wall was built before our era. It runs along 41–42 degrees north latitude, including along some sections of the Yellow River.
The western and northern borders of the Qin state only by 221 BC. began to coincide with the section of the wall built by this time. It is logical to assume that this site was built not by the inhabitants of the Qin kingdom, but by their northern neighbors. From 221 to 206 BC A wall was built along the entire border of the Qin state. In addition, at the same time, a second line of defense was built 100–200 km west and north of the first wall - another wall.
It certainly could not have been built by the Qin kingdom, since it did not control these lands at that time.
During the Han Dynasty (from 206 BC to 220 AD), sections of the wall were built 500 km west and 100 km north of the previous ones. Their location corresponded to the expansion of territories controlled by this state. It is very difficult to say today who built these protective structures – southerners or northerners. From the point of view traditional history- a state of the Han Dynasty, which sought to protect itself from the warlike northern nomads.
In 1125, the border between the Jurchen kingdom and China passed along the Yellow River - this is 500-700 kilometers south of the location of the built wall. And in 1141, a peace treaty was signed, according to which the Chinese Song Empire recognized itself as a vassal of the Jurchen state of Jin, pledging to pay it a large tribute.
However, while the lands of China proper were located south of the Yellow River, another section of the wall was erected 2,100–2,500 kilometers north of its borders. This part of the wall, built from 1066 to 1234, runs through Russian territory north of the village of Borzya next to the Argun River. At the same time, another section of the wall was built 1,500–2,000 kilometers north of China, located along the Greater Khingan.
But if only hypotheses can be put forward on the topic of the nationality of the builders of the wall due to the lack of reliable historical information, then the study of the style in the architecture of this defensive structure allows us, it seems, to make more accurate assumptions.
The architectural style of the wall, now located in China, is imprinted with the “handprints” of its creators by the construction features. Elements of the wall and towers, similar to fragments of the wall, in the Middle Ages can only be found in the architecture of ancient Russian defensive structures of the central regions of Russia - “northern architecture”.
Andrey Tyunyaev proposes to compare two towers - from the Chinese Wall and from the Novgorod Kremlin. The shape of the towers is the same: a rectangle, slightly narrowed at the top. From the wall there is an entrance leading into both towers, covered with a round arch made of the same brick as the wall with the tower. Each of the towers has two upper “working” floors. On the first floor of both towers there are round-arched windows. The number of windows on the first floor of both towers is 3 on one side and 4 on the other. The height of the windows is approximately the same - about 130–160 centimeters.
There are loopholes on the top (second) floor. They are made in the form of rectangular narrow grooves approximately 35–45 cm wide. The number of such loopholes in the Chinese tower is 3 deep and 4 wide, and in the Novgorod one - 4 deep and 5 wide. On the top floor of the “Chinese” tower there are square holes along its very edge. There are similar holes in the Novgorod tower, and the ends of the rafters sticking out of them, on which the wooden roof is supported.
The situation is the same in comparing the Chinese tower and the tower of the Tula Kremlin. The Chinese and Tula towers have the same number of loopholes in width - there are 4 of them. And the same number of arched openings - 4 each. On the upper floor between the large loopholes there are small ones - in the Chinese and in the Tula towers. The shape of the towers is still the same. The Tula tower, like the Chinese one, uses white stone. The vaults are made in the same way: at the Tula one there are gates, at the “Chinese” one there are entrances.
For comparison, you can also use the Russian towers of the Nikolsky Gate (Smolensk) and the northern fortress wall of the Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky, 16th century), as well as the tower in Suzdal (mid-17th century). Conclusion: design features The towers of the Chinese Wall reveal almost exact analogies among the towers of Russian Kremlins.
Nikolsky Gate towers (Smolensk)
What does a comparison of the surviving towers of the Chinese city of Beijing with the medieval towers of Europe say? The fortress walls of the Spanish city of Avila and Beijing are very similar to each other, especially in the fact that the towers are located very often and have practically no architectural adaptations for military needs. The Beijing towers have only an upper deck with loopholes, and are laid out at the same height as the rest of the wall.
Neither the Spanish nor the Beijing towers show such a high similarity with the defensive towers of the Chinese Wall, as do the towers of Russian kremlins and fortress walls. And this is something for historians to think about.
“A long wall of 10,000 li” is what the Chinese themselves call this miracle of ancient engineering. For a huge country with a population of almost one and a half billion, it has become a source of national pride, a calling card that attracts travelers from all over the world. Today, the Great Wall of China is one of the most popular attractions - approximately 40 million people visit it every year. In 1987, the unique site was included by UNESCO in the list of world cultural heritage.
Local residents also like to repeat that anyone who does not climb the wall is not a real Chinese. This phrase, uttered by Mao Zedong, is perceived as a real call to action. Despite the fact that the height of the structure is approximately 10 meters with a width of 5-8 m in different areas (not to mention the not very comfortable steps), there are no fewer foreigners who want to feel like true Chinese, at least for a moment. In addition, from above, a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area opens up, which you can admire endlessly.
You can’t help but wonder how harmoniously this creation of human hands fits into the natural landscape, forming a single whole with it. The solution to the phenomenon is simple: the Great Wall of China was not laid across desert terrain, but next to hills and mountains, spurs and deep gorges, smoothly bending around them. But why did the ancient Chinese need to build such a large and extensive fortification? How did the construction proceed and how long did it last? These questions are asked by everyone who has been lucky enough to visit here at least once. Researchers have long ago received answers to them, and we will dwell on the rich historical past of the Great Wall of China. It itself leaves tourists with an ambiguous impression, since some areas are in excellent condition, while others are completely abandoned. Only this circumstance in no way detracts from the interest in this object - rather, on the contrary.
History of the construction of the Great Wall of China
In the 3rd century BC, one of the rulers of the Celestial Empire was Emperor Qing Shi Huang. His era fell on the Warring States period. It was a difficult and contradictory time. The state was threatened from all sides by enemies, especially the aggressive Xiongnu nomads, and it needed protection from their treacherous raids. Thus was born the decision to build an impregnable wall - high and extensive, so that no one could disturb the peace of the Qin Empire. At the same time, this structure was supposed to, in modern terms, demarcate the boundaries of the ancient Chinese kingdom and contribute to its further centralization. The wall was also intended to solve the issue of “purity of the nation”: by fencing off the barbarians, the Chinese would be deprived of the opportunity to enter into marriage relations with them and have children together.
The idea of building such a grandiose border fortification was not born out of the blue. There were already precedents. Many kingdoms - for example, Wei, Yan, Zhao and the already mentioned Qin - tried to build something similar. The State of Wei built its wall around 353 BC. BC: the adobe structure divided it with the Qin kingdom. Later, this and other border fortifications were connected to each other, and they formed a single architectural ensemble.
Construction of the Great Wall of China began along Yingshan, a mountain system in Inner Mongolia, in northern China. The emperor appointed commander Meng Tian to coordinate its progress. There was a lot of work to be done. Previously built walls had to be strengthened, connected with new sections and extended. As for the so-called “internal” walls, which served as boundaries between individual kingdoms, they were simply demolished.
The construction of the first sections of this grandiose object took a total of a decade, and the construction of the entire Great Wall of China lasted for two millennia (according to some evidence, even as much as 2,700 years). At its different stages, the number of people simultaneously involved in the work reached three hundred thousand. In total, the authorities attracted (or rather, forced) about two million people to join them. These were representatives of many social strata: slaves, peasants, and military personnel. The workers worked in inhumane conditions. Some died from overwork as such, others became victims of severe and incurable infections.
The terrain itself was not conducive to comfort, at least relative. The structure ran along the mountain ranges, skirting all the spurs extending from them. The builders moved forward, overcoming not only high climbs, but also many gorges. Their sacrifices were not in vain - at least from the perspective of today: it was precisely this landscape of the area that determined the unique appearance of the miracle structure. Not to mention its size: on average, the height of the wall reaches 7.5 meters, and this does not take into account the rectangular teeth (with them the entire 9 m is obtained). Its width is also uneven - at the bottom 6.5 m, at the top 5.5 m.
The Chinese commonly call their wall " earth dragon" And it is by no means accidental: at the very beginning, any materials were used during its construction, primarily compacted earth. It was done like this: first, shields were woven from reeds or twigs, and between them clay, small stones and other available materials were pressed in layers. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang got down to business, they began to use more reliable stone slabs, which were laid close to each other.
Surviving sections of the Great Wall of China
However, it was not only the variety of materials that determined the heterogeneous appearance of the Great Wall of China. The towers also make it recognizable. Some of them were built even before the wall itself appeared, and were built into it. Other elevations appeared simultaneously with the stone “border”. It is not difficult to determine which ones were before and which ones were built after: the first ones have a smaller width and are located at unequal distances, while the second ones fit organically into the building and are exactly 200 meters apart from each other. They were usually built rectangular, on two floors, equipped with upper platforms with loopholes. Observation of enemy maneuvers, especially when they were advancing, was carried out from signal towers located here on the wall.
When the Han Dynasty, which ruled from 206 BC to 220 AD, came to power, the Great Wall of China was expanded westward to Dunhuang. During this period, the object was equipped with a whole line of watchtowers that went deep into the desert. Their purpose was to protect caravans with goods, which often suffered from raids by nomads. Most of the sections of the wall that have survived to this day were built during the Ming Dynasty, which ruled from 1368 to 1644. They were built mainly from more reliable and durable materials– stone blocks and bricks. Over the three centuries of the reign of the said dynasty, the Great Wall of China “grew” significantly, stretching from the coast of the Bohai Gulf (Shanhaiguan outpost) to the borderland of modern Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Okrug and Gansu Province (Yumenguan Outpost).
Where does the wall begin and end?
Man-made border Ancient China originates in the north of the country, in the city of Shanghai-guan, located on the shores of the Bohai Bay of the Yellow Sea, which once had strategic importance on the borders of Manchuria and Mongolia. This is the easternmost point of the 10,000 Li Long Wall. The Laoluntou Tower is also located here, it is also called the “dragon’s head”. The tower is also notable for the fact that it is the only place in the country where the Great Wall of China is washed by the sea, and it itself goes as much as 23 meters into the bay.
The westernmost point of the monumental structure is located in the vicinity of the city of Jiayuguan, in the central part of the Celestial Empire. Here the Great Wall of China remains in the best possible way. This site was built back in the 14th century, so it also might not stand the test of time. But it survived due to the fact that it was constantly strengthened and repaired. The westernmost outpost of the empire was built near Mount Jiayuoshan. The outpost was equipped with a moat and walls - internal and semicircular external. There are also main gates located on the western and eastern sides of the outpost. The Yuntai Tower stands proudly here, considered by many almost as a separate attraction. Inside, Buddhist texts and bas-reliefs of ancient Chinese kings are carved on the walls, which arouse the constant interest of researchers.
Myths, legends, interesting facts
For a long time it was believed that the Great Wall of China could be seen from space. Moreover, this myth was born long before flights into low-Earth orbit, in 1893. This is not even an assumption, but a statement made by The Century magazine (USA). Then they returned to this idea in 1932. The then famous showman Robert Ripley claimed that the structure could be seen from the moon. With the advent of the era of space flight, these claims were generally refuted. According to NASA experts, the object is barely visible from orbit, from which it is approximately 160 km from the Earth's surface. The wall, and then with the help of strong binoculars, was able to be seen by the American astronaut William Pogue.
Another myth takes us directly back to the construction of the Great Wall of China. An ancient legend says that powder prepared from human bones was allegedly used as a cementing solution that held the stones together. There was no need to go far to get the “raw materials” for it, given that many workers died here. Fortunately, this is just a legend, albeit a creepy one. The ancient masters actually prepared the adhesive solution from powder, but the base of the substance was ordinary rice flour.
There is a legend that a large fiery Dragon paved the way for the workers. He indicated in which areas the wall should be built, and the builders steadily followed in his footsteps. Another legend tells of a farmer's wife named Meng Jing Nu. Having learned about the death of her husband during construction, she came there and began to cry inconsolably. As a result, one of the plots collapsed, and the widow saw the remains of her loved one underneath, which she was able to take and bury.
It is known that the wheelbarrow was invented by the Chinese. But few people know that they were prompted to do this by the beginning of the construction of a grandiose project: the workers needed a convenient device with which they could transport building materials. Some sections of the Great Wall of China, which were of exceptional strategic importance, were surrounded by protective ditches, filled with water or left in the form of ditches.
Great Wall of China in winter
Sections of the Great Wall of China
Several sections of the Great Wall of China are open to tourists. Let's talk about some of them.
The outpost closest to Beijing, the modern capital of the People's Republic of China, is Badaling (it is also one of the most popular). It is located north of the Juyunguan Pass and only 60 km from the city. It was built during the era of the ninth Chinese emperor, Hongzhi, who reigned from 1487 to 1505. Along this section of the wall there are signal platforms and watchtowers, which offer a magnificent view if you climb to its highest point. At this location, the height of the object reaches an average of 7.8 meters. The width is sufficient for 10 pedestrians to pass or 5 horses to pass.
Another outpost quite close to the capital is called Mutianyu and is located 75 km from it, in Huairou, a city subordinate area of Beijing. This site was built during the reign of Emperors Longqing (Zhu Zaihou) and Wanli (Zhu Yijun), who belonged to the Ming Dynasty. At this point the wall takes a sharp turn towards the north-eastern regions of the country. The local landscape is mountainous, there are many steep slopes and cliffs. The outpost is notable for the fact that at its southeastern end three branches of the “great stone border” come together, and at a height of 600 meters.
One of the few areas where the Great Wall of China has been preserved almost in its original form is Symatai. It is located in the village of Gubeikou, which is 100 km northeast of Miyun County, which belongs to the municipality of Beijing. This section stretches for 19 km. In its southeastern part, impressive with its inaccessible appearance even today, there are partially preserved observation towers (14 in total).
The steppe section of the wall originates from the Jinchuan Gorge - it is east of the county town of Shandan, in Zhangye County, Gansu Province. In this place, the structure stretches for 30 km, and its height varies between 4-5 meters. In ancient times, the Great Wall of China was supported on both sides by a parapet that has survived to this day. The gorge itself deserves special attention. At a height of 5 meters, if you count from its bottom, several carved hieroglyphs can be seen right on the rocky cliff. The inscription translates as "Jinchuan Citadel".
In the same Gansu province, north of the Jiayuguan outpost, at a distance of only 8 km, there is a steep section of the Great Wall of China. It was built during the Ming Empire. It received this appearance due to the specifics of the local landscape. The bends of the mountainous terrain, which the builders were forced to take into account, “lead” the wall to a steep descent straight into the crevice, where it runs smoothly. In 1988, Chinese authorities restored this site and opened it to tourists a year later. From the watchtower there is a magnificent panorama of the surroundings on both sides of the wall.
A steep section of the Great Wall of China
The ruins of the Yanguan outpost are located 75 km southwest of the city of Dunhuang, which in ancient times served as the gateway to the Celestial Empire on the Great Silk Road. In ancient times, the length of this section of the wall was approximately 70 km. Here you can see impressive piles of stones and earthworks. All this leaves no doubt: there were at least a dozen sentinel and signal towers here. However, they have not survived to this day, except for the signal tower north of the outpost, on Mount Dundong.
The section known as the Wei Wall originates in Chaoyuandun (Shaanxi Province), located on the west coast of the Changjian River. Not far from here is the northern spur of one of the five sacred mountains of Taoism - Huashan, which belongs to the Qinling Range. From here, the Great Wall of China moves towards the northern regions, as evidenced by its fragments in the villages of Chennan and Hongyan, of which the first is best preserved.
Measures to preserve the wall
Time has not been kind to this unique architectural object, which many call the eighth wonder of the world. The rulers of the Chinese kingdoms did everything in their power to counteract the destruction. However, from 1644 to 1911 - the period of the Manchu Qing dynasty - Great Wall was practically abandoned and suffered even greater destruction. Only the Badaling section was maintained in order, and that was because it was located near Beijing and was considered the “front gate” to the capital. History, of course, does not tolerate the subjunctive mood, but if not for the betrayal of the commander Wu Sangui, who opened the gates of the Shanhaiguan outpost to the Manchus and let the enemy through, the Ming dynasty would not have fallen, and the attitude towards the wall would have remained the same - careful.
Deng Xiaoping, the founder of economic reforms in the PRC, paid great attention to preserving the country's historical heritage. It was he who initiated the restoration of the Great Wall of China, the program of which started in 1984. It was financed from the most different sources, including funds from foreign business structures and donations from individuals. To raise money in the late 80s, an art auction was even held in the capital of the Celestial Empire, the progress of which was widely covered not only in the country itself, but also by leading television companies in Paris, London and New York. A lot of work was done with the proceeds, but sections of the wall remote from tourist centers are still in poor condition.
On September 6, 1994, the Great Wall of China Thematic Museum was inaugurated in Badaling. Behind the building, which resembles a wall with its appearance, she herself is located. The institution is designed to popularize the great historical and cultural heritage of this, without exaggeration, unique architectural object.
Even the corridor in the museum is stylized like it - it is distinguished by its tortuousness, along its entire length there are “passages”, “signal towers”, “fortresses”, etc. The excursion makes you feel as if you are traveling along the real Great Wall of China: it’s so here everything is thought out and realistic.
Note to tourists
On the Mutianyu section, the longest of the fully restored fragments of the wall, located 90 km north of the capital of the People's Republic of China, there are two funiculars. The first is equipped with closed cabins and is designed for 4-6 people, the second is an open lift, similar to ski lifts. Those suffering from acrophobia (fear of heights) are better off not taking risks and prefer a walking tour, which, however, is also fraught with difficulties.
Climbing the Great Wall of China is quite easy, but descending can turn into real torture. The fact is that the height of the steps is not the same and varies between 5-30 centimeters. You should go down them with extreme care and it is advisable not to stop, because after a pause it is much more difficult to resume the descent. One tourist even calculated: climbing the wall at its lowest section involves climbing 4 thousand (!) steps.
Time to visit, how to get to the Great Wall of China
Excursions to the Mutianyu site from March 16 to November 15 are held from 7:00 to 18:00, in other months - from 7:30 to 17:00.
The Badaling site is open to visitors from 6:00 to 19:00 in summer and from 7:00 to 18:00 in winter.
You can get acquainted with the Symatai site in November-March from 8:00 to 17:00, in April-November - from 8:00 to 19:00.
A visit to the Great Wall of China is provided both as part of excursion groups and on an individual basis. In the first case, tourists are delivered by special buses, which usually depart from Beijing's Tiananmen Square, Yabaolu and Qianmen streets; in the second, curious travelers are offered public transport or a private car with a driver hired for the whole day.
The first option is suitable for those who find themselves in the Celestial Empire for the first time and do not know the language. Or, on the contrary, those who know the country and speak Chinese, but at the same time want to save money: group excursions are relatively inexpensive. But there are also costs, namely the significant duration of such tours and the need to focus on other members of the group.
Public transport to get to the Great Wall of China is usually used by those who know Beijing well and speak and read at least a little Chinese. A trip by regular bus or train will cost less than even the most attractively priced group tour. There is also time savings: a self-guided tour will allow you not to be distracted, for example, by visiting numerous souvenir shops, where guides love to take tourists in the hope of earning their commissions from sales.
Renting a driver with a car for the whole day is the most comfortable and flexible way get to the section of the Great Wall of China that you choose yourself. The pleasure is not cheap, but it is worth it. Wealthy tourists often book a car through the hotel. You can simply catch one on the street, like an ordinary taxi: this is how many residents of the capital earn money, readily offering their services to foreigners. Just don’t forget to get the driver’s phone number or take a photo of the car itself, so you don’t have to look for it for a long time if the person leaves or drives off somewhere before you return from the excursion.
The Great Wall of China is also called " Long wall". Its length is 10 thousand li, or more than 20 thousand kilometers, and in order to reach its height, a dozen people must stand on each other's shoulders... It is compared to a writhing dragon, stretching from the Yellow Sea to the Tibetan Mountains. There is no other place on earth one similar structure.
Temple of Heaven: Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing
Construction of the Great Wall of China begins
According to the official version, construction began during the Warring States period (475-221 BC), under Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, in order to protect the state from the attacks of the Xiongnu nomads, and lasted ten years. About two million people built the wall, which then amounted to a fifth of the total population of China. Among them were people of various classes - slaves, peasants, soldiers... The construction was supervised by the commander Meng Tian.
Legend has it that the emperor himself rode on a magical white horse, plotting the route for the future structure. And where his horse stumbled, then a watchtower was erected... But this is just a legend. But the story about the dispute between the Master and the official looks much more plausible.
The fact is that the construction of such a huge building required talented builders. There were plenty of them among the Chinese. But one was especially distinguished by his intelligence and ingenuity. He was so skilled in his craft that he could accurately calculate how many bricks were needed for such a construction...
The imperial official, however, doubted the Master's ability and set a condition. If, they say, the Master makes a mistake by only one brick, he himself will install this brick on the tower in honor of the craftsman. And if the mistake amounts to two bricks, then let him blame his arrogance - severe punishment will follow...
A lot of stones and bricks were used for the construction. After all, in addition to the wall, watchtowers and gate towers also rose. There were about 25 thousand of them along the entire route. So, on one of these towers, which is located near the famous ancient Silk Road, you can see a brick, which, unlike the others, noticeably protrudes from the masonry. They say this is the same one that the Official promised to lay in honor of the skilled Master. Consequently, he escaped the promised punishment.
The Great Wall of China is the longest cemetery in the world
But even without any punishment, so many people died during the construction of the Wall that this place began to be called “the longest cemetery in the world.” The entire construction route was covered with the bones of the dead. In total, experts say, there are about half a million of them. The reason was poor working conditions.
According to legend, she tried to save one of these unfortunate people loving wife. She hurried to him with warm clothes for the winter. Having learned on the spot about the death of her husband, Meng - that was the woman’s name - began to cry bitterly, and from the profuse tears her part of the wall collapsed. And then the emperor himself intervened. Either he was afraid that the whole Wall would crawl from the woman’s tears, or he liked the beautiful widow in her sadness - in a word, he ordered to take her to his palace.
And she seemed to agree at first, but it turned out only in order to be able to bury her husband with dignity. And then faithful Meng committed suicide by throwing herself into a stormy stream... And how many more such deaths have happened? However, is there a record of victims when great state affairs are accomplished...
And there was no doubt that such a “fence” was an object of great national importance. According to historians, the wall not only protected the great “Celestial Middle Empire” from nomads, but rather guarded the Chinese themselves so that they would not flee from their dear fatherland... They say that the greatest Chinese traveler Xuanzang had to climb over the wall, stealthily, in the middle of the night, under a hail of arrows from the border guards...
History hid the real creators of the Great Wall of China for many years. Find out about them today!
Some architectural structures inspire horror and awe of ancient civilizations at the same time. For example, the Great Wall of China, the construction of which began in the 3rd century BC. and finally completed in 1644. Scientists are still arguing about the purpose of the largest ancient monument in Asia. A few years ago, the craziest of theories unexpectedly received historical confirmation. It turns out that the Chinese arrogated to themselves the right to be called the builders of the Great Wall of China, taking it away from the ancient Slavs.
Why is the official version of building a wall unviable?
The generally accepted view, which can still be found in any history textbook, states that the first sections of the wall were built in 475-221 BC. It took at least a million people to build a reliable fortification from stone blocks. After the Qin dynasty came to power, the stone was partially replaced by adobe structures: each new ruler completed, modified and connected new sections of the wall. The main stage of construction, according to classical history, took at least 10-20 years. Tens of thousands of people died from hunger, poor sanitation and epidemics viral diseases. From 1366 to 1644, the Ming Dynasty repaired the collapsed sections of the wall, replacing them with more inexpensive bricks.
The historians themselves have proven only the last fact, because the clerks of the Chinese Ming emperors kept records of the materials spent during construction. The rest of the legend about the creation of the Great Wall of China looks like nothing more than a beautiful myth created to intimidate the enemies of a powerful country. At the time of construction, such a large number of people could not live in this area that would meet the needs of a large-scale construction.
The architecture of the wall is similar to the fortifications of Europe and Slavic siege walls - but the Chinese builders could not have known about the technology of their creation. And if earlier this assumption looked like just another version, today you can find more than one significant evidence for it.
The real story of the Great Wall of China, which was hidden for many centuries
For the first time, the assumption that the wall was not built by the Chinese, but by someone else, was expressed in several scientific journals at once in 2011. One of them included a comment from the President of the Academy of Basic Sciences A.A. Tyunyaev, who shared his thoughts about the true origin of the creators of the architectural monument:
“As you know, to the north of the territory of modern China there was another, much more ancient civilization. This has been repeatedly confirmed by archaeological discoveries made, in particular, in Eastern Siberia. The impressive evidence of this civilization, comparable to Arkaim in the Urals, not only has not yet been studied and comprehended by world historical science, but has not even received proper assessment in Russia itself. As for the so-called Chinese wall, it is not entirely legitimate to talk about it as an achievement of ancient Chinese civilization. Here, to confirm our scientific correctness, it is enough to cite only one fact.”
What fact does a competent scientist speak about, whose words can definitely be trusted? He considers the loopholes located along the entire perimeter of the fence to be proof that the Chinese cannot be called the creators of the wall. They are directed not to the north, but to the south, that is, towards China! This means that a certain people built a fence and placed weapons in it against the Chinese, and not to protect this people.
Here it would be logical to explain who defended against China with the help of the Great Wall. During excavations among the stones at its base, vessels with scrolls and clay tablets decorated with writings and drawings were found. Experts in deciphering Chinese characters spent more than one month working on these signs, but could not understand what even one of them meant.
The writings turned out to be Slavic - they can also be found on some maps of China, which indicate that there were Rus behind the wall. They were called Rus Eastern Slavs, burial mounds of which were found not only in central and southern Russia and Ukraine, but also near the Great Wall of China. Will the Chinese one day be able to admit to the greatest hoax in their country's history?
The longest defensive structure in the world is the Great Wall of China. Interesting facts about her today are quite numerous. This masterpiece of architecture is fraught with many mysteries. It causes fierce debate among various researchers.
The length of the Great Wall of China has not yet been established precisely. It is only known that it stretches from Jiayuguan, located in Gansu province, to (Liaodong Bay).
Wall length, width and height
The length of the structure is about 4 thousand km, according to some sources, and according to others - more than 6 thousand km. 2450 km is the length of a straight line drawn between its end points. However, it must be taken into account that the wall does not go straight anywhere: it bends and turns. The length of the Great Wall of China, therefore, should be at least 6 thousand km, and possibly more. The height of the structure is on average 6-7 meters, reaching 10 meters in some areas. The width is 6 meters, that is, 5 people can walk along the wall in a row, even a small car can easily pass. On its outer side there are “teeth” made of large bricks. Internal wall protects a barrier, the height of which is 90 cm. Previously, there were drains in it, made through equal sections.
Start of construction
The Great Wall of China began during the reign of Qin Shi Huang. He ruled the country from 246 to 210. BC e. It is customary to associate the history of the construction of such a structure as the Great Wall of China with the name of this creator of a unified Chinese state - the famous emperor. Interesting facts about it include a legend according to which it was decided to build it after one court soothsayer predicted (and the prediction came true many centuries later!) that the country would be destroyed by barbarians coming from the north. In order to protect the Qin Empire from nomads, the emperor ordered the construction of defensive fortifications, unprecedented in scale. They subsequently turned into such a grandiose structure as the Great Wall of China.
Facts indicate that the rulers of various principalities located in Northern China erected similar walls along their borders even before the reign of Qin Shi Huang. By the time of his accession to the throne, the total length of these ramparts was about 2 thousand km. The emperor first only strengthened and united them. This is how the unified Great Wall of China was formed. Interesting facts about its construction, however, do not end there.
Who built the wall?
Real fortresses were built at checkpoints. Intermediate military camps for patrolling and garrison service, and watchtowers were also built. "Who built the Great Wall of China?" - you ask. Hundreds of thousands of slaves, prisoners of war and criminals were rounded up to build it. When workers became scarce, mass mobilizations of peasants also began. Emperor Shi Huang, according to one legend, ordered a sacrifice to the spirits. He ordered that a million people be immured in the wall under construction. This is not confirmed by archaeological data, although isolated burials were found in the foundations of towers and fortresses. It is still unclear whether they were ritual sacrifices, or whether they simply buried dead workers in this way, those who built the Great Wall of China.
Completion of construction
Shortly before Shi Huangdi's death, the construction of the wall was completed. According to scientists, the reason for the impoverishment of the country and the turmoil that followed the death of the monarch was precisely the enormous costs of building defensive fortifications. The Great Wall stretched through deep gorges, valleys, deserts, along cities, across the whole of China, turning the state into an almost impregnable fortress.
Protective function of the wall
Many later called its construction pointless, since there would have been no soldiers to defend such a long wall. But it should be taken into account that it served to protect against the light cavalry of various nomadic tribes. In many countries, similar structures were used against steppe inhabitants. For example, this is the Trajan Wall, built by the Romans in the 2nd century, as well as the Serpentine Walls, built in the south of Ukraine in the 4th century. Large detachments of cavalry could not overcome the wall, since the cavalry needed to break through a breach or destroy a large area to pass. And without special devices it was not easy to do this. Genghis Khan managed to do this in the 13th century with the help of military engineers from Zhudrjey, the kingdom he conquered, as well as local infantry in huge numbers.
How different dynasties cared for the wall
All subsequent rulers took care of the safety of the Great Wall of China. Only two dynasties were an exception. These are the Yuan, the Mongol dynasty, and also the Manchu Qin (the latter, which we will talk about a little later). They controlled the lands north of the wall, so they did not need it. Different periods knew the history of the building. There were times when the garrisons guarding it were recruited from pardoned criminals. The tower, located on the Golden Terrace of the Wall, was decorated in 1345 with bas-reliefs depicting Buddhist guards.
After it was defeated during the reign of the next one (Ming), in 1368-1644 work was carried out to strengthen the wall and maintain the defensive structures in proper condition. Beijing, the new capital of China, was only 70 kilometers away, and its safety depended on the safety of the wall.
During the reign, women were used as sentries on the towers, monitoring the surrounding area and, if necessary, giving an alarm signal. This was motivated by the fact that they treat their duties more conscientiously and are more attentive. There is a legend according to which the legs of the unfortunate guards were cut off so that they could not leave their post without an order.
Folk legend
We continue to expand on the topic: “The Great Wall of China: interesting facts.” The photo of the wall below will help you imagine its greatness.
Folk legend tells about the terrible hardships that the builders of this structure had to endure. The woman, whose name was Meng Jiang, came here from a distant province to bring warm clothes to her husband. However, upon reaching the wall, she learned that her husband had already died. The woman was unable to find his remains. She lay down near this wall and cried for several days. Even the stones were touched by the woman’s grief: one of the sections of the Great Wall collapsed, revealing the bones of Meng Jiang’s husband. The woman took the remains of her husband home, where she buried them in the family cemetery.
Invasion of the “barbarians” and restoration work
The wall did not save the “barbarians” from the last large-scale invasion. The overthrown aristocracy, fighting with the rebels representing the Yellow Turban movement, allowed numerous Manchu tribes into the country. Their leaders seized power. They founded a new dynasty in China - the Qin. From that moment on, the Great Wall lost its defensive significance. It completely fell into disrepair. Only after 1949 did restoration work begin. The decision to start them was made by Mao Zedong. But during the “cultural revolution” that took place from 1966 to 1976, the “red guards” (Red Guards), who did not recognize the value of ancient architecture, decided to destroy some sections of the wall. She looked, according to eyewitnesses, as if she was subject to an enemy assault.
Now it was not only forced laborers or soldiers who were sent here. Service on the wall became a matter of honor, as well as a strong career incentive for young people from noble families. The words that one who was not there cannot be called a fine fellow, which Mao Zedong turned into a slogan, became a new saying right then.
The Great Wall of China today
Not a single description of China is complete without mentioning the Great Wall of China. Local residents say that its history is half the history of the entire country, which cannot be understood without visiting the building. Scientists have calculated that from all the materials that were used during the Ming Dynasty during its construction, it is possible to build a wall whose height is 5 meters and thickness is 1 meter. It is enough to encircle the entire globe.
The Great Wall of China has no equal in its grandeur. This building is visited by millions of tourists from all over the world. Its scale still amazes today. Anyone can purchase a certificate on the spot, which indicates the time of visiting the wall. The Chinese authorities were even forced to restrict access here in order to ensure better preservation of this great monument.
Is the wall visible from space?
For a long time it was believed that it was the only one visible from space man-made object. However, this opinion has recently been refuted. Yang Li Wen, China's first astronaut, sadly admitted that he could not see this monumental structure, no matter how hard he tried. Perhaps the whole point is that during the first space flights the air over Northern China was much cleaner, and therefore the Great Wall of China was visible earlier. The history of its creation, interesting facts about it - all this is closely connected with many traditions and legends that surround this majestic building even today.