China, an ancient civilization with thousands of years of history, in this long history, there is a name of a building, no matter where people hear it, they will immediately think of this great country - that is, the Great Wall. Today, we dive into the history of this great building, its construction, and its impact on China and the world.
Echoes of history: the origins of the Great Wall
Let's first talk about the history of the Great Wall. Although many believe that the Great Wall was built after Qin Shi Huang unified China, in fact, long before Qin Shi Huang's rule, various Chinese princely states began to build fortifications. The greatness of Qin Shi Huang was that he connected these fortifications for the first time to form an overall defense system, which is what we call the "Great Wall" today.
However, most of the Great Wall we see today was actually built during the Ming Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, in order to resist the invasion of nomads in the north, the Ming government built and strengthened the Great Wall on a large scale. The Great Wall project during this period was large-scale and of high quality, and became the main part of the Great Wall we see today.
An architectural marvel: the construction of the Great Wall
Next, let's talk about the construction of the Great Wall. The construction of the Great Wall is undoubtedly a difficult task. The workers not only had to build this huge defensive line between mountains and even on the desert wasteland, but also faced various difficulties. However, despite such a daunting task, the wisdom and perseverance of the ancient Chinese made this seemingly impossible task possible.
Did you know that the official length of the Great Wall is 21,196.18 kilometers, which is equivalent to half of the equator? The workers of the Great Wall used a variety of materials to build the Great Wall, including earth, stone, lime and wood. However, perhaps the most interesting thing is a special mortar they use – glutinous rice mortar. This mortar made from glutinous rice is stronger than regular lime mortar and also waterproof. This is the embodiment of the wisdom of the ancient Chinese people, who used the materials at hand to create a building material that surpassed the level of technology at the time.
In addition, the design of the Great Wall is also full of wisdom. The Great Wall is not a continuous line, its shape changes according to the terrain. In some places, the Great Wall winds along the ridge, forming an almost impassable defensive line. Elsewhere, the Great Wall uses rivers or lakes as natural lines of defense. Such a design not only ensures the continuity of the defense line, but also greatly saves manpower and material resources.
The Great Wall Today: Impact and the Future
The Great Wall is not only a symbol of China, but also China's contribution to the world. The existence of the Great Wall shows the wisdom and perseverance of human beings, and also inspires us to pursue higher goals and face greater challenges. As an old Chinese proverb goes, "If you don't reach the Great Wall, you are not a good man." This sentence is not only praising the greatness of the Great Wall, but also encouraging people to accept challenges and achieve their goals.
Now, Great Wall has become a brand in China, with more than 4,431 trademarks under the name "Great Wall", including Great Wall Hotel, Great Wall Motor and so on. This is another manifestation of the influence of the Great Wall. If you have a chance to visit China, be sure to visit the Badaling Great Wall around Beijing, which is the most visited section of the Great Wall, with more than 63 million visitors a year.
In general, the Great Wall is an important part of Chinese history, it is a symbol of Chinese civilization, and it is also the pride of the Chinese people. By gaining insight into the Great Wall, we can better understand China's history and better appreciate the depth and breadth of Chinese culture.
In this article, we explore the history and influence of the Great Wall in the hope of helping you better understand this wonder of the world. Finally, I would like to quote a famous Chinese proverb: "If you don't reach the Great Wall, you are not a good man". This sentence is not only praising the greatness of the Great Wall, but also encouraging people to accept challenges and achieve their goals. Therefore, let's challenge ourselves together, pursue higher goals, and become that "good man".
epilogue
The Great Wall, one of China's most famous historical sites, has amazed the world with its profound history and exquisite architectural skills. However, the Great Wall is much more than that. It is not only a symbol of China, but also China's contribution to the world. No matter where you are, you can feel the influence of the Great Wall.
In this article, we walk through the history of the Great Wall, discuss its construction techniques, and feel its influence. I hope that this knowledge can help you have a deeper understanding of Chinese history and culture, and I hope that you can feel the charm of the Great Wall and understand this great building more deeply by reading this article.