Preface
The Great Wall, as one of the most symbolic structures in Chinese history, carries the memories and legends of countless eras. Its majestic and magnificent figure stands on the land of China and witnesses the glory and waves of Chinese civilization.
However, the mystery of why the Great Wall has been able to stand for more than 2,000 years without collapsing is not fully understood. Many people speculate that it is because of the sturdy structure or the painstaking restoration work, but this is not the case. In fact, the reason why the Great Wall was able to stand is only because of the cruel methods of Qin Shi Huang.
So, what is this cruel method of Qin Shi Huang? Let's step into this magnificent history and explore the secrets behind this eternal miracle.
1. Qin Shi Huang's cruel methods
In 221 BC, King Yingzheng of Qin unified the six kingdoms and became the first emperor in Chinese history, Qin Shi Huang. After ascending to the throne, he urgently needed a strong barrier against the invasion of the northern nomads. So, he ordered the construction of the Great Wall, a huge project, which opened a history of blood and tears.
In order to speed up the progress of the project, Qin Shi Huang issued a series of draconian laws. According to the Qin Law, workers involved in the construction of the Great Wall were required to work day and night, and any evasion or laziness was severely punished, ranging from flogging to beheading. This cruel method undoubtedly made the workers live in fear.
What's even more outrageous is that Qin Shi Huang was extremely strict about the quality of the construction of the Great Wall. Every piece of masonry used for construction must undergo strict quality inspections, and if any flaws are found, the craftsmen in charge will be subjected to cruel punishments, such as gouging out their eyes, cutting their flesh and other tortures. This practice undoubtedly puts the workers under tremendous psychological pressure.
In addition to this, Qin Shi Huang also implemented a family implication system. If a worker commits negligence or falsification, not only will he be punished, but his family will also be implicated. In order to avoid this terrible end, the workers had to do their best and pay the price with their lives.
In the face of such cruel methods, the workers, although disgruntled, were powerless to resist. They could only be forced to accept this inhumane treatment, and shed blood and sweat in the process of building the Great Wall.
2. The scientific method of the construction of the Great Wall
Despite the cruel measures adopted by Qin Shi Huang in the construction of the Great Wall, from another point of view, the construction process of the Great Wall also reflects the advanced scientific architectural concepts and methods of the time.
First of all, the selection of building materials for the Great Wall is very strict. According to historical records, the bricks and stones of the Great Wall are carefully selected high-quality materials. Craftsmen source the finest loess, limestone and other raw materials from all over the world and sift them through to ensure impeccable quality. This strict selection of materials undoubtedly laid the foundation for the sturdiness of the Great Wall.
Secondly, the quality of construction of the Great Wall is strictly regulated. Qin Shi Huang specially dispatched a large number of supervisors, who supervised the progress of the project throughout the process, and strictly controlled the production and installation of every piece of masonry. If any flaws are found, they will be corrected immediately and will not be tolerated. This strict quality control ensures the construction quality of the Great Wall.
In addition, the construction technology of the Great Wall is also advanced. According to archaeological finds, the base of the Great Wall uses rammed earth technology to tamp the soil in layers to ensure a solid foundation; The city wall is built with stacked stones, and the inner and outer layers of masonry are filled with gravel and loess, making the city wall structure extremely hard. These advanced construction techniques undoubtedly laid the foundation for the durability of the Great Wall.
It is worth mentioning that in order to adapt to different topography and landforms, the construction of the Great Wall is also adapted to local conditions, reflecting superb architectural wisdom. For example, in the plain area, the Great Wall is mostly an earthen wall; In the mountainous areas, the stone method is adopted, and many enemy towers and generals are set up to facilitate defense. This method of construction according to local conditions gave full play to the defensive function of the Great Wall.
In addition to this, the construction of the Great Wall also used advanced surveying technology. According to historical records, engineers at the time used astronomical surveys to determine the direction of the Great Wall, allowing it to maximize its defensive role. This scientific method of measurement undoubtedly added wisdom to the construction of the Great Wall.
Overall, despite the brutal methods adopted by Qin Shi Huang in the construction of the Great Wall, the construction process of the Great Wall also reflects the advanced scientific concepts and construction techniques of the time, which are important reasons why the Great Wall can stand.
3. The difficult process of the construction of the Great Wall
The construction of the Great Wall is a history of blood and tears, and hundreds of people have paid a heavy price in this huge project. According to historical records, in order to speed up the construction of the Great Wall, Qin Shi Huang ordered a large-scale recruitment of civil servants throughout the country.
Farmers, craftsmen, and merchants, as long as they were laborers, were forcibly conscripted to the frontier to participate in the construction of the Great Wall. These conscripted men had to put down their work, leave their hometowns, and go to the frontier to participate in this arduous project.
The living conditions of these people are extremely harsh. They were housed in camps along the Great Wall, living in cramped conditions, poorly clothed and without food. To make matters worse, they had to work overload every day in the scorching heat and cold, from dawn to midmoon. This extremely difficult living environment has made them suffer.
Any act of trudging or laziness is punished harshly. Some people fainted on the construction site because they were tired and were immediately whipped, while others had their eyes gouged out because they were lazy and lost their light forever. This cruel means of punishment undoubtedly made the workers live in fear.
What is even more poignant is that accidents often occur on the construction site of the Great Wall. Due to the hasty progress of the project and the serious lack of safety measures, it is not uncommon for people to fall from a height and seriously injure themselves, or even die on the spot.
However, the families of these casualties have received no compensation or consolation. This lack of human care undoubtedly makes the workers feel hopeless and helpless.
In addition to these, plagues have also occurred on the Great Wall construction site from time to time. Due to the harsh conditions and poor sanitary conditions in the camps, the plague raged mercilessly like a ghost, claiming the lives of countless people. This unpreventable disease has exacerbated the suffering of the workers.
The most distressing thing is that in order to build the Great Wall, Qin Shi Huang also implemented a family involvement system. As long as a husband flees or cheats, his wife and children will be implicated and severely punished. As a result, countless innocent women and children have lost their lives on the construction site of the Great Wall, which makes people sigh. This cruel system undoubtedly burdens the workers with a heavy psychological burden.
It is precisely because of these cruel methods of Qin Shi Huang that countless people shed blood and sweat and paid a heavy price in the construction of the Great Wall. According to historical records, during the construction of the Great Wall, hundreds of thousands of people died. This history of blood and tears undoubtedly makes people feel sad and angry.
Fourth, the far-reaching significance of the Great Wall
The Great Wall is not only a fortification, but also carries the glory and dream of the Chinese nation, and is a symbol and spiritual home of Chinese culture.
First of all, the Great Wall is a strong barrier to defend the frontier. Since ancient times, the Chinese people have been plagued by nomadic peoples from the north. In order to protect their homeland, the ancestors decided to build this majestic Great Wall to keep the northern Hulu out.
Historically, the Great Wall has played an important role in military defense and effectively protected the peace and tranquility of the Central Plains. This solid barrier has undoubtedly become an important barrier for the Chinese nation to defend itself against foreign enemies.
Secondly, the Great Wall is a spiritual symbol of Chinese culture. It has witnessed the tenacious character of the Chinese nation in the difficult years of tenacious struggle and unremitting self-improvement. The existence of the Great Wall has made countless Chinese people feel the pride and pride of the nation and strengthened their love for the motherland. This magnificent project has undoubtedly become a symbol of the spirit of the Chinese nation.
More importantly, the Great Wall has become a carrier and link of Chinese culture. Along the Great Wall, the culture of the Central Plains was able to spread to the border areas, promoting exchanges and integration among people of all ethnic groups. As a result, the area around the Great Wall has given birth to unique architectural styles, food customs and folk art, enriching the diversity of Chinese culture. This Great Wall has undoubtedly become an important carrier of Chinese culture.
In modern society, the significance of the Great Wall has not diminished, but its unique value has become more and more apparent. Today, the Great Wall has become a worldwide tourist attraction, attracting countless Chinese and foreign tourists.
People wandering on the Great Wall, they can not only enjoy the majestic scenery that stretches for thousands of miles, but also appreciate the profundity of Chinese civilization. This Great Wall has undoubtedly become an important window for Chinese culture to go to the world.
The existence of the Great Wall also provides a unique platform for the exchange and dialogue of world civilizations. Tourists from all over the world meet on the Great Wall, learn about Chinese history through admiring the Great Wall, enhance their understanding of Chinese culture, and promote mutual learning and integration between different civilizations.
It can be said that the Great Wall is the pride of the Chinese nation, a treasure of Chinese culture, and a precious heritage of human civilization. It has witnessed the glorious history of the Chinese nation, inherited the wisdom and courage of the Chinese ancestors, and will always stand on this land and shine.
epilogue
For more than 2,000 years, this great Great Wall has never collapsed. Although its construction process was full of cruelty and blood and tears, it also reflected the advanced scientific architectural concepts and methods at that time.
The Great Wall is not only a strong fortification, but also a spiritual symbol and cultural carrier of the Chinese nation, carrying the glory and dreams of the Chinese people.
It has witnessed the glorious history of Chinese civilization and has become an important link for the exchange of world civilizations. This Great Wall will forever stand on this land and become the eternal pride of the Chinese nation.