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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nConstruction of the wall was started by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of unified China around 220 BC. Previously, China had been divided into numerous geopolitical factions, during which time many walls were constructed to form boundaries between the different groups. When Qin became emperor, the walls between the states were removed and some were repurposed to form a border between China and the \u201cbarbarians\u201d to the north. Even though Qin was responsible for starting the wall, the most enduring sections were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when Peking was made the new Chinese capital. The Ming wall is still the most famous portion of the structure, with its iconic stone towers and gates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Construction workers were a disposable commodity when it came to building the wall. It\u2019s estimated that as many as 400,000 people died building the wall, making it known as the \u201clongest cemetery on Earth.\u201d Many of the workers who died during the wall\u2019s construction were buried in its foundation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of the many lives lost during construction of the wall, a farewell tradition of bringing roosters to the wall was begun. It was thought that the rooster\u2019s singing helped carry the souls of those who had lost their lives at the Great Wall. Family members would come to the Great wall to ensure their loved one\u2019s soul was not stuck within the structure by carrying a rooster in hand which helped guide the souls of the lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something we\u2019ve all heard about the Great Wall is that it\u2019s the only man-made structure than can be seen from space with the naked eye. Despite the fact that we\u2019ve heard it for so long, the Great Wall cannot be seen from space \u2014 any images of the structure from space were taken with a very zoomed-in camera lens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The majority of the Great Wall was constructed using earth, brick, wood and stones. Recently, while researching the makeup of the mortar used for building the Great Wall it was found that the standard mixture of lime (limestone that has been heated to a high temperature) and water also contained another ingredient \u2014 sticky rice. In tests, scientists compared the quality of mortar made with and without sticky rice and found that sticky rice-lime mortar has more stable physical properties, has greater mechanical strength, and is more cohesive, which makes it a suitable restoration mortar for ancient masonry. Scientists believe that using sticky rice as a construction ingredient was one of the greatest innovations of the Ming dynasty. It helped their structures (including tombs and pagodas) survive earthquakes and the elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, obviously many legends about the wall have developed \u2014 one of the best known is the story of \u201cMen Jiangsu\u2019s Bitter Weeping\u201d whose husband died building the wall. Her weeping was so bitter that a section of the wall collapsed, revealing her husband\u2019s bones so she could bury them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Great Wall not only served as a military defense system, but also carries a contribution to China\u2019s literary culture, through the sayings and proverbs associated with it. One saying translates to, \u201cIf you want to know where the Great Wall is, it\u2019s at the bottom of people\u2019s hearts.\u201d It\u2019s come to mean that if the people make a concerted effort, and their wills unite like the Great Wall, the people will overcome all troubles together. I\u2019d say that\u2019s pretty good advice that we could all use today\u2026..
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There is a famous Chinese poem that contains the line, \u201che who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.\u201d Well, I guess that puts me in the category of a \u201ctrue man.\u201d I was fortunate … Continue reading