final essay

The story of Great Wall of China

This is a wall built between east-to-west line along historical northern borders of China to protect the Chinese states and empires against the enemies invasion of the Eurasian Steppe it is made up of several walls that were built but later joined together to form bigger and stronger wall that was called Great Wall of China. The wall was built and being maintained by various empires in China.

Apart from providing security to the people of China other purposes of the China Wall  included border controls allowing the imposition of taxes on the goods transported through the Silk Road, controlling or encouraging immigration and emigration. The China Wall had improvements like construction of watch towers, troop barracks, garrison stations, signaling capabilities through smoke and fire and the path that was essential in movement and transportation of goods and people during trade.

The Great Wall starts from Dandong in the east to Lake Lop in the west along an ark that goes to the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. It has been determined that it measures 8850kilometres which includes higher defensive lines of hills and mountains. In today’s China is considered one of the archeological sites in history.  It was constructed for defensive measures for the dynasties to defend their own boarders built to withstand attack of small arms such as swords and spears made mostly by stamping the gravels and the earth. 

King Zeng was the one responsible for uniting the wall since it was put in defensive lines in the empire in various positions. He ordered the destructions of certain parts and uniting the wall since he meant to impose centralized rule and wanted to stop the emergence of lords. To position the empire against the people of the north he ordered the building of new walls to connect the remaining fortifications along the northern area. Stones from the mountains were used since the transportation of the materials was difficult. The building of this wall in the northern frontier led to death of workers as the wall was collapsing during its construction and physical conditions they were being placed under. 

Under the empire of Ming, the concept of the China wall was revised following his defeat in the Battle of Tumu and he failed to gain control over the Mongolian tribes after successive battles and long drawn conflict was affecting the empire. He adopted strategies in ensuring that this doesn’t continue like constructing walls through the northern border of China in order to keep the Mongolian tribes in the northern desert area. Contrary to the earlier fortifications this wall was stronger since it involves the use of bricks and stones instead of rammed earth. Also the number of watchtowers in the wall was increased to 25000. This did not present the Mongolian tribes from destroyed the wall but Ming dedicated himself in doing the repairs.  Consequently Ming built Liaodong Wall that was similar to the Great Wall which was defensive wall for his agricultural plantations against the invasions from Mongolians in the north-west of China. This wall was built with stones and tiles where most of it formed earth dikes with moats on both sides.  The Great wall was essential in providing defensive line against the invasions of Manchu which began in the year 1600 but they were able to breach the wall in 1644 when Beijing had fallen leading to establishment of Qing dynasty. The border of the wall continued to be extended and Mongolia was annexed into the empire so the construction of the Great Wall was stopped by that time. 

 

 

The Poem about Great China Wall 

I lift my eyes to see the snake

Besides the borders you ever sleeping snake

I bend my head and still see you

You, never ending, never moving 

 

Boundless of grasses over the plains,, You pass

Over the hill, mountains, you disappear

Rain never consumes you

You are tall once more in the spring. 

Sweat that you pass old high

Until you reach Lop

 

O beautiful snake, I hear friends….

I hear relatives….

I hear foreigners, whispering after you. 

They come after you. 

You used to be the first security soldier

Oh! You have changed to be the first economic security 

You have given much! 

 

The sun continue to glow over you

No inch moved into the shade

Today is when have realized,

 You are both cold and warm blooded. 

Continue sleeping to make me happy 

When in foreign land, I remember you 

I reminisce my past watching your beauty,

Being over you. 

You were the Wall of China

Now you, you are the wine of China

The more old you become, the better for us

Continue sleeping, Mighty Snake.