Who Built the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall of China is an extremely famous monument globally, and it serves as proof of the cleverness and persistence of the Chinese civilization. The wall was built over 2000 years by various Chinese dynasties, and it served as a line of defense against invading armies. The construction of the wall was a massive undertaking, and it required a vast amount of resources and manpower. In this article, we will explore who built the Great Wall of China, how they built it, how many people died during its construction, and whether bodies are buried in the wall.

Who Made the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall of China was built by several Chinese dynasties over a period of approximately 2,000 years. The Great Wall was first built in the Zhou Dynasty during the 7th century BC by the Zhou Dynasty. King Xuan of Zhou ordered the construction of the Great Wall and beacon towers to defend against the invasion of northerners. Soon later, the vassal states of Zhou, such as Qi, Wei, Zhao, Yan and Qin, built their own Great Wall for self-defense.

Among them, Qin, Zhao and Yan were adjacent to the powerful nomadic Xiongnu in the north, so while building the Great Wall for mutual defense of the vassals, they also built the "Great Wall against Hu" in the north. Almost all subsequent monarchs reinforced and added to it. At this time, the Great Wall was characterized by different directions to the east, south, west and north, and was shorter in length, ranging from a few hundred kilometers to one or two kilometers. In order to distinguish it from the 10,000-mile Great Wall built by Qin Shi Huang later, historians call it the "Great Wall of the First Qin".

The earliest sections of the wall were built in Zhou Dynasty, while the most well-known sections of the wall were built during the Ming Dynasty in the 14th to 17th centuries.

It was the emperors and kings who ordered to build the Great Wall, and the conscripted laborers, soldiers, and convicts who actually built it. They were forced to work on the wall for years at a time.

How did They Build the Great Wall of China?

Building the Great Wall of China was a colossal endeavor that demanded extensive resources and manpower. The wall was built using a variety of materials, including brick, stone, and earth. The builders used a variety of construction techniques, including rammed earth, bricks, and tamped earth. The wall was built in sections, with each section being constructed independently and then joined to the adjacent sections.

How Many People Died Building the Great Wall of China? Are Bodies Buried in the Wall?

The construction of the Great Wall of China was a dangerous and grueling task, and many workers lost their lives during its construction. It is estimated that as many as one million people died during the construction of the wall. Workers faced a variety of dangers, including falls from heights, injuries from falling rocks, and exposure to extreme weather conditions.

Despite the massive death toll, there is no evidence to suggest that bodies were buried in the Great Wall of China. The wall was built using a variety of materials, including brick, stone, and earth, and it is unlikely that bodies would have been buried in the wall. However, there are many legends and myths surrounding the Great Wall of China, and some of these legends suggest that bodies were buried in the wall. This makes the Great Wall of China a source of fascination and wonder for people all over the world.

Keep reading:

How Long is the Great Wall of China?

Which dynasties are best known for constructing the Great Wall?

China Southern Great Wall