6 Most Famous Legends and Stories of the Great Wall of China
In this article, we will explore the most famous stories of the Great Wall of China. These legends and stories have been a part of Chinese folklore for centuries and are still popular today. They provide a glimpse into the history of the Great Wall, and showcase the enduring spirit and perseverance of the Chinese people.
The Story of "Meng Jiangnv Bringing down the Great Wall with Tears"
Fan Xiliang and Meng Jiangnu were newlyweds for three days. The groom was forced to set out to build the Great Wall. Soon he died of hunger, cold and fatigue, and his bones were buried under the Great Wall. Meng Jiang Nü carried her winter clothes on her back and went through great hardships to find her husband at the Great Wall, only to receive the sad news of his death.
Meng Jiangnv was devastated by her loss, and cried for three days and three nights. Her grief was so intense that she wept tears of sorrow that shook the very foundations of the Great Wall. The legend goes that her tears were so powerful that they caused a section of the wall to collapse, revealing her husband's bones.
This Great Wall of China love story has also become an integral part of Chinese folklore, and it is often told to children as a cautionary tale about the dangers of neglecting the human spirit. The story has also been the subject of countless works of art, including paintings, sculptures, and operas.
The Story of “the Crow of the Bird Strikes the Stone”
According to legend, in ancient times, a pair of swallows nested in the Ruyuan Gate of Jiayuguan Fort (part of the Great Wall of China). One morning, the two swallows flew out of the gate. At sunset, the female swallow flew back first, but when the male swallow flew back, the gate was closed and he could not enter the gate, so he hit the wall and died. The female swallow was so distraught that she chirped from time to time and continued to do so until she died.
After death, her soul does not disperse and still haunts the Great wall. Whenever someone strikes the wall with a stone, the swallow makes a chirping sound and tells people about the story.
In ancient times, people regarded the sound of swallows chirping in the Jiayuguan Pass as auspicious, and when a general left for battle, his wife would pray by hitting the wall.
>>Recommended tour: 16-day China Great Wall Tour with Jiayuguan Fort
A Brick on the Jiayuguan Pass
According to legend, the fixed city brick is the bricks at the back edge of the west urn gatehouse of Jiayuguan. During the reign of Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty, there was a craftsman who repaired the pass called Yi Kai Zhan, who was well versed in the 9-9-9 algorithm. All the buildings were very accurate according to his calculations and the usage fees could be saved.
Because the local government did not trust the supervisory control of the Guan repair supervision, they asked Yi Kai Zhan to calculate the number of bricks for Jiayuguan. After a detailed calculation, Yi Kai Zhan said to the supervisory board, "Ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine bricks are needed."
Only one brick remained after completion. In the corridor behind the west gatehouse. When the supervisor was discovered, he was very happy and wanted to use it to take away a lot of money from the craftsmen, but the brick was put there by the gods, and if it was moved, the city would collapse.
When the supervisor heard this, he dared not pursue the matter any further, and then the brick remained where it was, and no one moved it. Now this brick is still left on the Jiayuguan Citadel.
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Carry Stones via Ice Roads to Build the Great Wall
Here's a story of the Great Wall of China construction process.
The Great Wall of China was built in some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world, including high mountains and wild deserts. According to legend, during the construction of Jiayuguan Pass of the Great Wall, thousands of stone strips 2 metres long, 0.5 metres wide and 0.3 metres thick were needed. The craftsmen cut the strips in Black Mountain, which however could not be lifted by people, pulled by carts, or transported because of the high mountains and long roads. Everyone was troubled while cutting the stone strips. The winter season was coming soon. The stone bars had not yet been brought out of the mountains. If the work was delayed, they wouldn’t receive any money for the work.
Everyone sighed and groaned. At that moment, there was a sudden gurgling of thunder from the top of the mountain and from the white clouds came floating brocade fabric, which many craftsmen soon caught. Hidden on it were a few lines of writing.
Later when winter came, people built a road from the mountain to Guancheng, sprinkling water on the road to make an icy path and then put stone bars to skate on the ice.
As a result, the stone bars were successfully transported to Jiayuguan City. Not only was the work was completed ahead of schedule, but the construction period was also saved. Many craftsmen built temples near the pass city to thank the gods for their blessings and worshipped the gods, which became compulsory for craftsmen to worship when they left the work.
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The General's Orders
The General's Orders is also one of the most popular stories of the Great Wall of China. The legends goes that during the construction of the Great Wall, a general ordered that a bell be placed at the highest point of the wall. The general's orders were that if the wall was ever breached, the bell would be rung to alert the troops. The bell was never rung during the construction of the wall, but it is said that on quiet nights, you can still hear the bell ringing in the distance. The story is a reminder of the importance of vigilance and the need to be prepared for the unexpected.These legends are just a few of the many stories of the Great Wall of China that have been passed down through the ages. They serve as a reminder of world’s largest military defensive project, so far, and showcase the enduring spirit and perseverance of the Chinese people. The Great Wall of China is not just a physical structure, but it is also a symbol of the strength and resilience of the Chinese people, and a testament to the human spirit.
The Great Wall Story Tells the Origin of Yumen Pass
Yumen Pass is located at the westernmost tip of the Silk Road's Hexi Corridor, about 90 kilometres southeast of Dunhuang. It is also known locally as Square Plate City because of its four-sided structure.
Legend has it that in ancient times, many caravans often encountered sandstorms and got lost while travelling through this area.
One day, a jade caravan from Yutian Kingdom (now Xinjiang’s Hotan County) got lost here. When the caravan was at a loss, a goose was injured and landed on the ground. The merchants picked it up and gave it water and medicine. In return for his kindness, the goose said, “If you want not to get lost, the city of square discs should be embedded with precious jade”. The goose then flew up to the city and embedded itself in the city gate. The caravan followed the light of the jade to find Fangpan City, which was then named Yumen Pass.
This is just a romantic story of the Great Wall. In fact, the official trading of Hetian jade with Yutian Kingdom took place after Zhang Qian's second mission to the Western Regions, which prompted Emperor Wu of Han to open the Silk Road. And even before that, the city of Fangpan had already been known as the Yumen Pass.
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The “Great Wall of China” Movie Based on True Story
This is a science fiction film directed by Yin Peilong and released in 1981. The film introduces the history, location, style, legends and true stories of the Great Wall. It focuses on the structural features of Shanhaiguan, Badaling, Jiayuguan and the second Badaling.
Another film, ‘The Great Wall’, directed by renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou and starring Matt Damon, Andy Lau and Jing Tian, tells an adventurous tale of defence against an unknown enemy, with the Great Wall as its historical backdrop. But not based on the true story of the Great Wall of China.