The most recognizable symbol of China, as well as its long and vibrant history, has become. This monumental structure consists of numerous walls and fortifications, many of which run parallel to each other. Originally conceived for protection against nomadic raids by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (circa 259-210 BC). Great Wall of China (China) became one of the most ambitious construction projects in the history of mankind.

The great Wall of China: Interesting Facts

VKS is the longest wall in the world and the largest building of antiquity.
Stunning scenery, from the beaches of Qinhuangdao to the rugged mountains around Beijing.

Consists of many sections:

Badaling
- Huang Huancheng
- Juyunguan
- Ji Yongguan
- Shanhaiguan
- Yanguan
- Sponge
- Gianku
- Jin Shan Ling
- Mutianyu
- Symatai
- Yangmenguang

Length of the Great Wall of China

Contrary to popular belief, the wall is not visible from space without a good approach.
Already during the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC), sticky rice dough was used for construction as a kind of material for holding stone blocks together.
Labor force At the construction site there were military personnel, peasants, convicts and prisoners, naturally not of their own free will.
Although officially 8,851 km, the length of all the branches and sections built over thousands of years is estimated at 21,197 km. The circumference of the equator is 40,075 km.

There is a popular legend about Meng Jing Nu, whose husband died at a construction site. Her cry was so bitter that the Great Wall of China collapsed, exposing her husband's bones, and the wife was able to bury him.
There are still traces of bullets in the Gubeik area; there was a fierce battle here in the past.
During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), many stones from the wall were stolen to build houses, farms and reservoirs.

Northwestern sections of the wall (eg in Gansu and Ningxia provinces) will likely disappear within 20 years. The reason for this is both natural conditions and human activity.
The most famous part of the Great Wall, Badaling, has been visited by more than 300 heads of state and dignitaries from around the world, the first being the Soviet politician Klim Voroshilov in 1957.

The Great Wall of China (China): history of creation

Significance: The longest fortification ever built by man.
Purpose of construction: protection of the Chinese Empire from Mongol and Manchu invaders.
Significance for tourism: the largest and at the same time the most popular attraction of the PRC.
Provinces where the Great Wall of China passes: Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu.
Start and end: From Shanhaiguan Pass (39.96N, 119.80E) to Jiayu Belt (39.85N, 97.54E). The direct distance is 1900 km.
Closest site to Beijing: Juyunguan (55 km)

Most visited site: Badaling (63 million visitors in 2001)
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills. Great Wall of China, China extends from the Bohai coast in Qinhuangdao, around the northern part of the Chinese Plain, across the Loess Plateau. Then it goes along the desert province of Gansu, between the Tibetan plateau and the loess hills of Inner Mongolia.

Altitude: from sea level to more than 500 meters.
Most the right time years to visit the Great Wall of China: areas that are best visited near Beijing in spring or autumn. Jiayuguan - from May to October. Shanhaiguan Passage - in summer and early autumn.

The Great Wall of China is the largest cemetery. More than a million people lost their lives during its construction.

How the Great Wall of China was built
Everyone is interested how the Great Wall of China was built structures. Here's the whole story chronologically.
7th century BC: Feudal warlords began construction of the Great Wall of China.
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC): Sections of the wall that had already been built were joined together (along with the unification of China).
206 BC - 1368 AD: restoration and expansion of the wall in order to prevent the plunder of the lands by nomads.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644): The Great Wall of China reached its greatest extent.
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911): The Great Wall of China and surrounding lands fell to Manchu invaders in alliance with a traitorous general. Maintenance of the wall ceased for more than 300 years.
Late 20th century: Various sections of the Great Wall of China became architectural monuments.

The Great Wall of China on the world map:

The longest defensive structure in the world is the Great Wall of China. Interesting facts about her today are quite numerous. This masterpiece of architecture is fraught with many mysteries. It causes fierce debate among various researchers.

The length of the Great Wall of China has not yet been established precisely. It is only known that it stretches from Jiayuguan, located in Gansu Province, to (Liaodong Bay).

Wall length, width and height

The length of the structure is about 4 thousand km, according to some sources, and according to others - more than 6 thousand km. 2450 km is the length of a straight line drawn between its end points. However, it must be taken into account that the wall does not go straight anywhere: it bends and turns. The length of the Great Wall of China, therefore, should be at least 6 thousand km, and possibly more. The height of the structure is on average 6-7 meters, reaching 10 meters in some areas. The width is 6 meters, that is, 5 people can walk along the wall in a row, even a small car can easily pass. On its outer side there are “teeth” made of large bricks. The inner wall is protected by a barrier, the height of which is 90 cm. Previously, there were drains in it, made through equal sections.

Start of construction

The Great Wall of China began during the reign of Qin Shi Huang. He ruled the country from 246 to 210. BC e. It is customary to associate the history of the construction of such a structure as the Great Wall of China with the name of this creator of a unified Chinese state - the famous emperor. Interesting facts about it include a legend according to which it was decided to build it after one court soothsayer predicted (and the prediction came true many centuries later!) that the country would be destroyed by barbarians coming from the north. In order to protect the Qin Empire from nomads, the emperor ordered the construction of defensive fortifications, unprecedented in scale. They later turned into this grandiose building like the Great Wall of China.

Facts indicate that the rulers of various principalities located in Northern China erected similar walls along their borders even before the reign of Qin Shi Huang. By the time of his accession to the throne, the total length of these ramparts was about 2 thousand km. The emperor first only strengthened and united them. This is how the unified Great Wall of China was formed. Interesting facts about its construction, however, do not end there.

Who built the wall?

Real fortresses were built at checkpoints. Intermediate military camps for patrolling and garrison service, and watchtowers were also built. "Who built the Great Wall of China?" - you ask. Hundreds of thousands of slaves, prisoners of war and criminals were rounded up to build it. When workers became scarce, mass mobilizations of peasants also began. Emperor Shi Huang, according to one legend, ordered a sacrifice to the spirits. He ordered that a million people be immured in the wall under construction. This is not confirmed by archaeological data, although isolated burials were found in the foundations of towers and fortresses. It is still unclear whether they were ritual sacrifices, or whether they simply buried dead workers in this way, those who built the Great Wall of China.

Completion of construction

Shortly before Shi Huangdi's death, the construction of the wall was completed. According to scientists, the reason for the impoverishment of the country and the turmoil that followed the death of the monarch was precisely the enormous costs of building defensive fortifications. It stretches through deep gorges, valleys, deserts, along cities, across the whole of China. Great Wall, turning the state into an almost impregnable fortress.

Protective function of the wall

Many later called its construction pointless, since there would have been no soldiers to defend such a long wall. But it should be taken into account that it served to protect against the light cavalry of various nomadic tribes. In many countries, similar structures were used against steppe inhabitants. For example, this is the Trajan Wall, built by the Romans in the 2nd century, as well as the Serpentine Walls, built in the south of Ukraine in the 4th century. Large detachments of cavalry could not overcome the wall, since the cavalry needed to break through a breach or destroy a large area to pass. And without special devices this was not easy to do. Genghis Khan managed to do this in the 13th century with the help of military engineers from Zhudrjey, the kingdom he conquered, as well as local infantry in huge numbers.

How different dynasties cared for the wall

All subsequent rulers took care of the safety of the Great Wall of China. Only two dynasties were an exception. These are the Yuan, the Mongol dynasty, and also the Manchu Qin (the latter, which we will talk about a little later). They controlled the lands north of the wall, so they did not need it. Different periods knew the history of the building. There were times when the garrisons guarding it were recruited from pardoned criminals. The tower, located on the Golden Terrace of the Wall, was decorated in 1345 with bas-reliefs depicting Buddhist guards.

After the Yuan dynasty was defeated, during the reign of the next (Ming) in 1368-1644, work was carried out to strengthen the wall and maintain defensive structures in proper condition. Beijing, the new capital of China, was only 70 kilometers away, and its safety depended on the safety of the wall.

During the reign, women were used as sentries on the towers, monitoring the surrounding area and, if necessary, giving an alarm signal. This was motivated by the fact that they treat their duties more conscientiously and are more attentive. There is a legend according to which the legs of the unfortunate guards were cut off so that they could not leave their post without an order.

Folk legend

We continue to expand on the topic: “The Great Wall of China: interesting facts.” The photo of the wall below will help you imagine its greatness.

Folk legend tells about the terrible hardships that the builders of this structure had to endure. A woman named Meng Jiang came here from a distant province to bring warm clothes to my husband. However, upon reaching the wall, she learned that her husband had already died. The woman was unable to find his remains. She lay down near this wall and cried for several days. Even the stones were touched by the woman’s grief: one of the sections of the Great Wall collapsed, revealing the bones of Meng Jiang’s husband. The woman took the remains of her husband home, where she buried them in the family cemetery.

Invasion of the “barbarians” and restoration work

The wall did not save the “barbarians” from the last large-scale invasion. The overthrown aristocracy, fighting with the rebels representing the Yellow Turban movement, allowed numerous Manchu tribes into the country. Their leaders seized power. They founded a new dynasty in China - the Qin. From that moment on, the Great Wall lost its defensive significance. It completely fell into disrepair. Only after 1949 did restoration work begin. The decision to start them was made by Mao Zedong. But during the “cultural revolution” that took place from 1966 to 1976, the “red guards” (red guards), who did not recognize the value ancient architecture, decided to destroy some sections of the wall. She looked, according to eyewitnesses, as if she was subject to an enemy assault.

Now it was not only forced laborers or soldiers who were sent here. Service on the wall became a matter of honor, as well as a strong career incentive for young people from noble families. The words that one who was not there cannot be called a fine fellow, which Mao Zedong turned into a slogan, became a new saying right then.

The Great Wall of China today

Not a single description of China is complete without mentioning the Great Wall of China. Local residents say that its history is half the history of the entire country, which cannot be understood without visiting the building. Scientists have calculated that from all the materials that were used during the Ming Dynasty during its construction, it is possible to build a wall whose height is 5 meters and thickness is 1 meter. It is enough to encircle the entire globe.

The Great Wall of China has no equal in its grandeur. This building is visited by millions of tourists from all over the world. Its scale still amazes today. Anyone can purchase a certificate on the spot, which indicates the time of visiting the wall. The Chinese authorities were even forced to restrict access here in order to ensure better preservation of this great monument.

Is the wall visible from space?

For a long time it was believed that this was the only man-made object visible from space. However, this opinion has recently been refuted. Yang Li Wen, China's first astronaut, sadly admitted that he could not see this monumental structure, no matter how hard he tried. Perhaps the whole point is that during the first space flights the air over Northern China was much cleaner, and therefore the Great Wall of China was visible earlier. The history of its creation, interesting facts about it - all this is closely connected with many traditions and legends that surround this majestic building even today.

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One of the most famous architectural structures in the world is the Great Wall of China. It attracts millions of tourists like a magnet. This large-scale fortification, erected in the northern part of China, is striking in its size:

• the length of the continuous fortification is about 9 thousand km;
• the length of the entire wall, taking into account individual sections, is 21,196 km;
• maximum height – 10m;
• minimum height – 6 m;
• maximum width – 8 m;
• minimum width – 5 m.

Since the 17th century, this architectural monument has been a symbol of China. But in last years many scientists express doubts that this largest fortification on the planet was actually built by the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire. So who built the Chinese Wall and what do the finds of archaeologists and historians say?

What caused doubts among scientists

Scientists from all over the world have shown interest in the Great Wall of China for many years. By studying ancient maps, historians have established that the fortified fortification was actually built on the border of China. But inexplicable is the fact that in some areas the walls of the loopholes in the wall are located towards the heavenly side. Then the question arises: why would the Chinese build a wall from which it is convenient to shell the territory of their state?

It is worth noting that there is another part of the fortification. On it, the loopholes are located on the side behind which the expanses of another state began. But this part was reconstructed, and reliable information about what the wall looked like before the restoration work could not be found. In addition, research on China's main architectural monument is not encouraged by the country's government, making it quite difficult for scientists to conduct research.

New version about the construction of the Great Wall of China

Today, scientists put forward a version according to which the construction of the Great Wall of China was carried out by residents of the ancient state of Tartaria. Artifacts found by archaeologists prove that people who are genetically similar to the Slavs lived on its territory. In ancient Chinese manuscripts they are described as white gods. Archaeological finds also showed that the development of the people of Tartary was quite high level, which made it possible to build such a massive fortification.

Interesting discoveries were made by scientists who examined objects found on the territory that belonged to Tartaria. On the vases discovered during excavations, symbols were found that are very similar to the letters of the Old Russian alphabet. Based on this discovery, historians suggest that Russians lived next door to China. True, reliable information about when and why these lands were abandoned by them has not yet been found.

Reasons why the Great Wall of China was built

Historians who have studied ancient records and maps claim that a bloody war continued for a long time between the inhabitants of Tartary and China. Over the many years of battles, great amount of people. But the warring parties managed to reach a peace agreement, after which the inhabitants of Tartary began to build a massive fortress wall.

Some scientists put forward a hypothesis that claims that the ancient Slavs still managed to defeat the Chinese. They refer to ancient records found that contain such information. Many historians claim that the reflection of that battle is on the coat of arms of the Russian capital, in which St. George slays a dragon with his spear. As you know, the symbol of China is the dragon. Based on this information, scientists concluded that the coat of arms shows how the Russian people defeated the Chinese.

Origin of the name of the state

Historians also put forward new version origin of the country's name. In Old Russian, the word ky meant wall, and the word tai meant peak. Consequently, the territories in which the dragon people lived, located behind the wall, were called China. It is worth clarifying that for now this is only a hypothesis. No documentary evidence has yet been found for this version.

Existing version of origin

In the 3rd century BC. China was a prosperous empire. Many of its settlements began to develop rapidly, turning into large centers of trade. This attracted the attention of the ancient Xiongnu nomads, who made constant raids on the rich lands of the Celestial Empire. Many kingdoms that were part of the Chinese Empire began to build fortifications at that time. About a million people were collected for the construction of fortified walls. The construction of massive fortifications was mainly carried out by soldiers and slaves.

A huge contribution to the construction of the Great Wall of China was made by the emperors of the Qin dynasty. Individual sections of the fortification were built on and strengthened. They also began to build additional connecting sections between them. Thanks to this approach, the wall soon became a reliable border with neighboring countries. But dissatisfaction with the constant mobilization began to brew among Chinese residents. construction works. There were riots in many cities in the Middle Kingdom, which led to the fall of the Qin Dynasty.

Completion of construction

Almost every dynasty of emperors of the Celestial Empire was engaged in the construction of the Chinese Wall. Fortress structures extended further and further along the state border. The completion of the construction of fortifications dates back to the 17th century. Construction was completed by the Ming Dynasty. The sections of the wall erected at that time have survived to this day in excellent condition.

But the built fortifications did not help the Chinese Empire cope with its enemies. Nomadic tribes constantly made their way through the wall into the territory of the Celestial Empire, plundering settlements. There is an assumption that even the guards, constantly present on the wall, often let enemies through, receiving a substantial reward for this.

So who built the Great Wall of China?

So far, scientists have not been able to provide convincing evidence for their hypothesis that the Chinese Wall was built Slavic peoples. In the overwhelming majority, the version is confirmed only by assumptions, which are not enough for it to be recognized by the world scientific community. Until the contrary is proven, the people who built this majestic architectural monument remain the Chinese.

Video

It was suggested that in fact the “Chinese” wall was built for defense against the Chinese, who subsequently simply appropriated the achievements of other ancient civilizations. Here, to confirm our scientific correctness, it is enough to cite only one fact. THE LOOPS on a significant part of the wall ARE NOT DIRECTED TO THE NORTH, BUT TO THE SOUTH! And this is clearly visible not only in the most ancient, unreconstructed sections of the wall, but even in recent photographs and works of Chinese drawing.

Architecture and defensive structures on the territory of modern China

The “Chinese” wall is made similarly to European and Russian medieval walls, the main direction of action of which is protection from firearms. The construction of such structures began no earlier than the 15th century, when cannons and other siege weapons appeared on the battlefields. Before the 15th century, naturally, the so-called “northern nomads” did not have guns.

From the experience of constructing structures of this kind it follows: the “Chinese” wall was built as a military-defensive structure marking the border between two countries - China and Russia, after an agreement was reached on this border. And this can be confirmed by a map of the time when the border between Russia and China passed along the “Chinese” wall.

Today, the “Chinese” wall is located inside China and demonstrates the illegality of the presence of Chinese citizens in the territories located north of the wall.

The name of the "Chinese" wall

The 18th century map of Asia produced by the Royal Academy in Amsterdam shows two geographical formations: from the north - Tartarie, from the south - China (Chine), the northern border of which runs approximately along the 40th parallel, that is, exactly along "Chinese" wall. On this map, the wall is marked with a bold line and signed “Muraille de la Chine”, now often translated from French as “Chinese Wall”. However, literally we have the following: muraille “wall” in a nominal construction with the preposition de (noun + preposition de + noun) la Chine expresses the object and its accessory, that is, “the wall of China”.

But in other variants of the same construction we find different meanings of the phrase “Muraille de la Chine”. For example, if it denotes an object and its name, then we get the “wall of China” (similar, for example, to place de la Concorde - Place de la Concorde), that is, a wall built not by China, but named in its honor - the reason for its formation was the presence of a nearby wall of China. A clarification of this position is found in another version of the same construction, that is, if “Muraille de la Chine” denotes the action and the object to which it is directed, then it means “the wall (from) China.” We get the same thing with another translation option for the same construction - the object and its location (similarly, appartement de la rue de Grenelle - apartment on Grenelle Street), that is, “a wall (in the neighborhood) of China.” The cause-and-effect construction allows us to translate the phrase “Muraille de la Chine” literally as “wall from China” (similarly, for example, rouge de fièvre - red with heat, pâle de colère - pale with anger).

Compare, in an apartment or in a house we call the wall that separates us from our neighbors the neighbor’s wall, and the wall that separates us from the outside - outer wall. We have the same thing when naming borders: Finnish border, “on the Chinese border,” “on the Lithuanian border.” And all these borders were built not by the states after which they are named, but by the state (Russia) that defends itself from the named states. In this case, the adjectives indicate only the geographical location of Russian borders.

Thus, the phrase “Muraille de la Chine” should be translated as “wall from China”, “wall delimiting from China”.

Images of the "Chinese" wall on maps

Cartographers of the 18th century depicted on maps only those objects that were related to the political delimitation of countries. On the mentioned map of Asia from the 18th century, the border between Tartarie and China runs along the 40th parallel, that is, exactly along the “Chinese” wall. On the 1754 map “Carte de l’Asie” the “Chinese” wall also runs along the border between Great Tartary and China. The academic 10-volume World History presents a map of the Qing Empire of the second half of the 17th - 18th centuries, which depicts in detail the “Chinese” wall, running exactly along the border between Russia and China.

Time of construction of the "Chinese" wall

According to Chinese scientists, the construction of the Great Wall of China began in 246 BC. Emperor Chi Hoang Ti. The height of the wall is from 6 to 7 meters.

Sections of the "Chinese" wall, built at different times

L.N. Gumilyov wrote: “The wall stretched for 4 thousand km. Its height reached 10 meters, and every 60 – 100 meters there were watchtowers.” The purpose of its construction is protection from northern nomads. However, the wall was built only by 1620 AD, that is, after 1866 years, clearly overdue for the purpose stated at the start of construction.

From European experience it is known that ancient walls, more than several hundred years old, are not repaired, but rebuilt - due to the fact that both the materials and the construction itself cost more than long time They get tired and just fall apart. Thus, many military fortifications in Rus' were rebuilt in the 16th century. But representatives of China continue to claim that the “Chinese” wall was built exactly 2000 years ago and now appears before us in its original form.

L.N. Gumilev also wrote:

“When the work was completed, it turned out that all of China’s armed forces were not enough to organize an effective defense on the wall. In fact, if you place a small detachment on each tower, the enemy will destroy it before the neighbors have time to gather and send help. If large detachments are spaced out less frequently, gaps will form through which the enemy can easily and unnoticed penetrate deep into the country. A fortress without defenders is not a fortress.”

But let's use Chinese dating and see who built different sections of the wall and against whom.

Early Iron Age

It is extremely interesting to trace the stages of construction of the “Chinese” wall, based on data from Chinese scientists. It is clear from them that the Chinese scientists who call the wall “Chinese” are not very concerned about the fact that the Chinese people themselves did not take any part in its construction: every time another section of the wall was built, the Chinese state was far from the construction sites.

So, the first and main part of the wall was built in the period from 445 BC. to 222 BC It runs along 41° - 42° northern latitude and at the same time along some sections of the river. Yellow River.

At this time, naturally, there were no Mongol-Tatars. Moreover, the first unification of peoples within China took place only in 221 BC. under the kingdom of Qin. And before that there was the Zhanguo period (5th – 3rd centuries BC), in which eight states existed on Chinese territory. Only in the middle of the 4th century. BC. The Qin began to fight against other kingdoms and by 221 BC. e. conquered some of them.

Sections of the “Chinese” wall at the beginning of the creation of the Qin state

Sections of the “Chinese” wall at the beginning of the creation of the Qin state (by 222 BC).

The figure shows that the western and northern border of the Qin state by 221 BC. began to coincide with that section of the “Chinese” wall, which began to be built back in 445 BC. and was built precisely in 222 BC.

Thus, we see that this section of the “Chinese” wall was built not by the Chinese of the Qin state, but by its northern neighbors, but precisely from the Chinese spreading to the north. In just 5 years - from 221 to 206. BC. - a wall was built along the entire border of the Qin state, which stopped the spread of its subjects to the north and west. In addition, at the same time, 100 - 200 km west and north of the first, a second line of defense against Qin was built - the second “Chinese” wall of this period.

Sections of the "Chinese" wall during the Han era

Sections of the "Chinese" wall during the Han era (206 BC - 220 AD).

The next period of construction covers the time from 206 BC. to 220 AD During this period, sections of the wall were built, located 500 km west and 100 km north of the previous ones.

Early Middle Ages

In 386 - 535 17 non-Chinese kingdoms that existed in northern China united into one state - Northern Wei.

Through their efforts, and precisely during this period, the next part of the wall was erected (386 - 576), one part of which was built along the previous section (probably destroyed over time), and the second part - 50 - 100 km to the south - along the border with China.

Advanced Middle Ages

In the period from 618 to 907. China was ruled by the Tang dynasty, which did not mark itself with victories over its northern neighbors.

Sections of the “Chinese” wall at the beginning of the Tang dynasty

Sections of the “Chinese” wall, built at the beginning of the Tang dynasty.

In the next period, from 960 to 1279. The Song Empire established itself in China. At this time, China lost dominance over its vassals in the west, in the northeast (on the Korean Peninsula) and in the south - in northern Vietnam. The Song Empire lost a significant part of the territories of the Chinese proper in the north and northwest, which went to the Khitan state of Liao (part of the modern provinces of Hebei and Shanxi), the Tangut kingdom of Xi-Xia (part of the territories of the modern province of Shaanxi, the entire territory of the modern province of Gansu and Ningxia-Hui autonomous region).

Sections of the "Chinese" wall during the reign of the Song Dynasty

Sections of the "Chinese" wall, built during the reign of the Song Dynasty.

In 1125, the border between the non-Chinese Jurchen kingdom and China ran along the river. Huaihe is 500 - 700 km south of the site where the wall was built. And in 1141, a peace treaty was signed, according to which the Chinese Song Empire recognized itself as a vassal of the non-Chinese state of Jin, pledging to pay it a large tribute.

However, for now, China itself huddled south of the river. Hunahe, 2100 - 2500 km north of its borders, another section of the “Chinese” wall was erected. This part of the wall, built from 1066 to 1234, runs through Russian territory north of the village of Borzya next to the river. Argun. At the same time, 1500 - 2000 km north of China, another section of the wall was built, located along the Greater Khingan.

Late Middle Ages

The next section of the wall was built between 1366 and 1644. It runs along the 40th parallel from Andong (40°), just north of Beijing (40°), through Yinchuan (39°) to Dunhuang and Anxi (40°) in the west. This section of the wall is the last, the southernmost and the deepest penetrating into Chinese territory.

Sections of the "Chinese" Wall built during the Ming Dynasty

Sections of the "Chinese" wall, built during the reign of the Ming dynasty.

China was ruled by the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) at this time. At the beginning of the 15th century, this dynasty pursued not a defensive policy, but external expansion. For example, in 1407, Chinese troops captured Vietnam, that is, territories located outside eastern section The "Chinese" wall, built in 1368 - 1644. In 1618, Russia managed to agree with China on the border (mission of I. Petlin).

During the construction of this section of the wall to Russian territories included the entire Amur region. By the middle of the 17th century, Russian fortresses (Albazinsky, Kumarsky, etc.), peasant settlements and arable lands already existed on both banks of the Amur. In 1656, the Daurian (later Albazinsky) voivodeship was formed, which included the valley of the Upper and Middle Amur on both banks.

On the Chinese side, the Qing dynasty began to rule in China in 1644. In the 17th century, the border of the Qing Empire ran just north of the Liaodong Peninsula, that is, exactly along this section of the “Chinese” wall (1366 - 1644).

In the 1650s and later, the Qing Empire attempted to seize Russian possessions in the Amur basin by military force. Christians also supported China. China demanded not only the entire Amur region, but all the lands east of the Lena. As a result, according to the Treaty of Nerchinsk (1689), Russia was forced to cede its possessions along the right bank of the river to the Qing Empire. Argun and on parts of the left and right banks of the Amur.

Thus, during the construction of the last section of the “Chinese” wall (1368 – 1644), it was the Chinese side (Ming and Qing) that waged wars of conquest against Russian lands. Therefore, Russia was forced to wage defensive border wars with China (see S.M. Solovyov, “History of Russia since ancient times,” volume 12, chapter 5).

The “Chinese” wall, built by the Russians in 1644, ran exactly along the Russian border with Qing China. In the 1650s, Qing China invaded Russian lands to a depth of 1,500 km, which was secured by the Aigun (1858) and Beijing (1860) treaties.

conclusions

The name "Chinese" wall means "wall demarcating from China" (similar to the Chinese border, Finnish border, etc.).

At the same time, the origin of the word “China” itself comes from the Russian “whale” - a string of poles that were used in the construction of fortifications; Thus, the name of the Moscow district “China-Gorod” was given in a similar way back in the 16th century (that is, before the official knowledge of China), the building itself consisted of stone wall with 13 towers and 6 gates;

The construction time of the “Chinese” wall is divided into several stages, in which:

The non-Chinese began building the first section in 445 BC, and having built it by 221 BC, they stopped the advance of the Qin Chinese to the north and west;

The second section was built by non-Chinese from Northern Wei between 386 and 576;

The third section was built by non-Chinese between 1066 and 1234. two rapids: one at 2100 - 2500 km, and the second at 1500 - 2000 km north of the borders of China, passing at that time along the river. Yellow River;

The fourth and final section was built by the Russians between 1366 and 1644. along the 40th parallel - the southernmost section - it represented the border between Russia and China of the Qing Dynasty.

In the 1650s and later, the Qing Empire captured Russian possessions in the Amur basin. The “Chinese” wall ended up inside Chinese territory.

All of the above is confirmed by the fact that the loopholes of the “Chinese” wall face the south – that is, the Chinese.

The “Chinese” wall was built by Russian settlers on the Amur and in Northern China to protect against the Chinese.

Old Russian style in the architecture of the Chinese Wall

In 2008, at the First International Congress “Dokirylovskaya Slavic writing and pre-Christian Slavic culture" in Leningradsky state university named after A.S. Pushkin (St. Petersburg) a report was made “China - younger brother Rus'", which presented fragments of Neolithic ceramics from the territory of the eastern part of Northern China. It turned out that the signs depicted on the ceramics have nothing in common with the Chinese “hieroglyphs”, but show an almost complete coincidence with the Old Russian runic - up to 80% [Tyunyaev, 2008].

Another article - “In the Neolithic, Northern China was inhabited by Russians” - based on the latest archaeological data, it is shown that in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, the population of the western part of Northern China was not Mongoloid, but Caucasoid. Genetic data made a clarification: this population was Old Russian origin and had the Old Russian haplogroup R1a1 [Tyunyaev, 2010a]. Mythological data says that the movements of the ancient Rus in the eastern direction were led by Bogumir and Slavunya and their son Skif [Tyunyaev, 2010]. These events are reflected in the Book of Veles, whose people in the 1st millennium BC. partially went to the west [Tyunyaev, 2010b].

In the work “The Chinese Wall - the Great Barrage from the Chinese,” we came to the conclusion that all sections of the Chinese Wall were not built by the Chinese, since the Chinese were simply not present in the places where the wall was built at the time of construction. In addition, the last section of the wall was most likely built by the Russians between 1366 and 1644. along the 40th parallel. This is the southernmost section. And it represented the official border between Russia and China under the control of the Qing dynasty. That is why the name “Chinese Wall” literally means “wall demarcating from China” and has the same meaning as “Chinese border”, “Finnish border”, etc.

http://www.organizmica.org/arc…

A comparison of these two streams may indicate that there were two massive civilizations of antiquity: northern and southern. The Kremlins and the Chinese Wall were built by the northern civilization. The fact that the walls of the structures of the northern civilization are better suited for combat indicates that in most cases the aggressors were representatives of the southern civilization.

On November 7, 2006, an article by V.I. was published in the journal Organizmica. Semeiko “The Great Wall of China was built... not by the Chinese!”, in which the President of the Academy of Basic Sciences Andrei Aleksandrovich Tyunyaev expressed his thoughts about the non-Chinese origin of the “Chinese” wall:

– As is known, north of the territory modern China there was another, much more ancient civilization. This has been repeatedly confirmed by archaeological discoveries made, in particular, in Eastern Siberia. Impressive evidence of this civilization, comparable to Arkaim in the Urals, not only has not yet been studied and comprehended by the world historical science, but did not even receive proper assessment in Russia itself. As for the so-called “Chinese” wall, it is not entirely legitimate to talk about it as an achievement of ancient Chinese civilization.

Here, to confirm our scientific correctness, it is enough to cite only one fact. THE LOOPS on a significant part of the wall ARE NOT DIRECTED TO THE NORTH, BUT TO THE SOUTH! And this is clearly visible not only in the most ancient, unreconstructed sections of the wall, but even in recent photographs and works of Chinese drawings. It has also been suggested that in fact the “Chinese” wall was built for defense against the Chinese, who subsequently they simply appropriated the achievements of other ancient civilizations.

After the publication of this article, its data was used by many media outlets. In particular, on November 22, 2006, Ivan Koltsov published the article “History of the Fatherland. Rus' began in Siberia,” in which he spoke about the discovery made by researchers from the Academy of Basic Sciences. After this, interest in reality in relation to the “Chinese” wall grew significantly.

Literature:

Solovyov, 1879. Solovyov S.M., History of Russia since ancient times, volume 12, chapter 5. 1851 - 1879.

Tyunyaev, 2008.

Tyunyaev, 2010. Tyunyaev A.A. Ancient Rus', Svarog and Svarog’s grandchildren // Studies of ancient Russian mythology. – M.: 2010.

Tyunyaev, 2010a. Tyunyaev. In the Neolithic, Northern China was inhabited by Russians.

Tyunyaev, 2010b. About the journey of the people of VK.

The Chinese Wall is a great barrier against the Chinese, built by the Russians...

DEMAND CHINESE TOUR OPERATORS TO TRAVEL IN THE GREAT CREATION OF NON-CHINESE! AND THEY WILL SHOW YOU, BUT WHAT?..

Badaling is the most visited section of the Great Wall of China by tourists.

“A long wall of 10,000 li” is what the Chinese themselves call this miracle of ancient engineering. For a huge country with a population of almost one and a half billion, it has become a source of national pride, business card, which attracts travelers from all over the world. Today, the Great Wall of China is one of the most popular attractions - approximately 40 million people visit it every year. In 1987, the unique site was included by UNESCO in the list of world cultural heritage.

Local residents also like to repeat that anyone who does not climb the wall is not a real Chinese. This phrase, uttered by Mao Zedong, is perceived as a real call to action. Despite the fact that the height of the structure is approximately 10 meters with a width of different areas within 5-8 m (not to mention the not-so-convenient steps), there are no fewer foreigners wanting to feel like true Chinese, at least for a moment. In addition, from above, a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area opens up, which you can admire endlessly.

You can’t help but be surprised at how harmoniously this creation of human hands fits into the natural landscape, forming a single whole with it. The solution to the phenomenon is simple: the Great Wall of China was not laid across desert terrain, but next to hills and mountains, spurs and deep gorges, smoothly bending around them. But why did the ancient Chinese need to build such a large and extensive fortification? How did the construction proceed and how long did it last? These questions are asked by everyone who has been lucky enough to visit here at least once. Researchers have long ago received answers to them, and we will dwell on the rich historical past of the Great Wall of China. It itself leaves tourists with an ambiguous impression, since some areas are in excellent condition, while others are completely abandoned. Only this circumstance in no way detracts from the interest in this object - rather, on the contrary.

History of the construction of the Great Wall of China

In the 3rd century BC, one of the rulers of the Celestial Empire was Emperor Qing Shi Huang. His era fell on the Warring States period. It was a difficult and contradictory time. The state was threatened from all sides by enemies, especially the aggressive Xiongnu nomads, and it needed protection from their treacherous raids. Thus was born the decision to build an impregnable wall - high and extensive, so that no one could disturb the peace of the Qin Empire. At the same time, this structure was supposed to be, to put it modern language, demarcate the boundaries of the ancient Chinese kingdom and promote its further centralization. The wall was also intended to solve the issue of “purity of the nation”: by fencing off the barbarians, the Chinese would be deprived of the opportunity to enter into marriage relations with them and have children together.

The idea of ​​​​building such a grandiose border fortification was not born out of the blue. There were already precedents. Many kingdoms - for example, Wei, Yan, Zhao and the already mentioned Qin - tried to build something similar. The State of Wei built its wall around 353 BC. BC: the adobe structure divided it with the Qin kingdom. Later, this and other border fortifications were connected to each other, and they formed a single architectural ensemble.

Construction of the Great Wall of China has started along Yingshan - mountain system in Inner Mongolia, which is in northern China. The emperor appointed commander Meng Tian to coordinate its progress. There was a lot of work to be done. Previously built walls needed to be strengthened, connected with new sections and extended. As for the so-called “internal” walls, which served as boundaries between individual kingdoms, they were simply demolished.

The construction of the first sections of this grandiose object took a total of a decade, and the construction of the entire Great Wall of China lasted for two millennia (according to some evidence, even for as long as 2,700 years). At its different stages, the number of people simultaneously involved in the work reached three hundred thousand. In total, the authorities attracted (more precisely, forced) about two million people to join them. These were representatives of many social strata: slaves, peasants, and military personnel. The workers worked in inhumane conditions. Some died from overwork as such, others became victims of severe and incurable infections.

The terrain itself was not conducive to comfort, at least relative. The structure ran along the mountain ranges, skirting all the spurs extending from them. The builders moved forward, overcoming not only high climbs, but also many gorges. Their sacrifices were not in vain - at least from the perspective of today: it was precisely this landscape of the area that determined the unique appearance of the miracle structure. Not to mention its size: on average, the height of the wall reaches 7.5 meters, and this does not take into account the rectangular teeth (with them the entire 9 m is obtained). Its width is also uneven - at the bottom 6.5 m, at the top 5.5 m.

The Chinese popularly call their wall the “earth dragon.” And it is by no means accidental: at the very beginning, any materials were used during its construction, primarily compacted earth. It was done like this: first, shields were woven from reeds or twigs, and between them clay, small stones and other available materials were pressed in layers. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang got down to business, they began to use more reliable stone slabs, which were laid close to each other.

Surviving sections of the Great Wall of China

However, it was not only the variety of materials that determined the heterogeneous appearance of the Great Wall of China. The towers also make it recognizable. Some of them were built even before the wall itself appeared, and were built into it. Other elevations appeared simultaneously with the stone “border”. It is not difficult to determine which ones were before and which ones were built after: the first ones have a smaller width and are located at unequal distances, while the second ones fit organically into the building and are exactly 200 meters apart from each other. They were usually built rectangular, on two floors, equipped with upper platforms with loopholes. Observation of enemy maneuvers, especially when they were advancing, was carried out from signal towers located here on the wall.

When the Han Dynasty, which ruled from 206 BC to 220 AD, came to power, the Great Wall of China was expanded westward to Dunhuang. During this period, the object was equipped with a whole line of watchtowers that went deep into the desert. Their purpose was to protect caravans with goods, which often suffered from raids by nomads. Most of the sections of the wall that have survived to this day were built during the Ming Dynasty, which ruled from 1368 to 1644. They were built mainly from more reliable and durable materials - stone blocks and bricks. Over the three centuries of the reign of the said dynasty, the Great Wall of China “grew” significantly, stretching from the coast of Bohai Bay (Shanhaiguan Outpost) to the border of the modern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province (Yumenguan Outpost).

Where does the wall begin and end?

The man-made border of Ancient China originates in the north of the country, in the city of Shanghai-guan, located on the shores of the Bohai Bay of the Yellow Sea, which once had strategic importance on the borders of Manchuria and Mongolia. This is the easternmost point " Long wall 10,000 li." The Laoluntou Tower is also located here, it is also called the “dragon’s head”. The tower is also notable for the fact that it is the only place in the country where the Great Wall of China is washed by the sea, and it itself goes as much as 23 meters into the bay.

The westernmost point of the monumental structure is located in the vicinity of the city of Jiayuguan, in the central part of the Celestial Empire. Here the Great Wall of China is best preserved. This site was built back in the 14th century, so it also might not stand the test of time. But it survived due to the fact that it was constantly strengthened and repaired. The westernmost outpost of the empire was built near Mount Jiayuoshan. The outpost was equipped with a moat and walls - internal and semicircular external. There are also main gates located on the western and eastern sides of the outpost. The Yuntai Tower stands proudly here, considered by many almost as a separate attraction. Inside, Buddhist texts and bas-reliefs of ancient Chinese kings are carved on the walls, which arouse the constant interest of researchers.

Myths, legends, interesting facts

For a long time it was believed that the Great Wall of China could be seen from space. Moreover, this myth was born long before flights into low-Earth orbit, in 1893. This was not even an assumption, but a statement made by The Century magazine (USA). Then they returned to this idea in 1932. The then famous showman Robert Ripley claimed that the structure could be seen from the moon. With the advent of the era of space flight, these claims were generally refuted. According to NASA experts, the object is barely visible from orbit, from which it is approximately 160 km from the Earth's surface. The wall, and then with the help of strong binoculars, was able to be seen by the American astronaut William Pogue.

Another myth takes us directly back to the construction of the Great Wall of China. An ancient legend says that powder prepared from human bones was allegedly used as a cementing solution that held the stones together. There was no need to go far to get the “raw materials” for it, given that many workers died here. Fortunately, this is just a legend, albeit a creepy one. The ancient masters actually prepared the adhesive solution from powder, but the base of the substance was ordinary rice flour.

There is a legend that a large fiery Dragon paved the way for the workers. He indicated in which areas the wall should be built, and the builders steadily followed in his footsteps. Another legend tells of a farmer's wife named Meng Jing Nu. Having learned about the death of her husband during construction, she came there and began to cry inconsolably. As a result, one of the plots collapsed, and the widow saw the remains of her loved one underneath, which she was able to take and bury.

It is known that the wheelbarrow was invented by the Chinese. But few people know that they were prompted to do this by the beginning of the construction of a grandiose facility: the workers needed convenient adaptation, with which it would be possible to transport building materials. Some sections of the Great Wall of China, which were of exceptional strategic importance, were surrounded by protective ditches, filled with water or left in the form of ditches.

Great Wall of China in winter

Sections of the Great Wall of China

Several sections of the Great Wall of China are open to tourists. Let's talk about some of them.

The outpost closest to Beijing, the modern capital of the People's Republic of China, is Badaling (it is also one of the most popular). It is located north of the Juyunguan Pass and only 60 km from the city. It was built during the era of the ninth Chinese emperor, Hongzhi, who reigned from 1487 to 1505. Along this section of the wall there are signal platforms and watchtowers, which open onto great view, if you climb to its highest point. At this location, the height of the object reaches an average of 7.8 meters. The width is sufficient for 10 pedestrians to pass or 5 horses to pass.

Another outpost quite close to the capital is called Mutianyu and is located 75 km from it, in Huairou, a municipal district of Beijing. This site was built during the reign of Emperors Longqing (Zhu Zaihou) and Wanli (Zhu Yijun), who belonged to the Ming Dynasty. At this point the wall takes a sharp turn towards the northeastern regions of the country. The local landscape is mountainous, with many steep slopes and cliffs. The outpost is notable for the fact that at its southeastern end three branches of the “great stone border” come together, and at a height of 600 meters.

One of the few areas where the Great Wall of China has been preserved almost in its original form is Symatai. It is located in the village of Gubeikou, which is 100 km northeast of Miyun County, which belongs to the municipality of Beijing. This section stretches for 19 km. In its southeastern part, impressive with its inaccessible appearance even today, there are partially preserved observation towers (14 in total).

The steppe section of the wall originates from the Jinchuan Gorge - it is east of the county town of Shandan, in Zhangye County, Gansu Province. In this place, the structure stretches for 30 km, and its height varies between 4-5 meters. In ancient times, the Great Wall of China was supported on both sides by a parapet that has survived to this day. The gorge itself deserves special attention. At a height of 5 meters, if you count from its bottom, several carved hieroglyphs can be seen right on the rocky cliff. The inscription translates as "Jinchuan Citadel".

In the same Gansu province, north of the Jiayuguan outpost, at a distance of only 8 km, there is a steep section of the Great Wall of China. It was built during the Ming Empire. It received this appearance due to the specifics of the local landscape. The bends of the mountainous terrain, which the builders were forced to take into account, “lead” the wall to a steep descent straight into the crevice, where it runs smoothly. In 1988, Chinese authorities restored this site and opened it to tourists a year later. From the watchtower there is a magnificent panorama of the surroundings on both sides of the wall.

A steep section of the Great Wall of China

The ruins of the Yanguan outpost are located 75 km southwest of the city of Dunhuang, which in ancient times served as the gateway to the Celestial Empire on the Great silk road. In ancient times, the length of this section of the wall was approximately 70 km. Here you can see impressive piles of stones and earthen ramparts. All this leaves no doubt: there were at least a dozen sentinel and signal towers here. However, they have not survived to this day, except for the signal tower north of the outpost, on Mount Dundong.

The section known as the Wei Wall originates in Chaoyuandun (Shaanxi Province), located on the west coast of the Changjian River. Not far from here is the northern spur of one of the five sacred mountains of Taoism - Huashan, which belongs to the Qinling Range. From here, the Great Wall of China moves towards the northern regions, as evidenced by its fragments in the villages of Chennan and Hongyan, of which the first is best preserved.

Measures to preserve the wall

Time has not been kind to this unique architectural object, which many call the eighth wonder of the world. The rulers of the Chinese kingdoms did everything in their power to counteract the destruction. However, from 1644 to 1911 - the period of the Manchu Qing dynasty - the Great Wall was practically abandoned and suffered even greater destruction. Only the Badaling section was maintained in order, and that was because it was located near Beijing and was considered the “front gate” to the capital. History, of course, does not tolerate the subjunctive mood, but if not for the betrayal of the commander Wu Sangui, who opened the gates of the Shanhaiguan outpost to the Manchus and let the enemy through, the Ming dynasty would not have fallen, and the attitude towards the wall would have remained the same - careful.

Deng Xiaoping, founder economic reforms in the PRC, he paid great attention to preserving the country's historical heritage. It was he who initiated the restoration of the Great Wall of China, the program of which started in 1984. It was financed from a variety of sources, including funds from foreign business structures and donations from individuals. To raise money in the late 80s, an art auction was even held in the capital of the Celestial Empire, the progress of which was widely covered not only in the country itself, but also by leading television companies in Paris, London and New York. The proceeds were used to conduct big job, but distant from tourist centers sections of the wall are still in poor condition.

On September 6, 1994, the thematic Museum of the Great Wall of China was inaugurated in Badaling. Behind the building, which resembles a wall in its appearance, is herself. The institution is designed to popularize the great historical and cultural heritage of this, without exaggeration, unique architectural object.

Even the corridor in the museum is stylized like it - it is distinguished by its tortuousness, along its entire length there are “passages”, “signal towers”, “fortresses”, etc. The excursion makes you feel as if you are traveling along the real Great Wall of China: it’s so here everything is thought out and realistic.

Note to tourists

On the Mutianyu section, the longest of the fully restored fragments of the wall, located 90 km north of the capital of the People's Republic of China, there are two funiculars. The first is equipped with closed cabins and is designed for 4-6 people, the second is an open lift, similar to ski lifts. Those suffering from acrophobia (fear of heights) are better off not taking risks and prefer a walking tour, which, however, is also fraught with difficulties.

Climbing the Great Wall of China is quite easy, but descending can turn into real torture. The fact is that the height of the steps is not the same and varies between 5-30 centimeters. You should go down them with extreme care and it is advisable not to stop, because after a pause it is much more difficult to resume the descent. One tourist even calculated: climbing the wall at its lowest section involves climbing 4 thousand (!) steps.

Time to visit, how to get to the Great Wall of China

Excursions to the Mutianyu site from March 16 to November 15 are held from 7:00 to 18:00, in other months - from 7:30 to 17:00.

The Badaling site is open to visitors from 6:00 to 19:00 in summer and from 7:00 to 18:00 in winter.

You can get acquainted with the Symatai site in November-March from 8:00 to 17:00, in April-November - from 8:00 to 19:00.

A visit to the Great Wall of China is provided both as part of excursion groups and on an individual basis. In the first case, tourists are delivered by special buses, which usually depart from Beijing's Tiananmen Square, Yabaolu and Qianmen streets; in the second, inquisitive travelers are served public transport or a private car with driver hired for the whole day.

First option will do for those who find themselves in the Celestial Empire for the first time and do not know the language. Or, on the contrary, those who know the country and speak Chinese, but at the same time want to save money: group excursions are relatively inexpensive. But there are also costs, namely the significant duration of such tours and the need to focus on other members of the group.

Public transport to get to the Great Wall of China is usually used by those who know Beijing well and speak and read at least a little Chinese. A trip by regular bus or train will cost less than even the most attractively priced group tour. There is also time savings: a self-guided tour will allow you not to be distracted, for example, by visiting numerous souvenir shops, where guides love to take tourists in the hope of earning their commissions from sales.

Renting a driver and a car for the whole day is the most comfortable and flexible way to get to the section of the Great Wall of China that you choose. The pleasure is not cheap, but it is worth it. Wealthy tourists often book a car through the hotel. You can catch it simply on the street, like an ordinary taxi: this is how many residents of the capital earn money, readily offering their services to foreigners. Just don’t forget to get the driver’s phone number or take a photo of the car itself, so you don’t have to look for it for a long time if the person leaves or drives off somewhere before you return from the excursion.