Great Wall of China

Great Wall of China

Theresa Muzzillo
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China was very important in China throughout history. It was built and re-modeled throughout many historical dynasties of China. The Great Wall of China was built for several different reasons. It was constructed for protection from northern invaders; it partially unified China, and was later restored for the attraction of travelers.

There were several different dynasties that made what the Great Wall is today. The first dynasty to begin the construction of the Great Wall was the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.). Shihuangdi built the Great Wall as a defense from northern invaders (7). Weapons of this time, such as arrows, could not reach over the extensive wall. The workers of the Qin Dynasty worked day and night (6). If they complained or attempted to run away and got caught, they suffered severe consequences of being buried alive (6). Most of the workers spent their whole lives building this wall (6) and about 70% of the China population was involved with the construction of this wonder (4). Why were so many people involved in this construction? The Great Wall was unifying China as a country inside the walls. After the Qin Dynasty, construction of the Great Wall didn’t stop. To see more on the Qin Dynasty, click here.

The Han Dynasty (202 B.C.- A.D. 220) continued to add onto and restore the construction of the Qin Dynasty. They extended the wall over 300 more miles through the Gobi Desert using materials such as twigs, red willow reeds, water and fine gravel (4). The Han Dynasty also built beacon towers that were placed about 15-30 miles apart along the wall. Smoke signals from columns were used to warn the defenders of an attack (4). There were several advancements made to the Great Wall in the Han Dynasty that improved and "updated" the wall. The reconstruction did not stop here. It continued into the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). To see more on the Han Dynasty, click here.
The Ming Dynasty was when most of the reconstruction was made and the crumbling walls were rebuilt (4). They added many miles to what already existed in addition to restoring it. The Ming Dynasty built more of the wall than any other dynasty before it. Along with their extensive addition, they built the wall with huge heavy bricks made from clay (6) and granite blocks (1). If all the bricks were taken from only the portion of the wall built during the Ming Dynasty, they would circle the Earth at the equator in a wall five feet high and three feet thick. Modern canons were built along the wall in strategic locations and the watchtowers were redesigned with sophistication (1). To see more on the Ming Dynasty, click here.

After the Ming Dynasty reconstructed the wall for over 200 years, it is now only being restored for the attraction of travelers (4). Throughout the 1,000 years of construction of the Great Wall, 3,000 people died building it. That is more than 300 people per mile (4). After about 2,500 years of the Great Wall standing, it has extended over 6,000 miles at one point reaching from the Yalu River in Northeast China, to Gansu province in Northwest China (5). The actual length of the Great Wall varies from different authors, but it ranges from 3,000 to 4,500 miles (3/4). The actual length of the Great Wall was at one time 6,000 miles long. After lots of vandalism and erosion, the wall has reduced to become what it currently is now.

The Great Wall of China was built for several different reasons. In the Qin Dynasty, Shihuangdi built it for two different main reasons. One was to block the raids from the north, known as Central Asia. The second reason was China thought they were too "civilized" and they should be separated from the "barbaric" countries physically and culturally (Waldron). The Great Wall only protected China from the little invasions, so the Han Dynasty and Ming Dynasty extended onto the wall and increased its size in hope of preventing more invasions. This didn’t help very much because as the wall was developing, there were more advancements in weapons too. The Wall was especially helpful to warn China of invasions because they could see armies from their watchtowers. Re-modeling with advancements such as watchtowers and beacons helped to reach the main reason of building the wall... keeping out invaders (McNeese). After the Ming Dynasty, there was not a whole lot of reconstruction for reasons of protection from invaders. The main reason the Great Wall has been repaired in certain areas is for the attraction of travelers.

The Great Wall of China attracts an extensive amount of travelers every year. What attracts travelers to the Great Wall? It is such a great attraction for many different reasons. The wall is about 3,750 miles long and can even be seen from the moon (McNeese 12). The Great Wall is crumbling and some of it has been restored in areas such as Beijing because it is the most visited area and they want to keep it open to travelers. At one point the wall extended over 6,000 miles long. Travelers walk across the Great Wall of China where originally the width of the wall could fit 5 horse riders or 10-foot soldiers walking shoulder to shoulder (Feinstein 13). One of the highest points of the Great Wall is 35 feet tall. Many travelers are attracted to the watchtowers that are every 100-200 yards (Fryer 2). Each watchtower was about 40 feet high (Fryer 2). The Great Wall is made of granite blocks, stone and sometimes brick. This is interesting because of the way China adapted to the materials in their surroundings. Depending on the location of the wall determined what material to use. In the hill areas of the West, it is made of moistened earth materials and then pounded solid since stone and brick were scarce here. Not only are all these breath-taking features interesting, but the Wall also contained the amazing Ming Tombs. To see more on the Ming Tombs, click here. The Great Wall has been restored and fixed up throughout History to become what it is now and travelers walk across it as if it were one of the Seven Wonders of the World. After all these fascinating heights and lengths, I can understand why so many people would love to see the Great Wall.

The Great Wall went through over 1,000 years of being built and reconstructed through several different dynasties. In each dynasty, the Wall was repaired, "modernized", and added on to for different reasons. Even after those dynasties have fallen, the Great Wall is still being repaired and for yet another reason as to attract tourists and sightseers to the extravagant wonder. With all the amazing sights of the 40 foot watchtowers and extensive, perpetual walls… who wouldn’t want to visit the Great Wall?!?!

The Great Wall of China

The first major wall was built during the reign of Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China during the Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty (221 B.C - 206 B.C.). It was created by joining several existing walls built previously by regional governments. This first wall was built much further north than the current Great Wall, and made of materials that have largely dissappeared over time.
The Great Wall that can still be seen today was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), on a much larger scale and made of stone on the sides and top. The wall housed garrisons, signal fires, and a messenger and postal service. The primary purpose was to make it difficult and slow for nomadic armies to get their horses across the wall. Without their horses the Huns were not a serious military threat. It is 4000 miles long, or 6400 km., and is visible from Earth orbit.

Taj Mahal from the Gate

Design and Layout of Taj Mahal

Design and Layout of Taj Mahal

Overlooking the River Yamuna, and visible from the fort in the west, the Taj Mahal stands at the northern end of vast gardens enclosed by walls. Though its layout follows a distinctly Islamic theme, representing Paradise, it is above all a monument to romantic love. Shah Jahan built the Taj to enshrine the body of his favourite wife, Arjumand Banu Begum, better known as Mumtaz Mahal ("Elect of the Palace"), who died shortly after giving birth to her fourteenth child, in 1631.

Proud Architects of Taj Mahal

The names of the chief architect who worked on the Taj have been noted. Ismail Afandi, who designed the hemispheres and built the domes was from Turkey. Qazim Khan came from Lahore to cast the gold finial that would top the dome. Chiranji Lal was called from Delhi to pattern the mosaic. From Shiraz in Persia came master calligrapher, Amanat Khan. Stone cutter Amir Ali was from Baluchistan. Ustad Isa of Tukey is however credited to have been the main architect. It is believed that his design embodied much of what the Emperor wanted to express.

Agra, the Chosen City

Approach to the Taj: The walled complex is approached from the south through a red sandstone forecourt, Chowk-i Jilo Khana, whose wide paths, flanked by arched kiosks, run to high gates in the east and west. The original entrance, a massive arched gateway topped with delicate domes and adorned with Koranic verses, stands at the northern edge of Chowk-i Jilo Khana, directly aligned with the Taj, but shielding it from the view of those who wait outside. Today's entrance, complete with security checks, is through a narrow archway in the southern wall to the right of the gate.

Garden Mausoleum

The mighty marble tomb stands at the end of superb gardens designed in the charbagh style so fashionable among Moghul, Arabic and Persian architect. Dissected into four quadrants by waterways, they evoke the Islamic image of the Gardens of Paradise, where rivers flow with water, milk, wine and honey. The "rivers" converge at a marble tank in the centre that corresponds to al-Kawthar, the celestial pool of abundance mentioned in the Koran. Today only the watercourse running from north to south is full, and its precise, glassy reflection of the Taj is a favourite photographic image.

The Structure

Essentially square in shape, with peaked arches cut into its sides, the Taj Mahal surmounts a square marble platform marked at each corner by a high minaret. Topped with a huge central dome, it rises for over 55m, its height accentuated by a crowning brass spire, itself almost 17m high. On approach, the tomb looms ever larger and grander, but not until you are close do you appreciate both its awesome magnitude and the extraordinarily fine detail of relief carving, highlighted by floral patterns of precious stones. Carved vases of flowers including roses, tulips and narcissi, rise subtly out of the marble base, a pa ttern repeated more colourfully and inlaid with precious stones around the four great arched recesses (pishtaqs) on each side.

The Tomb

The south face of the tomb is the main entrance to the interior: a high, echoing octagonal chamber flushed with pallid light reflected by yellowing marble surfaces. A marble screen, cut so finely that it seems almost translucent, and decorated with precious stones, scatters dappled light over the cenotaph of Mumtaz Mahal in the centre of the tomb, and that of Shah Jahan next to it. Inlaid stones on the marble tombs are the finest in Agra; attendants gladly illuminate the decorations with torches. The 99 names of Allah adorn the top of Mumtaz's tomb, and set into Shah Jahan's is a pen box, the hallmark of a male ruler. These cenotaphs, in accordance with Moghul tradition, are only representations of the real coffins, which lie in the same positions in an unadorned and humid crypt below that's heavy with the scent of heady incense and rose petals.

Mumtaz Mahal

Mumtaz Mahal

The year 1607 was a momentous year for Prince Khurram, the eldest son of Emperor Jahangir and his father's favourite. He was a young handsome prince accustomed to luxury and refinement. As he made his way to the Meena bazaar, the private market attached to the harem, he was surrounded by a string of fawning companions, all eager to catch his eye. Even at 15, young Khurram cut a dashing figure with his father's aristocratic nose, high forehead and large languid eyes. Every maid at the bazaar carried a torch for him.

The Flame

The Flame is LitArjumand Banu sat with her silks and glass beads at her shop. She was the daughter of Asaf Khan, the brother of the emperor Jahangir's consort, Noorjahan. Exquisitely pretty, Khurram was drawn to her. He saw a piece of glass at her stall and asked its worth. When she saucily replied that it was diamond and not glass he gave her ten thousand rupees (a sum she boldly said he could not afford), picked up the piece of glass and left carryimg with him her image in his mind.

Flamming Passions

The next day Khurram boldly presented his case before the Emperor seeking Arjumand's hand in marriage. The Emperor raised his hand in assent, perhaps recalling his own love for Noorjahan. However, five years were to pass before Khurram was to marry his beloved. Meanwhile, he was married to Quandari Begum, a Persian princess, for political reasons.

A Royal Marriage

The astrologers chose 1612 as auspicious for Khurranb's union with Arjumand. By now he was 20, and she, 19. It was a grand wedding, as befits an Emperor's son. Jahangir and Khurram went in procession, surrounded by nobles, musicians and dancers, acrobats, rare animals in cages, slaves and priests. Jahangir himself adorned Khurram with the wedding wreath of pearls. On the bride, he bestowed great honours.

A Perfect match

Deeply influenced by her aunt, Noorjahan, Arjumand Banu was, unlike her aunt, compassionate, generous and demure. Court poets woud celebrate her beauty saying the moon hid in shame before her. She was inseparable from Khurram and often accompanied him with an entourage when he went to fight wars. In her 19 years of marriage, she bore him 14 children, 7 of whom died in infancy.

Mumtaz Mahal
After Jahangir's death, Khurram became Shah Jahan and Arjumand Banu, Mumtaz Mahal. He built sumptuous palaces for her, for instance, the Khas Mahal in Agra fort. She daily rose in his confidence eventually giving her the royal seal, Muhr Uzah. She continually interceded on behalf of petitioners and gave allowances to widows and orphans. Like many royal ladies, she also had nerves of steel. She is said to have enjoyed the spectacle of men in combat with animals. Shah Jahan is believed to have persecuted the Portuguese at Hooghly at her behest.

Death of a Dream

Mumtaz Mahal died in childbirth in 1630 ib the Deccan where she had gone accompanying Shah Jahan as he went to war with Khan Jahanb Lodi. As she lay on her deathbed, it is said that she whispered to him to build for her a monument that would symbolize the beauty of their love. For a week Shah Jahan remained behind closed doors. When he emerged his hair had turned white, his back was bent, his face worn with despair. The entire kingdom was ordered into mourning for two years.

Tribute to Beauty

As a tribute to a beautiful woman and as a monument to enduring love, the Taj reveals its subtleties at leisure. The rectangular base of Taj is in itself symbolic of the different sides from which to view a beautiful woman. The main gate is like a veil to a woman's face which should be lifted delicately, gently and without haste on the wedding night. Shah Jahan surely had his chaste and exquisite bride in mind when he planned the Taj Mahal.