First Pass Under Heaven

Among the great hallmarks of Chinese culture and history, and one of the most extraordinary architectural achievements in the world, is the Great Wall. Spanning almost 4500 miles from east to west, this remarkable structure traces the outlines of China's many hills and mountains from the Shan-hai Pass near Po Hai to Chia-yü Pass in Kansu Province. Built between the 4th and 7th centuries, the Great Wall was once considered by many Chinese as the "First Pass Under Heaven," which safeguarded their land from the "barbarians" who surrounded it.

Originally, the Great Wall was built for protection against both foreign invasions and invasions from other Chinese provinces. Known as the "Square Wall," this line of defense began in the northern area of the Ch'u province. Over time, other Chinese states followed Ch'u's example and began constructing walls of their own. By the 3rd century B.C., Shih huang-ti, who united all of China and became the first emperor of the Ch'in dynasty, ordered a number of connecting walls to be built that created a single defensive line. Using the labor of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and slaves, construction began about 214 B.C. and took nearly a decade to complete. However, with the fall of the Ch'in dynasty, the wall was left largely unmanned and fell into disrepair.

Despite its deterioration, the Great Wall was not forgotten. During the 1st and 2nd centuries B.C., the wall was fortified and strengthened. During this period, the Great Wall was also instrumental in the growth of the famous Silk Road, the great trading route that linked China and the West. The wall underwent numerous repairs and additional construction in order to maintain its importance as a protective barrier against enemies of the Chinese. These repairs and building efforts continued well into the 20th century. By the time of the Manchu dynasty in 1911, however, the Chinese relied less on strong fortifications to protect themselves from foreign powers and more on diplomatic efforts. Once more, the Great Wall fell into ruin.

The Great Wall itself consists of three major elements, or parts. The passes, or fortresses, were usually located at key strategic positions along the wall, such as road intersections. The passes stood 30 feet high and were 13 to 16 feet wide at the top. Constructed of huge bricks and stones, these barriers also had ramps that allowed horses and soldiers to come and go more easily. The tops of the passes were also constructed to prevent horses and people from falling. Within each pass was a large wooden gate.

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