CHINESE WALL

When we say the Great Wall of China, we envision a structure stretching like a dragon asleep on the mountains. Perhaps, the number of those who have seen this structure while traveling to and from China is not very high. However, we have surely seen it in some way. Even a person who knows little about China is at least aware of the Great Wall.

However, our knowledge about this iconic structure is very limited. Unfortunately, what we know about this structure, frequently mentioned in Central Asian Turkic history, can be encountered in encyclopedic information. We can briefly summarize the essence of encyclopedias and some history books: 'This wall, 3,000 kilometers long and 6 meters thick, was built to resist continuous raids from Turks and Mongols coming from the north to China.'

There may be some minor variations in the numbers given here, but the essence of the narrative remains unchanged. It is even perceived as a source of pride by some individuals and proudly expressed as 'how much they feared the Turks, the brave Chinese joined them.'
Before providing data on the distributions of the Great Wall of China, let me give you some brief information about this structure.

The Chinese name for the Great Wall is "Wan Li Changcheng," which translates to "The Wall of Ten Thousand Li" in English. In terms of kilometers, it is approximately 6,700 kilometers long. The wall has a base width of 6.5 meters, and the upper width is 5.7 meters. Its height from the ground is generally 8.5 meters, reaching 12 meters at significant passes and large gates. In the high mountain peaks, the height can drop to 1.5-2 meters. The height of the watchtowers is around 1-1.7 meters. Some sections of the wall are made of stone, while others are made of bricks, and it is claimed that the structure is visible from space with the naked eye.
Generally, it is accepted that the construction of the Great Wall took place during the reign of Ch'in Shih Huang in 215 B.C. However, its construction dates back even further. During the Period of Warring States, in the 7th century B.C., seven rival feudal states engaged in fierce wars. To define their boundaries in areas without natural barriers like mountains and rivers, these states built high walls. The first wall was constructed in 657 B.C. by the Ch'u feudal state. Later, in the 6th and 5th centuries B.C., other feudal states, including the Ch'i feudal state, built walls to mark their borders. Thus, a section of the Great Wall emerged during those times. The walls built during this period are referred to as the "inner wall." Later, in the 4th century B.C., the northern feudal states Yen, Chao, Ch'in, Wei, and Han, bordering the Hun (Xiongnu), built walls known as the "outer wall."

In 221 B.C., the Ch'in feudal state, by defeating the other six feudal states, established political unity in the country and founded the Ch'in Dynasty. After achieving political unity, a 300,000-strong army under the command of General Meng T'ien marched against the Huns in 215 B.C., forcing them to withdraw to the north. The fertile He Han region, located within the meander of the Yellow River, fell into the hands of the Chinese, and this region was named Hsin Ch'in Chung, meaning "New Territory of the Ch'in State

After the Huns were pushed to the north, the walls previously built by the feudal lords of Yen, Chao, Ch'in, Wei, and Han started to be connected. Necessary approvals were obtained for this process. Thirty thousand families from the six feudal states, which were opponents of the Ch'in feudal state, were resettled in the region captured from the Huns. Alongside the soldiers under the command of Meng T'ien, they participated in the construction of the Great Wall. In addition to over a million workers who participated in the construction of the Great Wall due to the Mandatory Physical Labor Obligation, many criminals also worked on the wall, paying for their crimes through this labor​​.
The construction of the Great Wall continued uninterrupted until 210 B.C., the year of Ch'in Shih Huang's death. After the ruler's death, the prime minister, fearing the power of General Meng T'ien, falsely informed Meng T'ien of a "death penalty by suicide" as if it were the ruler's order. Meng T'ien committed suicide. Following Meng T'ien's death, many soldiers and Chinese families in this region fled.

In 206 B.C., the Ch'in Dynasty came to an end, and the Han Dynasty was established. During the early days of the newly established Han Dynasty, China was in a weakened state. In this period when the Huns were powerful, the Chinese adopted a policy of peaceful coexistence. They sent princesses and various gifts to establish kinship with the Huns. During this peaceful period, the Great Wall was considered a border between nomadic people to the north and agricultural Chinese to the south​​.

During the Han Dynasty, the system of exiling criminals to the north and employing them in the construction of the Great Wall, initiated during the Ch'in Dynasty, continued. While the construction of the Great Wall persisted, the sections affected by natural elements were constantly repaired. Repair works were continued by subsequent dynasties. The most significant repairs were carried out during the Ming Dynasty, which ruled between the 14th and 17th centuries. After the expulsion of the Mongols from China, the extensively damaged Great Wall underwent a significant restoration, as if being reconstructed from scratch. The majority of the Great Wall that has survived to the present day was constructed during the Ming Dynasty​​.

the Great Wall of China. Now, let's delve into the reasons behind the construction of the Great Wall. Although it is often stated that it was built to stop the incursions of the Turks and Mongols from the north into China, claiming that this magnificent structure, built at the cost of millions of Chinese lives, was solely for defensive purposes is not very convincing.
The political reasons for the construction of the Great Wall are more prominent than military reasons. In our view, the fundamental purpose of building this wall is to define the border between the Chinese, who are an agrarian society, and the nomadic nations. Let's try to explain how we reached this conclusion with examples.
After the political unification of China, the country's borders expanded rapidly. It was bounded by the sea in the east and south, high plateaus in the west, and in the north, there were no natural borders beyond the Yellow River (Huang Ho) and the Yin Mountains (Yin Shan). To define the border in this region, the idea of connecting the walls built in previous periods was considered. This is how the Great Wall of China emerged.

We know that the Chinese cannot resist enclosing their lands, cities, and villages with walls. These walls, which may initially seem to serve only a defensive purpose, have other functions as well. In reality, no wall is impregnable. However, the Chinese feel safer within the walls​​.

With the construction of the Great Wall of China, the message Ch'in Shih Huang intended to convey to nomadic nations is as follows: "This wall defines the border between us. The inner side of this wall belongs to us, and the outer side belongs to you. As long as you do not cross this wall and attack our lands, we won't interfere with what you do."

Ch'in Shih Huang aimed for uniform standards throughout his country and implemented various practices in this regard. The width of roads, the diameter of wheels, and axle spacings were standardized, using the same measurements across the entire country. For this, the borders of the country were first defined.
As mentioned earlier, the construction of the Great Wall began after Meng T'ien's army forced the Huns to retreat to the north. During this period, the Chinese were militarily and economically powerful. The Huns did not pose a threat to China. It is not very convincing to claim that the Chinese built this wall out of fear of the Huns, especially considering the ease with which the Chinese could push the Huns into the northern plains. If the lands to which the Huns retreated were fertile, undoubtedly Meng T'ien's army would not have let the Huns off so easily and would have sought ways to push them further. The Great Wall can be seen as a border not only between the fertile and infertile lands but also as a boundary between the Chinese and the nomadic cultures.

In the subsequent Han Dynasty, the situation reversed. The Huns became powerful, and during this period, they easily crossed the Great Wall whenever they pleased, entering Chinese territories. They roamed freely in the He Han region, which the Chinese had lost. Ch'in Shih Huang had invested the country's entire strength in structures like the Great Wall, the palace, roads, and monumental tombs. Consequently, the newly established Han Dynasty was impoverished. To illustrate the extent of poverty, it's mentioned that the Han Dynasty ruler couldn't find four horses of the same color to pull his chariot, and the prime minister and generals could only ride ox carts

Fearing the Huns, the Chinese made efforts to maintain good relations with them, establishing kinship ties by sending them princesses and various gifts. During this period, the Huns and the Chinese lived peacefully. The Great Wall of China was not a deterrent to the powerful Huns, and as evident, it did not serve a defensive purpose during this era. According to the agreements made, it mainly defined the border between the Huns and the Chinese.
During the Ch'in Dynasty, harsh laws, the unbearable increase in "forced labor obligations," and exorbitant taxes led the people to abandon their lands and flee northward to regions without oppression. For those seeking to escape, the Great Wall stood as the greatest obstacle in their path.

In the Economic Records section of Han History, it is mentioned that after the establishment of the Ch'in Dynasty, forced labor obligations increased 30 times compared to previous periods, and tax revenues increased 20 times​​​​.

Let's take a look at the types of work the Chinese people were compelled to do under the forced labor obligations:
a) The number of workers involved in the construction of the Great Wall of China is more than a million. The number of soldiers responsible for overseeing their work and preventing escapes is 300,000.
b) In the construction of the "A Fang Palace," 700,000 workers were employed. This palace, made of wood, was completely burned during an internal conflict in the Han period.
c) The construction of the grand mausoleum for Ch'in Shih Huang involved more than 700,000 workers. The construction of this mausoleum, initiated shortly after Ch'in Shih Huang ascended the throne, lasted for 30 years. According to the excavation results in 1974, the underground palace of this mausoleum covers an area of 84,000 m².
d) During the 12 years of Ch'in Shih Huang's rule, he conducted five extensive trips covering the entire country. Well-constructed roads were built for his chariot to pass through, involving hundreds of thousands of workers.
During the Warring States Period, it is estimated that the population of the country was around 10 million[8]. Therefore, the population during the Ch'in Dynasty is approximately 10 million. As seen, the number of people engaged in the mentioned works is more than 3 million. In other words, about one-third of the country's population was employed in such tasks.
Due to the harsh laws and ruthless practices during the Ch'in Dynasty, the people were reduced to a state akin to slaves. To shed light on the situation people were in during this period, let's provide a few examples of the punishments imposed and the general conditions:

1. In 356 B.C., under the penalty system implemented by Shan Yang, 15 families formed a group. These families were obligated to mutually control each other to prevent crimes. If someone committed a crime and another family reported it, the reporting family or families would be executed by being cut in half at the waist with a sword. The family members who concealed the guilty individual would be considered equivalent to traitors who surrendered to the enemy and would be executed as well [9].

Facing the prospect of collective death due to someone else's crime was not an easily acceptable situation. Everyone was trying to escape from this country and this regime to save their lives.

1. Another law implemented during this period stated that if a military unit failed to reach its destination on time, everyone from the commander to the soldiers would be sentenced to death. Therefore, soldiers who understood that they would be sentenced to death often fled north, taking advantage of the weak state of the government.

In the later years of the Ch'in Dynasty, a unit of 500, due to heavy rain, couldn't reach its destination on time. Not wanting to die, these soldiers, emboldened by the weakness of the state, rebelled against the government. This rebellion grew over time and eventually led to the end of the Ch'in Dynasty[10].

1. Starting in 746 B.C. (Ch'un Ch'iu Period) but applied much more ruthlessly during the Ch'in Dynasty, there was another punishment system. According to this system, the family of the offender and families related to that family by blood were executed en masse.

Here, we briefly touched upon some of the punishment systems applied during this period. As evident, the people lived constantly in fear of death, and the methods of executing these punishments are unimaginably horrifying.
As seen, during the Ch'in Dynasty, the entire economic and human resources of the country were mobilized for the construction of the Great Wall of China, palaces, roads, and grand mausoleums. The increase in mandatory working hours, higher taxes, being sentenced to work on the border unjustly accused, and living in constant fear of death exhausted the Chinese people. Before them, there was only one hope for salvation: to escape to the Hun territories and establish a new way of life there. The constructed Great Wall seems more like a prison wall built to prevent all these people from escaping. Nevertheless, the number of those escaping to the north is not small.
In the Records of the Hun in the History of the Han Dynasty (Han Shu), it is mentioned that there are many "Ch'in people" among the Huns. The historian Yen Shih Ku, when explaining the term "Ch'in people," says: "During the Ch'in Dynasty, many Chinese fled to the Huns. In the Han Dynasty, those descended from these individuals are called 'Ch'in people'" [11]. The Japanese author Takeshi Kaiko vividly describes the hardships and pains endured by the forcibly employed Chinese people in the construction of the Great Wall and the A Fang Palace in his work "Panic and Escape." Those wanting to escape are brutally killed by Chinese soldiers. The Chinese hero of the story says at the end: "To escape without trusting anyone and become a Hun, that's the only way I can see. I don't know if the Huns will accept me among them, but I'll risk everything to try" [12].
In the later years of the Han Dynasty, there is an interesting discussion about the destruction of the Great Wall in a meeting between the peaceful Chinese and the Huns, and a report submitted by a Chinese minister to the Han Emperor Han Yuan Ti.
In 33 B.C., a period when the Huns were weak and the Chinese were strong, the leader of the Huns, Hu Han Hsieh, visits to show his allegiance to the new Chinese ruler. He receives various gifts, expressing his desire to become the son-in-law of the emperor. Consequently, a palace maid named Wang Chao Chün is given to the leader of the Huns as a wife. Hu Han Hsieh, in his thank-you letter to the Han ruler, suggests that the Great Wall is no longer necessary, and it would be good to demolish it so that the soldiers and officials there can return to their homes. He assures that the Huns will protect the Chinese border from generation to generation, allowing the ruler to sit on the throne fearlessly.
Han Yuan Ti tasks his ministers with discussing this matter. The ministers agree that such a proposal is feasible and approve it. However, a minister named Hou Ying, who is familiar with the border regions and nomadic nations, believes that this proposal is not as good as it seems. He presents a report to the emperor on this matter. Let's take a look at this report in the Records of the Hun section in the History of the Han Dynasty:
"The Huns have been a constant threat to China since the Chou Dynasty and the Ch'in Dynasty. They have occasionally attacked China. Although the Great Wall was considered a border during the early years of the Han Dynasty, the Huns frequently crossed this wall, roamed and hunted in the region that used to be their own, as if it were still their land. During the wars with the Huns in the reign of Han Wu Ti (141-88 B.C.), the Huns were defeated, and these lands were recaptured. The Huns were again pushed north of the Great Wall, and military forces were sent to the border, and the Great Wall was renovated from scratch."

Hou Ying outlines the disadvantages of demolishing the Great Wall in this report:

1. The north of the Great Wall is a flat terrain with few trees and meadows, mostly covered by deserts. Strong winds blow in these areas. Due to the flat and bare nature of the land, it is not possible for the Huns to hide and organize sudden attacks. In contrast, the south of the Great Wall consists of high mountains and deep valleys. Those living in the border regions say they have not seen anyone crying or anything they haven't seen from the passing Huns. If we withdraw the soldiers from the border region, we would be giving back to the Huns the Dark Mountains (Yin Shan) region, which belonged to them before.
2. You defeated the Huns. Instead of completely annihilating them, you allowed them to live. The Huns are grateful to you and express their loyalty. However, you should know that nomadic nations, when weak, portray themselves as pitiable and submit to everything. But when they become strong, if they have the opportunity, they become very aggressive. It would be impossible to control them now. They forget past events. We are currently secure, but you must not forget the potential danger that may arise in the future.
3. As you know, even educated, law-abiding, patient, and quiet Chinese commit crimes. We cannot prevent them from committing crimes. If the Hun people do not abide by the agreement, how can the leader of the Huns stop them? Is it possible for him to restrain them?
4. The Great Wall was not built solely considering the Huns. Initially constructed among feudal lords, this wall was built to prevent lords from attacking each other's territories. Also, it prevents nomadic people who, for various reasons, have left their lands and settled in Chinese territory from returning, missing their homelands.
5. In our border region, there are Western Ch'iang (Hsi Ch'iang). Due to the love of money by Chinese officials serving in the border regions and their consideration of only their interests, conflicts between this nation and the Chinese are never-ending. Chinese people kidnap the goods, animals, women, and children of the Western Ch'iang. Therefore, there is enmity between them.

If the Great Wall is destroyed, old hostilities will flare up again, and conflicts may reach large proportions.

1. During the wars with the Huns, many Chinese soldiers escaped to the Huns' territories and settled there. The family members (children, grandchildren) of these soldiers who remained in China lead a poor life. These individuals, missing their ancestors, may escape to the Huns for a better life. We would be giving them this opportunity.
2. Male and female servants serving the rich and nobles in the border regions lead a very difficult life. The number of those who want to escape is quite high. They talk among themselves: "Life in the land of the Huns seems very beautiful. It's very comfortable. But we can't do anything other than dream." Despite all the obstacles, we hear that many people have managed to escape. If the Great Wall is destroyed, we would provide an opportunity for everyone who wants to escape.
3. There are many bandit gangs in China. When there is strict surveillance, the Great Wall prevents them from escaping. This way, it is possible for us to catch them. If we eliminate the Great Wall, these gangs will commit more crimes and become more ruthless since they will not fear capture. When we want to catch them, they can easily escape to the north.
4. The Great Wall has been standing for more than 100 years. It could be completed at the cost of many lives and long efforts. Some sections of this wall, made of stone, will deteriorate if not preserved. If we need this wall again someday, restoring it to its old state will take a very long time, and it will be too late.
5. By withdrawing our soldiers responsible for protecting the Great Wall and the border, handing over the defense of our northern borders to the Huns, the leader of the Huns will think that he has done us a favor. However, we will be indebted to him. The Huns will make some demands for the work they have done. Can we know in advance what they will do if we cannot satisfy them?...

Upon reading this report, the ruler insisted that the proposal of the Huns to demolish the Great Wall and disperse the soldiers stationed there should not be discussed again. They sought an appropriate response to convey to the Huns. The general who delivered the news to the Huns made the following statement to their leader:
"The Great Wall was not built against you. It was constructed to prevent malicious individuals from our country from fleeing to your territories and causing harm. We do not consider demolishing this wall because we do not want any harm to come to you."
Upon hearing this statement, the leader of the Huns agreed with the Chinese and thanked them for considering the welfare of the Hun nation​​.

What has been described so far shows that it is not possible to claim that the Great Wall was built solely for defensive purposes. Interestingly, it is suggested that the construction of the Great Wall was intended to protect the Chinese from the Huns. However, millions of Chinese were subjected to inhumane methods during the construction of this wall. Those who wanted to escape to Hun territories were also killed. Considering the needs of the millions of workers involved in the construction – such as food, drink, and other necessities – and the transportation of water for mixing bricks, it is not wise to build such a wall solely for defense. Moreover, the Great Wall passes through ridges that even mountain goats find difficult to climb. Since attacks are not expected from these areas, it cannot be explained by "defense." Another noteworthy point is that when the Chinese are strong, the Huns cannot harm them. In times when the Huns are powerful, the Great Wall has no significance. The Huns can overcome this wall whenever they want and enter Chinese territories. As seen, it is not very effective for defense. Therefore, why was such a human mass sacrificed for the construction of this wall? To explain this, we need to discuss Ch'in Shih Huang.
One of the reasons for the construction of the Great Wall is Ch'in Shih Huang's fear of a
rebellion against him. Let's briefly touch on these:

1. He collected and melted all weapons in the country and cast 12 large statues from the obtained metal. These statues, covered with gold, were placed in the palace garden, thus putting a large amount of metal that could be used in weapon production in front of the ruler.
2. He relocated 120,000 wealthy families to the capital Hsien Yang. He found it appropriate to keep these wealthy families in the capital for easy control.
3. He sent 30,000 families consisting of the aristocrats of the six feudal states he had previously been at war with to the northern border to keep them away from the government center.
4. He killed 460 leading intellectuals of the country by burying them alive, suppressing individuals who could oppose him.
5. He burned all books except those on divination, agriculture, and medicine. He ordered the burning of books because he feared that knowledgeable people would oppose him. Even watching the burning of books was prohibited​​.
6. To ensure that the people were constantly occupied, the obligation of physical work was increased. People were sentenced to a lifetime of work.

Ch'in Shih Huang, who was very afraid of losing power, either eliminated or rendered harmless all entities he considered dangerous to himself. The Great Wall, the millions of Chinese who were used in road and monument construction, could only think of "survival" rather than anything else. Millions of people forcibly separated from their homes and families were taken to the far corners of the country and worked until they died under the torture of Chinese soldiers without even knowing why they had to work like this.
Ch'in Shih Huang is a self-admiring person. He chose the name "Shih Huang," meaning "First Ruler of China," for himself. Throughout his life, he struggled to accomplish things considered impossible.
One characteristic of Ch'in Shih Huang is his intense fear of death. He wants to be immortal. He sends a person named Hsü Fu, along with thousands of girls and boys, to the eastern sea to find the elixir of immortality​​.
Although Ch'in Shih Huang, who sought immortality, could not find the elixir of immortality, he, to some extent, captured immortality with the Great Wall he had built. Ch'in Shih Huang not only with the Great Wall but also with the harsh punishment system he implemented and the monumental tomb that scientists are still working on, will continue to be talked about for centuries.
Another interesting point is the silence of Chinese scientists on the reason for the construction of the Great Wall. When they hear that the Great Wall was built for defensive purposes, they remain silent with a bitter smile and accept this explanation. For some reason, they prefer to remain silent on this matter.