After 1,300 years of constant raids the Ming were desperate for defense.
They set
out to extend the Wall and it eventually would span from Dandung to Jiayuguan.
The Ming built The Wall more than any other dynasty. On lakes
they built arches and damns for irrigation. They
used brick-facing for the Wall itself. They developed one of the strongest bricks
known to mankind (even to this day). The bricks were made in kilns.
The bricks would be stacked up, heated and allowed to sit for days. Then
after a period of time, water was put on the bricks to cool them down and these
bricks were then sent to the builders.
The Ming had a great strategy for building The Wall. Under the layers of bricks was a stone foundation.
Then
there was a layer of compacted rubble and clay. Next
there was an outer layer of bricks. Then, even
more bricks were added (these were stronger than the others). Actual defensive
structures were built on top of these layers.
Each brick and
stone of The Wall was a plane within itself.
Vertical
pressure from the bricks formed a stable tr
iangular shape.
The
entire wall was a massive triangle with smaller triangles within it to make it a
more stable and rigid structure. If the
slope was less than 45 degrees bricks were laid parallel to the mountain to save
time (this was only possible with very strong brickwork). The
amount of bricks used in the wall could theoretically circle the earth at the
equator five times with a wall five feet high and 3 feet thick.
The Ming had to build over razor-sharp mountains at slopes of 70 degrees and at
elevations of 7,000 feet above sea level.
Some
places on the Wall were just 20 inches wide with steep drops on either side.
This supplied enough defense in some places, but in others, a unique defense
system had to be set up.
The unique method used for the defense of the Wall was as
follows. Drainage
systems on The Wall took water away from the attackers and did not allow plants
to grow on the attacker’s side, making it harder to hide. Watch
towers were built in enemy territory so that the Ming could attack from two
sides. Arrows
and spears were shot through heavily protected slits (later cannons were used)
to protect from return fire. Still
after this the Ming were the first to discover gunpowder and used hand- grenades
and mines to help attack.
When the attackers
reached the Wall the defenders threw rocks on them, creating an avalanche.
If the
attackers survived this the attackers would have to fight hand to hand along the
wall and slowly the Chinese would move closer and closer to a guard tower.
When they
got to the guard towers a ladder would be thrown down and the Ming would climb
up and the attackers would be stuck below and would be trapped.
All people coming into China would have to pass through the Wall.
They
would first be led to a stretch of outer wall.
Then they
would be led through a courtyard .
In there,
the Ming could trap enemies, if needed, by ambushing them from above.
Then
people were led into a city. However by the 17th
century there was corruption and hatred in China and by 1644 the Ming Dynasty
fell.
[ Title Page
] [ Physics ] [ History
] [ Chinese Architecture ] [ Labs
and Experiments ] [ Interactions ] [ Photo
Gallery ] [ Bibliography ] [ About
the Designers ]