The Historical Importance and Latest Findings of the Great Wall of China

Introduction

The Great Wall was reckoned as the universe 's largest human-made construction made up of rock, bricks and earthen plants whose building started every bit early as the seventh century BC. Originally, it was used in many intents but the most important was to move as a boundary line control that comprised of ticker towers, fort station and troop quarters etc.

It has received acknowledgment by doing the World Heritage List in 1987 of its cultural values in Chinese history. In recent decennary, archaeologists put attempts in look intoing the existent length of the Wall by using field walking, remote feeling and stratigraphy to look for archeological potency in nearby countries. It has contributed to a drastic alteration for the universe to acknowledge an even larger building undertaking in China. Over the old ages, it has been pulling tourers from all around the Earth to witness this olympian munition. In malice of their eternal captivation towards the most reckonable antediluvian wall, many were inconsiderate in littering that sparked arguments in its saving work. Furthermore, the Great Wall is praised by its profound value in Chinese history, act as a strong symbol and historical grounds for people to determine past events. In the followers, it will discourse its historical importance, recent unearthed findings, saving work and cultural values to analyse its relationship of yesteryear and nowadays.

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Standards of WHL [ Danny ] Harmonizing to the World Heritage Convention, there are 10 standards for the universe heritage choice. Six of them are civilization standards and four of them are natural standards. The commission will measure the heritage site based on this 10 standards. If the heritage sites list on the WHL, “sites must be of outstanding cosmopolitan value and meet at least one out of 10 standards ( UNSECO, n.d. ) ” . The Great Wall is the civilization site that list on the WHL and it meets five out of six civilization standards of choice. In add-on, the Great Wall meets standards ( I ) , ( II ) , ( III ) , ( IV ) and ( VI ) . So, the Great Wall is a heritage site that contains outstanding cosmopolitan value. Therefore, the Great Wall has been listed on the WHL at 1987.

The standard ( I ) is “to represent a chef-d'oeuvre of human originative mastermind ( UNSECO, n.d. ) ” . The Great Wall is a chef-d'oeuvre because it is the lone human custodies built building on the Earth that human can see it from the infinite ( UNSECO, n.d. ) . The length of it is larger than 20,000 kilometres and all built by human custodies. So, it shows the human originative mastermind in edifice this immense graduated table building.

For the standard ( II ) , the heritage site shows the important interchange in the human values. The human values of Chinese spread to the northern frontier in the period of Chunqiu. The Great Wall reinforces the Sinicism by the transportation of population ( UNSECO, n.d. ) . Some of the Chinese and alien from north lived near the Great Wall and the civilization intergradation shows the interchange in the human values.

For the standard ( III ) , the heritage site provides particular or of import groundss to the civilisation. The Great Wall provides particular or of import groundss to “the rammed-earth subdivisions of munitions dating from the Western Han ( UNSECO, n.d. ) ” . Some subdivisions of the Great Wall are made of the rammed-earth which is the old constructional stuff.

For the standard ( IV ) , the heritage site is an outstanding theoretical account for edifices, architectural manner or trade. Since the Great Wall is the longest and oldest military building in the World, it is an outstanding theoretical account for military building. In 220 B.C. , Qin Shi Huang built the first military construction-the Great Wall of the Qin dynasty to protect the state ( UNSECO, n.d. ) . In the ulterior dynasties, they besides built this sort of military building to forestall the incursion from the North. Therefore, The Great Wall is an outstanding theoretical account for munitions and it served as military intent for 2,000 old ages.

For the standard ( VI ) , the heritage site is associated with the literary work of outstanding world-wide significance. “The Great Wall has an uncomparable symbolic significance in the history of China ( UNSECO, n.d. ) ” . We can happen the Great Wall this symbolic significance in many Chinese literary plants in Tang dynasty such as the verse form of Tu Fu ( 712-770 ) ( UNSECO, n.d. ) .

As a cultural heritage site, the Great Wall does non run into the standards ( V ) . Harmonizing to the demand, the heritage site on the WHL merely need to run into at least one standard. The other five standards have cogent evidence that the Great Wall is qualified and worthy to name on the WHL.

Excavation

Even though the Great Wall still remains in China, archeologists have found assorted agencies to analyze sites around the Great Wall in command to seek its cultural significance. In fact, the most outstanding survey was the usage of Google Earth and C dating that helped in detecting a lost section of the Wall back in 2011 in Southern Mongolia ( Owen, 2012 ) .

Initially, the archeologists were look intoing typographic hints seen in Google Earth through orbiter exposure. Via remote feeling, they were able to confer with ancient historical texts to analyse these satellite imagination. Interestingly, they merely discovered a staying piece of fossil alternatively of skull and big femur. With this grounds in head, archeologists thought that the Wall must be in a much extended length. Similarly, carbon 14 dating had shown partially exposed wood and rope remains ; the building was so assumed to be went on for over 100s of old ages or even more than a thousand old ages subsequently, about from 1040 to 1160. As a consequence, they widely supposed that Western Xia dynasty constructed the Wall on the site ( Owen, 2012 ) . Excavation is hence really indispensable in set uping an approximative day of the month of the yesteryear for archeological sites.

Up until now in 2015, archeologists have been analyzing archive exposures, historical paperss and field walking to detect more and more parts of the Great Wall that have non been publically seeable. One squad of experts in Northwestern China discovered a new subdivision of wall which is comprised of rammed Earth whereas some parts were even built on top of mountain scopes and spread along vales ; it was found chiefly between Jingyuan Country and Nanchangtan small town. In historical paperss, they came to a consensus that Emperor Qin demanded the Great Wall had to run across Gansu state, Ningxia and Mongolia. However, some ruins were found shorter than usual that the archeologists believed it was because of natural debasement. In this instance, the Great Wall can be seen as different constructions built through both Northern and Southern Mongolia from start to complete, and existed over a twosome of dynasties ( Chow and Chan, 2015 ) .

All in all, from the above dating methods and analytical survey of the Great Wall, many published stuffs have told the universe how the Great Wall is really more extended ; it surely was a ground-breaking intelligence for archeologists and tourers every bit good. In peculiar, Google Earth was deeply applied in the survey as it proved its scientific values in making archeological research. Under these fortunes, archeology can be seen as a stepping rock for the Chinese to hold deeper apprehensions of Chinese history and even the cultural transmutation in their ain topographic point. From larning about the past emperors, the Chinese can besides heighten their sense of belonging with ascendants and portion amongst coevalss.

Preservation

Presently, sing the saving of the Great Wall, several steps are undergoing.

Patrol Teams

Harmonizing to an article found on China daily, an official patrolling squad is being organized to look into against the harm of the gigantic construction. This policing squad will concentrate on the subdivision in Beijing, which is 630km long, including the most popular subdivision of the Great Wall, Badaling. ( http: //www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-02/16/content_520680.htm, 2006 )

As mentioned by Yu Ping, deputy manager of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage, members of this squad will normally be rural occupants who live near the Wall, and will be paid by local authoritiess.

Apart from the patrol squad, a buffer zone would besides be drawn to assist protect the Great Wall, as announced by the Chinese disposal. This buffer zone will take up to three old ages to be finished. At nowadays, merely a general criterion runing from 500 meters to 2 kilometers off from the Wall is designated as a buffer zone to protect it.

Change in Law to protect the Great Wall

Back in Sep. 20 of 2006, the State Council have promulgated ordinances sing the protection of the Great Wall, which have come into consequence on Dec. 1 of the same twelvemonth ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.lawinfochina.com/display.aspx? lib=law & A ; id=5635 & A ; CGid= , 2006 ) .

The jurisprudence will concentrate on protecting the Great Wall, with its affiliated edifices and environing enviornment. For illustration, from August 2003 onwards, tramps and tourers will non be permitted to research unprotected subdivisions of the Great Wall.

Harmonizing to an article found on Travel China Guide, The intent of the ordinance are to assist modulate visitor’s and local resident’s behaviours when sing the Wall. For illustration, article 18 of the ordinance forbits activites such as illegal organisations of activities and taking off points related to the Great Wall. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/wallprotection/law/ , 2006 )

Restoration Attempts

Back in March of 2004, the initial stage of redevelopment on the subdivision known as Huanghuacheng had begun. Harmonizing to an article found on China Daily, “it includes rehabilitating 13 crenelations, two Gatess and 3,300 meters of wall on a four-kilogreat wall from the spacemetre stretch.” ( http: //www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-04/20/content_435783.htm, 2005 )

Mei Ninghua, manager of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Heritage, besides mentioned that this redevelopment undertaking is scheduled to be carried out in three stages and would be at least 12 million kwai.

To add on, Luo Zhewen, an expert on ancient architecture besides noted that original stuffs and traditional techniques should be used every bit much as possible, otherwise, the word “preservation” could non be fulfilled.

Improvement

However, merely as the saving work is undergoing, harm to the Wall are still going serious. Presently, A big sum of the wall has collapsed and in some subdivisions, merely its foundation remains, accroding to a five-year study ( Rossella Lorenzi, 2012 ) .

On the other manus, subdivisions which are yet to be restored, known as “wild wall” and are non unfastened to the populace, besides suffer from semisynthetic harm. It could be found that local small towns frequently put up Fe ladders illicitly to pull tramps.

It is frequently argued concentrated touristry is the chief cause for the harm done on the Wall, with most of the bricks in Badaling being carved with people’s names and graffito as back uping grounds.

The Great Wall’s current saving work could be improved from several positions.

First, it would be of import to educate the populace about the importance and cultural significance of stand foring their cultural individuality.

Extra attention and fiscal support should be given to locals small towns populating near parts which are considered “wild walls. Most of the small towns are “damaging the Wall” merely because they are holding a tough life. It is possible that with equal fiscal support, the village’s load could be alleviated and no longer need to go on the aforesaid act.

Planting trees can besides assist protect the countries from eroding. However, there are still suites for dialogue among cultural heritage organisations and Chinese authorities.

Last but non least, tourers like us can besides take part in assisting the saving work. Merely as usual pattern when we visit foreign topographic points, we should ne'er go forth rubbish behind nor take away anything related to the Great Wall. Such undistinguished actions could lend a batch to the saving work to an extent far beyond our imaginativeness.

Cultural significance of cultural site

The Great Wall is the longest and oldest military munitions in the World, and ranks among the “Seven Wonders of the World” . It starts from Shanhaiguan Pass in the E and ends at Jiayuguan Pass in the West which is for protect the resist the invasion of mobile folks in different periods. The Great Wall was foremost built at the Spring and Autumn Period ( 770-476 BC ) and constructed at the Ming dynasties ( 1368-1644 ) , and the history reflected the significance and cultural significance behind the Great Wall.

First of wholly, the Great Wall is a powerful symbol in China. It represents the fusion of China because it is a wall that made China was unified in the Qin Dynasty ( 221-206 BC ) . ( China Highlights, 2011 ) In the Spring and Autumn Period, the first portion of the Great Wall was built to against the war. The Great Wall had the intent of military defence, particularly in forestalling northern people on horseback from assailing people in the South. In the Qin dynasty ( 221 BC ) , King Zheng of Qin incorporate China by linked all the wall together and formed a dividing line in China. After Qin Shi Huang unified China, all of the Chinese worked together for the good of the state. ( Chen, 2014 ) Besides, the Great Wall is used as a spliting line to split the North and south nationality and maintain their civilization non affected by each other. Besides, the Great Wall helped to defence the northern people came and attacked China. In The `` March of the Volunteers '' which is the National Anthem of the People 's Republic of China, the wordss “Take our flesh, and construct it to go a new Great Wall! ” show that the Great Wall is the protection for the life and spirit of Chinese. ( Chiu, n.d. )

Second, the fables and narratives about the Great Wall show the cultural significance. As the Great Wall of China has become the symbol of the Chinese state and its civilization, there were tonss of beautiful fables and narratives happened during building are abundant, such as Meng Jiangnu 's narrative and the fable of the Beacon Tower. ( Travel China Guide, 2011 ) For the Meng Jiangnu 's narrative, it happened during the Qin Dynasty ( 221BC-206BC ) . Meng Jiangnu 's hubby was caught by federal functionaries and sent to construct the wall. After Meng knew her hubby was dead because of physique the wall, she cried and her ululation caused the prostration of a portion of the wall. This narrative shows the wall is the production of 10s of 1000s of Chinese common mans. Those beautiful narratives and legends about the wall are helpful to maintain the Chinese history and civilization. ( Travel China Guide, 2011 )

The Great Wall built to protect the civilization and agribusiness of China and support the onslaught from northern people. With the history and cultural significance of the Great Wall, it represents the spirit of Chinese as Chinese are tough and strong to protect themselves.

Decision

Reference List:

1. Owen ( 2012 ) ,“Lost” Great Wall of China Segment Found? National Geographic News. Mar 20, 2012. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120319-great-wall-of-china-mongolia-science-lindesay/ ? utm_source=feedburner & A ; utm_medium=feed & A ; utm_campaign=Feed % 3A+ng % 2FNews % 2FNews_Main+ % 28National+Geographic+News+-+Main % 29 & A ; utm_content=Google+Reader
2. Chow and Chan ( 2015 ) ,It 's even greater than we thought! Archeologists discovered NINE new subdivisions of the Great Wall of China.Daily Mail Online. Peopless Daily. United Kingdom. Apr 16, 2015. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3041972/It-s-greater-thought-Archaeologists-discovered-NINE-new-sections-Great-Wall-China.html

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