Consider the Homeland Looking Pavillion as more than just a structure. What stories does it whisper to those who pause and reflect? The Homeland Looking Pavillion stands as a silent witness to history and a beacon of cultural identity.
This pavilion offers a unique vantage point. It allows us to reflect on the past and contemplate the future. Its very name, Homeland Looking Pavillion, evokes a sense of longing and connection to one’s roots.
The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications. These walls were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states. They served as protection against nomadic groups. The first walls date back to the 7th century BC. These were joined together during the Qin dynasty. Successive dynasties expanded the wall system. The best-known sections were built by the Ming dynasty.
The Great Wall utilized watchtowers and troop barracks for defense. It also had garrison stations and signaling capabilities. These signals used smoke or fire. It served as a transportation corridor. Other purposes included border controls and trade regulation.
The fortifications stretch from Liaodong in the east to Lop Lake in the west. They span from the Sino-Russian border to the Tao River. This arc delineates the edge of the Mongolian steppe. It spans 21,196.18 km in total. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007. The Great Wall is recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history.
The collection of fortifications has had different names in Chinese and English. In Chinese histories, the term “Long Wall” appears in Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian. This referred to the separate walls built between the Warring States. It also referred to the unified construction of the First Emperor. The Chinese character for city or fortress originally referred to the rampart around traditional Chinese cities. Today, it is more commonly used to mean “city”.
The longer name “Ten-Thousand Mile Long Wall” came from Sima Qian’s description. The traditional Chinese mile varied with terrain but was usually around a third of an English mile. The use of “ten-thousand” is figurative. It simply means “innumerable” or “immeasurable”.
The Homeland Looking Pavillion invites contemplation. Consider the countless individuals who have stood here. They gazed out at the landscape and pondered their place in the world.
The Ming dynasty made substantial contributions to the Great Wall. This followed their defeat to the Oirats in the Battle of Tumu. A new defense strategy was realized by constructing walls along the northern border. The wall followed the desert’s southern edge, acknowledging Mongol control.
Unlike earlier fortifications, the Ming construction used bricks and stone. Up to 25,000 watchtowers were constructed. Mongol raids continued periodically. The Ming devoted considerable resources to repair the walls. Sections near Beijing were especially strong.
During the mid-15th century, the Ming built the “Liaodong Wall”. It enclosed the agricultural heartland of Liaodong province. It protected it against incursions by Jurchen-Mongol Oriyanghan and Jianzhou Jurchens. It was an earth dike with moats.
Towards the end of the Ming, the Great Wall defended against the Manchu invasions. The Ming army held Shanhai Pass. The Manchus crossed the Great Wall in 1644 after Beijing fell to Li Zicheng’s Shun dynasty. The gates at Shanhai Pass were opened by the Ming general, Wu Sangui. He formed an alliance with the Manchus. The Manchus seized Beijing and defeated the Shun dynasty and the remaining Ming resistance.
Under Qing rule, China’s borders extended beyond the Great Wall. Work on it for border defense was discontinued. The Willow Palisade followed a line similar to the Liaodong Wall. It prevented Han Chinese migration into Manchuria.
So let’s appreciate the Homeland Looking Pavillion. It symbolizes a connection to the land, history and cultural identity. Take a moment to reflect on what “homeland” means to you.