A History of the Great Wall of China

This book is no longer distributed by World Scientific Publishing and it is considered out of print.

The Great Wall of China is the world's largest military defense structure. It towers and meanders along mountain ranges, constructed more than 2,000 years ago. It was made more brilliant by the numerous wars, power struggles, successive dynasties, political and economic historical events influencing imperial China for over 2,000 years.

The everlasting value of the Great Wall comes from the architecture, with its components of the wall, gates, towns, garrisons, and signal towers, along with their artistic elements. It also derives fame from the countless classical works of poetry, folk literature, theater and storytelling written about it by rulers, soldiers, literati and famous poets.

This book is among the most systematic and comprehensive works on the Great Wall. It conveys to the reader content in language that is clear and straightforward. It traces the history of the Great Wall's origin, including the initial Period of construction for multiple defensive walls, the era of overall transformation, the Period of the partial expansion and the Period of overall maintenance. The readers will obtain a clear and comprehensive view of the overall picture of the Great Wall and its history from this book.

Published by SCPG Publishing Corporation and distributed by World Scientific for all markets except China

Sample Chapter(s)
Foreword (197 KB)
Introduction (67 KB)
Chapter 1: The Great Wall and Many Theories of Its Origins (494 KB)

• The Great Wall and Many Theories of Its Origins:
  • Past and Present of Great Wall Scholarship
  • Defining the Great Wall
  • Misleading Theories About the Origin of the Great Wall
  • Origin of the Great Wall
• Early Stage of Great Wall Mass Construction (Part One) — The Warring States Period:
  • The Great Wall by the State of Qi in the Warring States Period
  • The Great Wall by the State of Chu in the Warring States Period
  • The Great Wall by the State of Wei in the Warring States Period
• The Early Stage of Great Wall Mass Construction (Part Two) — The Warring States Period:
  • The Great Wall by the State of Zhao and Zhongshan in the Warring States Period
  • The Great Wall by the State of Yan in the Warring States Period
  • The Great Wall by King Zhao of Qin in the Warring States Period
• Time of Overall Transformation of the Great Wall — Qin and Han:
  • Qin Great Wall in Dalate Banner in Wuhai City by the Yellow River
  • The Extended Use and Construction of The Great Wall by King Zhao of Qin
  • Qin Dynasty Great Wall in the Northern Foothills of Yinshan Mountain
  • The Use and Repair of Zhao State Great Wall and Yan State Great Wall
  • Han Dynasty Incorporating Ancient Great Walls in Northern China
  • The Northern Great Wall Built in Han Dynasty
  • Juyan Fortress in Han Dynasty
  • The Great Wall in the Shule River Basin in Han Dynasty
• Period of the Great Wall's Partial Expansion (Part One) — Northern Wei to Sui and Tang Dynasties:
  • Northern Wei Great Wall
  • Great Wall by Eastern Wei and Northern Qi
  • Sui Dynasty Great Wall
  • Tang Dynasty Great Wall
• Period of the Great Wall's Partial Expansion (Part Two) — Liao and Jin Dynasties:
  • Liao Dynasty Great Wall at Zhendong Haikou
  • Liao Dynasty Border Trench in North of Gobi Desert
  • Liao Dynasty Border Levee along the Banks of Second Songhua River
  • Jin Dynasty Great Wall
  • Border Trench South of Gobi Desert by Jin Dynasty
• The Period of Overrall Maintenance for the Great Wall — Ming and Qing Dynasties:
  • Why Does Ming Dynasty Call the Great Wall "Border Wall"
  • Ming Dynasty East of Liaoning Border Wall
  • Ming Dynasty Border Walls in Towns of Ji, Xuan Fu, Datong and Taiyuan
  • Yulin Garrison Border Wall in Ming Dynasty
  • Ningxia Garrison Border Wall in Ming Dynasty
  • Guyuan Garrison Border Wall in Ming Dynasty
  • Gansu Garrison Border Wall in Ming Dynasty
  • Qing Dynasty's The Liu Tiao Bian vs Ming Dynasty Border Walls
  • Location and Directions of the Liu Tiao Bian
  • The Characteristics and Influences of the Liu Tiao Bian
• Epilogue:
  • Length of the Great Wall from Each Dynasty
  • The Great Wall and the Border Trenches
  • The Great Wall and Natural Mountain Barriers
  • The Great Wall and "Dang Lu Sai (Road Blockage)"
  • The Great Wall and Signal Towers
• Appendix: Sections of the Great Wall as National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units
• Selected Bibliography
• Index

Readership: Researchers, general readers interested in the Great Wall of China.