Earliest Great Wall of China

Introduction of Earliest Great Wall of China

Construction of the Great Wall first began in the seventh sentry BC. During the Warring States Period (475-221BC), When the ruling power of the Zhou kingdom declined,principalities sprang up and carved up the country into many states, rivalling each other. The main kingdoms were Qin, Qi, Chu, yan, Han, Zhao and Wei. To defend against the attack of neighboring states, the principalities built great and high walls in their own domains.

It was the Chu state which was first to construct several hundred kilometers long wall in mid-7th century B.C., referred to as fangcheng (square city)in Chinese literature. This fangcheng was said to be in the intersection between Hubei,Shaanxi and Henan provinces.

About 4th century B.C. the northern parts of the three principalities Of Yan, Zhao and Qin happened to border on the nomadic Xiong Nu and Dong Hu, with whom frequent contacts had been kept and border incursions frequently occurred by the nomads, which seriously disturbed normal life. "Long walls to defend against the Hu" were thus constructed by the three principalities in the north. The high walls and fortresses constructed by three kingdoms of Qin, Zhao and Yan against the nomadic tribes laid the foundation for the present Great wall.

Difference: The Great Wall is different from ordinary city walls in that it extends itself continuously for miles and does not encircle a city. There were a series of castles of a defensive nature or defense works in which each state stationed guards in their own domains to watch the beacon fire. Gradually, however, they were linked up into a great wall.