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Ming Great Wall Defense System

Type Object Region Asia Time c. 1368–1644

The Ming Great Wall defense system was an integrated network of walls, passes, beacon towers, and signal fires along the northern border, inheriting …

Timeline

  1. c. 1370–1402Shanxi and Beiping frontier · North ChinaIn the early Ming, segmented earthen walls and passes were built north of the Yuan Dadu on old frontier foundations, working with the guards garrisons to form an initial northern screen.
  2. c. 1403–1410Juyong Pass · Changping DistrictAfter the Yongle Emperor moved the capital to Beijing, passes such as Juyong, Zijing, and Daoma were heavily reinforced, with hollow watchtowers and beacon mounds added, linking the capital's northern gateway with the Xuanfu and Datong defense lines into a single system.
  3. c. 1540–1570Ji Garrison · Hebei ProvinceUnder the Jiajing reign, Altan Khan's threat intensified; Qi Jiguang and others oversaw large-scale brick-and-stone facing and standardization of watchtowers on the Ji Garrison section, and most surviving Ming Great Wall brick walls date from this period.

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