The Great Wall of China is considered a symbol of the nation and culture of China. Numerous intriguing stories and legends about this monumental structure have developed throughout its construction and have been passed down through many dynasties. These legends have attracted many tourists to visit the world’s longest wall.
1. Meng Jiangnu Searches for Her Husband
This is the most famous story among the legends of the Great Wall. The tale takes place during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). Meng Jiangnu’s husband, Fan Xiliang, was conscripted by the imperial court to build the Great Wall. As winter approached, she knitted a coat for him and set out to find her husband to deliver it.
Statue of Meng Jiangnu.
Meng Jiangnu traveled the length of the Great Wall, inquiring about her husband, and ultimately received the tragic news that he had died buried beneath the wall. Grieving intensely, she cried for three days and three nights, her tears mingling with blood. Her cries echoed for 800 miles along the Great Wall, causing a section of the wall to collapse, revealing her husband’s corpse. After burying him, she jumped into the sea to take her own life. Today, there is a temple dedicated to Meng Jiangnu in Shanhaiguan District, Hebei Province. This story has been recounted in literature, folk songs, and traditional plays, and nearly every Chinese person knows it.
2. The Legend of Jiayuguan
The most famous legend about Jiayuguan tells of a man named Yi Kaizhan during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), who was very skilled in mathematics. He calculated that they would need 99,999 bricks to build Jiayuguan. The supervisor did not believe him and said that if he was even one brick off, the workers would have to labor in hardship for three years.
Jiayuguan on the Great Wall
When the gate was completed, one brick was left over, and the supervisor was very pleased, ready to punish the workers. However, Yi Kaizhan said that the brick was placed there by a deity, and moving it even slightly would cause the wall to collapse. Therefore, the brick was left untouched and remains in the Jiayuguan tower today. Another version of the story claims that Yi Kaizhan calculated the exact number of bricks needed but added one at the suggestion of the supervisor.
3. The Legend of Lishan Tower
This story takes place during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1122-771 BC). The King of Zhou had a queen named Baozi, a beauty of extraordinary grace. The King adored her, but Baozi never smiled.
Queen Baozi, a beauty of unmatched charm
An advisor suggested that setting fire to Lishan Tower could scare the populace and make the queen smile. King You liked this idea. The people were fooled, and the queen smiled at the chaotic scene. Later, when enemy forces invaded the Western Zhou, the king burned the tower to send a distress signal, but the vassal states did not respond because they had been deceived once before. The king was killed by the enemy forces, leading to the fall of the Western Zhou.
4. The Fort of Xifeng Kou (“Happy Reunion”)
The guards on the Great Wall had to serve year-round. This not only affected them but also saddened their families and loved ones. A young soldier had been stationed along the Great Wall, protecting the northern territory of China for many years without leave. He only had an elderly father living alone in their hometown.
Statue of a soldier at the Great Wall
The father, fearing he would never see his son again due to his old age, traveled to the area where his son was stationed to meet him, potentially for the last time. Upon reaching the fort, he fortuitously encountered his son. The two recognized each other and embraced, crying and laughing. Surprisingly, both died right at the meeting spot. To honor the two, the fort where they met was named Xifeng Kou (“Happy Reunion”). They represent the thousands of soldiers and families who have been separated.
5. Jintang
Located 60 kilometers north of Beijing, a section of the Great Wall is named Huang Hua Cheng (“Golden Flower Terrace”) because, during summer, the entire area is covered with golden flowers. Huang Hua Cheng began construction in 1575 during the Ming Dynasty under the command of General Cai Kai. It is said that they took many years to complete this section of the Great Wall. When General Cai Kai returned to the capital to report to the emperor, some jealous officials informed the emperor that General Cai Kai had wasted too much money and that the quality of the wall was poor. The emperor was so enraged that he ordered General Cai’s immediate execution.
The Huang Hua Cheng section of the Great Wall
Some time later, the emperor sent a trusted official to inspect the section built by General Cai. The official returned to report that the Huang Hua Cheng section was very solid and well constructed. Regretting his hasty decision that led to General Cai’s death, the emperor ordered the construction of a tomb and monument to honor the loyal general. The emperor also wrote the words “Jin Tang” (meaning “Golden Path” – symbolizing solidity and durability) and commanded that they be inscribed on a large stone at the foot of the wall. Thus, this section of the wall is also known as the Golden Wall.
