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The Great Wall
It is a wonder of the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists journey to the Great Wall of China, and a myriad of photographs have made it familiar to millions more. Yet its story remains mysterious and steeped in myth.In this riveting account, John Man travels the entire length of the Great Wall and across two millennia to find the truth behind the legend. Along the way, he delves into the remarkable and complex history of Chinas tribal past through its war with the Mongols to its present-day status as a resurgent superpower.
335 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
40 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
John Man
74 books261 followersJohn Anthony Garnet Man is a British historian and travel writer. His special interests are China, Mongolia and the history of written communication. He takes particular pleasure in combining historical narrative with personal experience.
He studied German and French at Keble College, Oxford, before doing two postgraduate courses, a diploma in the History and Philosophy of Science at Oxford and Mongolian at the School of Oriental and African Studies, completing the latter in 1968. After working in journalism with Reuters and in publishing with Time-Life Books, he turned to writing, with occasional forays into film, TV and radio.
In the 1990s, he began a trilogy on the three major revolutions in writing: writing itself, the alphabet and printing with movable type. This has so far resulted in two books, Alpha Beta and The Gutenberg Revolution, both republished in 2009. The third, on the origin of writing, is on hold, because it depends on access to Iraq.
He returned to the subject of Mongolia with Gobi: Tracking the Desert, the first book on the region since the 1920s. Work in Mongolia led to Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection, which has so far appeared in 18 languages. Attila the Hun and Kublai Khan: The Mongol King Who Remade China completed a trilogy on Asian leaders. A revised edition of his book on Genghis Khan, with the results of an expedition up the mountain on which he is supposed to be buried, was upcoming in autumn 2010.
The Terracotta Army coincided with the British Museum exhibition (September 2007- April 2008). This was followed by The Great Wall. The Leadership Secrets of Genghis Khan combines history and leadership theory. Xanadu: Marco Polo and the Discovery of the East was published in autumn 2009, and Samurai: The Last Warrior, the story of Saigō Takamori's doomed 1877 rebellion against the Japanese emperor, was published in February 2011.
In 2007 John Man was awarded Mongolia's Friendship Medal for his contributions to UK-Mongolian relations.
He studied German and French at Keble College, Oxford, before doing two postgraduate courses, a diploma in the History and Philosophy of Science at Oxford and Mongolian at the School of Oriental and African Studies, completing the latter in 1968. After working in journalism with Reuters and in publishing with Time-Life Books, he turned to writing, with occasional forays into film, TV and radio.
In the 1990s, he began a trilogy on the three major revolutions in writing: writing itself, the alphabet and printing with movable type. This has so far resulted in two books, Alpha Beta and The Gutenberg Revolution, both republished in 2009. The third, on the origin of writing, is on hold, because it depends on access to Iraq.
He returned to the subject of Mongolia with Gobi: Tracking the Desert, the first book on the region since the 1920s. Work in Mongolia led to Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection, which has so far appeared in 18 languages. Attila the Hun and Kublai Khan: The Mongol King Who Remade China completed a trilogy on Asian leaders. A revised edition of his book on Genghis Khan, with the results of an expedition up the mountain on which he is supposed to be buried, was upcoming in autumn 2010.
The Terracotta Army coincided with the British Museum exhibition (September 2007- April 2008). This was followed by The Great Wall. The Leadership Secrets of Genghis Khan combines history and leadership theory. Xanadu: Marco Polo and the Discovery of the East was published in autumn 2009, and Samurai: The Last Warrior, the story of Saigō Takamori's doomed 1877 rebellion against the Japanese emperor, was published in February 2011.
In 2007 John Man was awarded Mongolia's Friendship Medal for his contributions to UK-Mongolian relations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 25, 2023
The Great Wall is not one wall but several; some sections were built of stone, some are just earth mounds. Much of it was built to mark a frontier rather than as a defence against non existent hordes of barbarian invaders as the Chinese were the aggressors, not the defenders. It can’t be seen from space. These are the basic and, for many people, well known facts. If you want more detail about the surrounding mythology and constant battles in its vicinity, this may be the book for you. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t like the ‘folksy’ style of writing and the anecdotes about the author’s travels. It just wasn’t what I was looking for at all. As my US Goodreads friends are fond of saying, ‘meh!’.
March 7, 2011
China, it seems, is a land that conjures much myth among non-Chinese, and "the Great Wall," as historian John Man deftly illustrates, is one such myth. To begin with: there is no wall; it doesn't exist. Rather there are a whole series of walls, built at different times, by different rulers, of different materials, and for a whole host of different reasons. This assortment of barriers was never effective at keeping out the marauding barbarian hordes, chiefly because it was never intended to do that. And those barbarian hordes, as Man explains, were never that barbaric to begin with. In fact, just about every notion you ever had about the divide(s) is most likely dead wrong, and part of the pleasure of reading this book is finding out the truth.
Man's style is a bit workmanlike in places, but occasionally it glimmers with poetic description. He's a researcher - an expert on Mongolia, for example - and an explorer, and his tone is intelligent and down to earth. He tracks the walls' sections through most of the country, and his travels, supplemented by his copious research and excellent knowledge of ancient Chinese and Mongolian history, are really fun to read. Here's a man on a serious mission in an often baffling, bizarre, and not-so-serious nation.
I really liked this book. I learned heaps and was entertained while doing it. In fact, I went out and bought another one of his books, The Terracotta Army, also very good. With The Great Wall, don't expect to be bowled over with elegant prose, but do expect do come away knowing a great deal more about China's national symbol - and its national mindset - than just about anyone.
Man's style is a bit workmanlike in places, but occasionally it glimmers with poetic description. He's a researcher - an expert on Mongolia, for example - and an explorer, and his tone is intelligent and down to earth. He tracks the walls' sections through most of the country, and his travels, supplemented by his copious research and excellent knowledge of ancient Chinese and Mongolian history, are really fun to read. Here's a man on a serious mission in an often baffling, bizarre, and not-so-serious nation.
I really liked this book. I learned heaps and was entertained while doing it. In fact, I went out and bought another one of his books, The Terracotta Army, also very good. With The Great Wall, don't expect to be bowled over with elegant prose, but do expect do come away knowing a great deal more about China's national symbol - and its national mindset - than just about anyone.
March 15, 2014
John Man is my favourite non-fiction writer and for good reasons, too. He brings readers on a journey, not to story-tell, but to invite you to paint the scenes that he recounts with vivid details in your mind as if you were there, changing and shifting in shape, colour or form in every second as he outlines what you might expect to behold if you were there. This book is no different, offering an unbiased yet interestingly truthful account of the storied past, present and future of one of the world's greatest landmarks. I have to go now. You will be sure to enjoy the book even if you don't have a care for history.
April 18, 2013
After 250 pages about the wall(s) and wall building, after learning of the incredible cost, loss of life and dubious benefits, this quote from Emir Muhammad of Qatar stays with you: "I am sure mankind will benefit from it in the future.",
While millions of tourists visit the restored wall outside of Beijing, there are hundreds of miles of wall to be explored. Author, John Man visits many less famous and some virtually unknown segments. He travels to remote areas of China and Mongolia. In some places the walls provide dwelling or market places in others they are totally forgotten. John Man, as he does in his earlier book, "Attila: The Barbarian King Who Challenged Rome" meets interesting people along the way who provide perspective on the 3000 year long phenomena of wall building.
My only criticism of the book is its layout and format which were undoubtedly economic decisions of the publisher. For me, there was a lot of flipping back and forth. It would have been good to have a map introducing each wall segment and the segment's photos placed along with it. Also, the pictures were wonderful and each too small for its page. Perhaps this could be reworked with more photos as a coffee table book.
I was very impressed with the perspective that Man was able to give on the long and complex history of China. I recommend this book for general readers, arm chair travelers and anyone interested in the history of China.
While millions of tourists visit the restored wall outside of Beijing, there are hundreds of miles of wall to be explored. Author, John Man visits many less famous and some virtually unknown segments. He travels to remote areas of China and Mongolia. In some places the walls provide dwelling or market places in others they are totally forgotten. John Man, as he does in his earlier book, "Attila: The Barbarian King Who Challenged Rome" meets interesting people along the way who provide perspective on the 3000 year long phenomena of wall building.
My only criticism of the book is its layout and format which were undoubtedly economic decisions of the publisher. For me, there was a lot of flipping back and forth. It would have been good to have a map introducing each wall segment and the segment's photos placed along with it. Also, the pictures were wonderful and each too small for its page. Perhaps this could be reworked with more photos as a coffee table book.
I was very impressed with the perspective that Man was able to give on the long and complex history of China. I recommend this book for general readers, arm chair travelers and anyone interested in the history of China.
March 13, 2015
Dispelling myths, clarifying history, exploring folk stories and legends.
Well presented, fairly quickly moving considering the volume of history to be covered, and readable.
The Great Wall is the only man-made structure visible from the moon... No, not visible from orbit, or the Moon or Mars.
The Great Wall... No, not one wall, many unlinked walls.
6000 km long... Well, how do you measure the multiple overlapping walls? What about the bits that aren't even walls, just embankments?
Over 2000 years old... Only parts of it, the commonly visited parts are a mere 500 years old.
Made of stone and bricks... Again, only parts of it, and the more modern parts.
Made to keep out barbarian raiders... Disputed - the Chinese were the original aggressors against Mongolia, and from refusal to trade, skirmishes began. And the wall, with all its gaps didn't repel the invading forces, they simply went around it. There were few exceptions, which are outlined in the book.
Well presented, fairly quickly moving considering the volume of history to be covered, and readable.
The Great Wall is the only man-made structure visible from the moon... No, not visible from orbit, or the Moon or Mars.
The Great Wall... No, not one wall, many unlinked walls.
6000 km long... Well, how do you measure the multiple overlapping walls? What about the bits that aren't even walls, just embankments?
Over 2000 years old... Only parts of it, the commonly visited parts are a mere 500 years old.
Made of stone and bricks... Again, only parts of it, and the more modern parts.
Made to keep out barbarian raiders... Disputed - the Chinese were the original aggressors against Mongolia, and from refusal to trade, skirmishes began. And the wall, with all its gaps didn't repel the invading forces, they simply went around it. There were few exceptions, which are outlined in the book.
July 23, 2020
Although entertaining at first, John Man's adventures hunting for remnants of the Great Walls eventually become tedious to read and repetitive - he finds a low wall of mud, discovers a village inside an old fortress, eats some produce, describes local people like a 19th century European explorer, and comments on how the wall is either repurposed into building materials or has become a magnet for tourism.
One fault of this book is that he presents Gavin Menzies' outrageous claims about Ming China establishing colonies in America and Australia as fact and even cites Menzies' book.
One fault of this book is that he presents Gavin Menzies' outrageous claims about Ming China establishing colonies in America and Australia as fact and even cites Menzies' book.
December 30, 2023
The book is well written and has a lot of interesting historical context, demystifying some of the mythology around the history and nature of the Great Wall.
I was after something that was more about someone's individual experience and encounter with the wall, and while there are segments talking about the author's journey, at least to me they came across as more of the sideshow to the main story of the book which was just to debunk a lot of the mystique.
I was after something that was more about someone's individual experience and encounter with the wall, and while there are segments talking about the author's journey, at least to me they came across as more of the sideshow to the main story of the book which was just to debunk a lot of the mystique.
June 28, 2019
Excellent history of both China and it's neighbors and the building of the wall and Man's adventures exploring China from head to toe in search of Great Wall factoids and stories. Accessible and interesting, recommended for anyone who wants to know more about Chinese history without feeling overwhelmed.
November 18, 2018
Take a simple quiz!
Which man-made structure on earth is visible from distant space – moon or say Mars?
(a) Great Pyramid Giza
(b) Machu Pichu
(c) Great Wall of China
(d) None of the above.
Most of us, myself included (till a couple of months ago), would unhesitatingly choose (c) Great Wall of China. And we would right. Right – no WRONG. This notion came to us kids – the world’s longest structure, as Mr. Ripley famously stated in his ‘Believe It Or Not!’ in 1932. I believed it most of us do.
Since so few outsiders had actually set their eyes on it, the idea that it could be seen from space was not such a big leap. The idea may have been first suggested by the ‘Century Magazine’, a U.S. Monthly, in January 1893, when a writer and traveler named Romyn Hitchcock claimed that the Great Wall was ‘the only work of man of sufficient magnitude to arrest attention in a hasty survey of earth’s surface’. The idea had been in the air since 1877, when the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli suggested he could see rivers (canali) on Mars, which supposedly carried melted waters from the frozen poles.
Percival Lowell, who ran the observatory named after him in Flagstaff, Arizona, took this suggestion in his 1906 book ‘Mars and its Canals’, in which he claimed that it was ‘probable that upon the surface of Mars we see effects of local intelligence’. ‘Encyclopedia Britannica’ eleventh edition (1911) mentions his canals, quoting Lowell’s words in a long footnote and commenting: “Of the reality of the better marked ones there can be no doubt.’ The idea seized the imagination of the public for the next 50 years, until in 1964 Lowell’s canals were shown to be optical illusions by the Mariner 4 spacecraft (though in a strange irony orbiting satellites have since revealed numerous dried-up waterways invisible from earth). In Lowell’s time, though and for decades thereafter, the conclusion was obvious: if we can see them, they can see us. What could they see? Equally obviously, the world’s longest structure, as Mr. Ripley famously stated in his ‘Believe It Or Not!’ in 1932. I believed it most of us do.
About two months back, I laid my hands on a 2008 book written by historian and travel writer John Man – The Great Wall – this book. In the introduction to this book on the Goodreads site appears this paragraph – “Myths surround it. Many believe that the stone barrier marches across all China, that it has been in existence for over 2,000 years, and that it is the only man-made structure visible from the Moon. In fact, most of it is made of earth, and much of it is not there at all. It cannot even be seen from earth orbit, let alone the Moon. Estimates of its length vary from 1,500 to 5,000 miles. Even its name is deceptive - it is not an it, a single entity, but many walls (hence the uncertain length), built at different times.”
The book covers the history of the Great Wall. John Man has taken us across the length of the structure, from Beijing to the Pacific (the Dragon’s Head) as well as through Inner Mongolia and Gobi Desert. Perusing the book reveals that in 214 BC, the First Emperor started building a wall to keep out the Barbarians (Mongols) from the North. The original wall was no wall – at places of stone, at others mud piles. How it could keep out the horse borne barbarians is a mystery because at many places the wall is not more than one meter high, which any able horseman could scale – and Mongols undoubtedly were skilled horsemen.
It is indeed a revelation that the Wall is neither uniform nor continuous. It was not until the Ming Dynasty in1368, after the fall of the Mongols, that the construction of the Wall as we know it was began. When the Manchurians (Qing Dynasty) overthrew the Mings in 1644 the Wall ceased to serve any purpose of protection or defence. The Qings ruled China till 1911 when they were overthrown and the Republic was established by Sun Yat Sen. The Wall is a collection of walls, it does not extend continuous 2,200 kilometres from Beijing and its age is nowhere near 2,200 years as claimed, 200 may be more apt. The Wall was completed during the reign of Ming towards the end of sixteenth century and hence the age of the Wall is not more than 450 years.
The book has an easy, readable style with historical authenticity and holds the readers interest throughout its nearly 400 pages.
A must read for students of Chinese / Oriental History and others interest in ancient monuments, artefacts and tourism.
Which man-made structure on earth is visible from distant space – moon or say Mars?
(a) Great Pyramid Giza
(b) Machu Pichu
(c) Great Wall of China
(d) None of the above.
Most of us, myself included (till a couple of months ago), would unhesitatingly choose (c) Great Wall of China. And we would right. Right – no WRONG. This notion came to us kids – the world’s longest structure, as Mr. Ripley famously stated in his ‘Believe It Or Not!’ in 1932. I believed it most of us do.
Since so few outsiders had actually set their eyes on it, the idea that it could be seen from space was not such a big leap. The idea may have been first suggested by the ‘Century Magazine’, a U.S. Monthly, in January 1893, when a writer and traveler named Romyn Hitchcock claimed that the Great Wall was ‘the only work of man of sufficient magnitude to arrest attention in a hasty survey of earth’s surface’. The idea had been in the air since 1877, when the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli suggested he could see rivers (canali) on Mars, which supposedly carried melted waters from the frozen poles.
Percival Lowell, who ran the observatory named after him in Flagstaff, Arizona, took this suggestion in his 1906 book ‘Mars and its Canals’, in which he claimed that it was ‘probable that upon the surface of Mars we see effects of local intelligence’. ‘Encyclopedia Britannica’ eleventh edition (1911) mentions his canals, quoting Lowell’s words in a long footnote and commenting: “Of the reality of the better marked ones there can be no doubt.’ The idea seized the imagination of the public for the next 50 years, until in 1964 Lowell’s canals were shown to be optical illusions by the Mariner 4 spacecraft (though in a strange irony orbiting satellites have since revealed numerous dried-up waterways invisible from earth). In Lowell’s time, though and for decades thereafter, the conclusion was obvious: if we can see them, they can see us. What could they see? Equally obviously, the world’s longest structure, as Mr. Ripley famously stated in his ‘Believe It Or Not!’ in 1932. I believed it most of us do.
About two months back, I laid my hands on a 2008 book written by historian and travel writer John Man – The Great Wall – this book. In the introduction to this book on the Goodreads site appears this paragraph – “Myths surround it. Many believe that the stone barrier marches across all China, that it has been in existence for over 2,000 years, and that it is the only man-made structure visible from the Moon. In fact, most of it is made of earth, and much of it is not there at all. It cannot even be seen from earth orbit, let alone the Moon. Estimates of its length vary from 1,500 to 5,000 miles. Even its name is deceptive - it is not an it, a single entity, but many walls (hence the uncertain length), built at different times.”
The book covers the history of the Great Wall. John Man has taken us across the length of the structure, from Beijing to the Pacific (the Dragon’s Head) as well as through Inner Mongolia and Gobi Desert. Perusing the book reveals that in 214 BC, the First Emperor started building a wall to keep out the Barbarians (Mongols) from the North. The original wall was no wall – at places of stone, at others mud piles. How it could keep out the horse borne barbarians is a mystery because at many places the wall is not more than one meter high, which any able horseman could scale – and Mongols undoubtedly were skilled horsemen.
It is indeed a revelation that the Wall is neither uniform nor continuous. It was not until the Ming Dynasty in1368, after the fall of the Mongols, that the construction of the Wall as we know it was began. When the Manchurians (Qing Dynasty) overthrew the Mings in 1644 the Wall ceased to serve any purpose of protection or defence. The Qings ruled China till 1911 when they were overthrown and the Republic was established by Sun Yat Sen. The Wall is a collection of walls, it does not extend continuous 2,200 kilometres from Beijing and its age is nowhere near 2,200 years as claimed, 200 may be more apt. The Wall was completed during the reign of Ming towards the end of sixteenth century and hence the age of the Wall is not more than 450 years.
The book has an easy, readable style with historical authenticity and holds the readers interest throughout its nearly 400 pages.
A must read for students of Chinese / Oriental History and others interest in ancient monuments, artefacts and tourism.
Read
October 23, 2021Part archeological dig, part history, part travelogue, The Great Wall demonstrates how little most of us know about what The Great Wall is, where it is, and when it was constructed. And, as myth-buster, Man writes, it can’t be seen by the naked eye from the moon, nor was it a deterrent for invading hordes of barbarians.
Two thousand years ago, the people to the north of what is China today were not invading forces. They were agriculturists, but the climate (limited water, harsh winters, but plentiful grass) led to population by nomads. They had few possessions outside their horses to help round up herds. . . . They were few and posed no threat to China but China was in an expansion mode and began moving into the farmlands, pushing the “barbarians” further north and west. Walls became common structures, walling off one enclave of souls from another. And some like the first emperor, Zheng (of the Terracotta Army) erected long expanses of rammed earth barricades.
As Man travels the length of “the wall” from the far reaches of Mongolia and the Gobi Desert, he discovers areas where no wall is present and some where the wall was nothing more than a raised hump in the ground. Nothing that would have deterred an enemy of mounted horsemen. He concludes his journey at the most prominent and famous sections, near Beijing and writes, “The wall was never the unity its name suggests. . . . The wall is no longer a border or barrier, but firmly in China’s embrace. . . . It has risen above the mess of politics, strategy, and controversy into an ethereal realm of ideals and symbols, pure heritage.”
Two thousand years ago, the people to the north of what is China today were not invading forces. They were agriculturists, but the climate (limited water, harsh winters, but plentiful grass) led to population by nomads. They had few possessions outside their horses to help round up herds. . . . They were few and posed no threat to China but China was in an expansion mode and began moving into the farmlands, pushing the “barbarians” further north and west. Walls became common structures, walling off one enclave of souls from another. And some like the first emperor, Zheng (of the Terracotta Army) erected long expanses of rammed earth barricades.
As Man travels the length of “the wall” from the far reaches of Mongolia and the Gobi Desert, he discovers areas where no wall is present and some where the wall was nothing more than a raised hump in the ground. Nothing that would have deterred an enemy of mounted horsemen. He concludes his journey at the most prominent and famous sections, near Beijing and writes, “The wall was never the unity its name suggests. . . . The wall is no longer a border or barrier, but firmly in China’s embrace. . . . It has risen above the mess of politics, strategy, and controversy into an ethereal realm of ideals and symbols, pure heritage.”
August 7, 2017
A Chinese Extravaganza !!!
The portion of the great wall of China near Beijing experiences more than a million foot falls every year. Why not? It is the most beautiful section of the wall.
But this book does a great job of telling the story of the wall and its people from the times of the first emperor to the beginning of 20th century. It suffices to say that the history of north China (and mainland China to a big extent) and the construction of the wall is inseperable.
How ironical it is then that the entire wall was an exercise in futility!!
The reading is fluid once you have a basic grasp of Chinese geography (Google to the rescue!!).
The author has catgorised and paced the topics well. Although he diverges quite a few times into the little adventures he had along the way, it is an essential part of a traveller's book.
Some sections, such as that of the Mongols and the Ming, have been covered extremely well.
I would definetly recommend this book.
The portion of the great wall of China near Beijing experiences more than a million foot falls every year. Why not? It is the most beautiful section of the wall.
But this book does a great job of telling the story of the wall and its people from the times of the first emperor to the beginning of 20th century. It suffices to say that the history of north China (and mainland China to a big extent) and the construction of the wall is inseperable.
How ironical it is then that the entire wall was an exercise in futility!!
The reading is fluid once you have a basic grasp of Chinese geography (Google to the rescue!!).
The author has catgorised and paced the topics well. Although he diverges quite a few times into the little adventures he had along the way, it is an essential part of a traveller's book.
Some sections, such as that of the Mongols and the Ming, have been covered extremely well.
I would definetly recommend this book.
April 19, 2019
I have been reading this book but free frankly while the book is informative and the author has sweat to extract what is now a lost legacy. I feel the representation of facts is not well linked. As a result I feel a little lost with each new chapter that I start in the book. I feel the book lacks the intellectual analysis one looks to with every crucial facts told. The books is full of anecdotes but it's not well told or laid out in words.. the writing makes lot of assumption that the reader would know reasonably well about China and its history. I personally would not rate this a great book cos after reading it, I am unable to reconstruct the entire history with the crux
July 3, 2021
Part travel adventure but mostly a historical work about the wall - would be especially good for people with strong base knowledge of ancient Chinese history (which is not me). Engaging tone was great - more maps, diagrams, cast of characters would be even better. Does include a helpful timeline but it's at the back - wish I had looked for it earlier.
January 12, 2022
An interesting mix between a history book and a travelling journal, this book tells the story of the Great Wall of China in a very clever way. The language used is very understandable and the book is very good in general.
February 23, 2020
Very interesting non fiction read.
October 21, 2021
a good read
I learn a lot. The most I learnt is that the wall is useless for its purpose and becomes a symbol of China’s greatness though uselessness
I learn a lot. The most I learnt is that the wall is useless for its purpose and becomes a symbol of China’s greatness though uselessness
July 4, 2023
Well done.
July 14, 2023
Terrific read. I was fascinated to find that a female heroine/demigod is at the heart of Wall mythology.
January 1, 2024
I read this while staying in Whanganui, often when having tea by myself at the hotel’s restaurant. I was inspired to read more about China after hosting a tour of Chinese rail workers for a week.
November 12, 2013
I love John Man's style and subjects, heavy on Central and East Asia, with a clear preference for all things Mongolian and, to an extent, Chinese.
After writing his The Terracotta Army, he progressed, naturally, I suppose, to this history of the great wall. Although, particularly towards the end of the book, Man too often goes into too much factual detail on the current state of affairs of parts of the wall he visits, making his story into something of a travelogue. Not uninteresting, but also not unique.
- Chinggis' great grandfather was called Kabul. Any connection to the city?
- The Han Emperor Wu, who roughly lived in the first century BC, sent one of his generals up north with the objective to make friends with old enemies of the Xiongnu, who might have turned themselves in the Huns when crashing into Europe. The general did not succeed but, after living with the Xiongnu for some ten years before 'escaping', ended up in present day central Asia, where he found the Ferghana valley's 'blood sweating horses' (so called as a result of the valley's stinging insects), which were deemed perfect additions to the emperors imperial armies. The result of this being the start of the later Silk Road(s), with trade going in two directions.
- Zhu Di, successor to the first Ming emperor who kicked out the Mongols from China in 1368, re-conquered Yunnan in 1382. Here, all adult Mongols were killed and boys castrated. One of these boys was a little fellow called Zheng He (who ended up sailing across half the world).
- The Chinese call the wall the long city. At a certain time, walls were synonyms with cities.
- After the Mongols conquered the Ossetians, in the Caucasus, they brought back a contingent of them to Mongolia. Even today, a clan, the "Asud", is still living in eastern Inner Mongolia (in China).
- I know three Mongolian words which made into the international vocabulary: 'Horde', from 'Ordon', the plural of 'tent'; 'Hurray', from the Mongolian for 'forward'; 'Dalai', the Mongolian for 'ocean'. And indeed, it was a 16th century Mongol khan who gave some Tibetan lama the title 'Dalai' to boost his own connection with Buddhism and increase his stature with his subjects.
After writing his The Terracotta Army, he progressed, naturally, I suppose, to this history of the great wall. Although, particularly towards the end of the book, Man too often goes into too much factual detail on the current state of affairs of parts of the wall he visits, making his story into something of a travelogue. Not uninteresting, but also not unique.
- Chinggis' great grandfather was called Kabul. Any connection to the city?
- The Han Emperor Wu, who roughly lived in the first century BC, sent one of his generals up north with the objective to make friends with old enemies of the Xiongnu, who might have turned themselves in the Huns when crashing into Europe. The general did not succeed but, after living with the Xiongnu for some ten years before 'escaping', ended up in present day central Asia, where he found the Ferghana valley's 'blood sweating horses' (so called as a result of the valley's stinging insects), which were deemed perfect additions to the emperors imperial armies. The result of this being the start of the later Silk Road(s), with trade going in two directions.
- Zhu Di, successor to the first Ming emperor who kicked out the Mongols from China in 1368, re-conquered Yunnan in 1382. Here, all adult Mongols were killed and boys castrated. One of these boys was a little fellow called Zheng He (who ended up sailing across half the world).
- The Chinese call the wall the long city. At a certain time, walls were synonyms with cities.
- After the Mongols conquered the Ossetians, in the Caucasus, they brought back a contingent of them to Mongolia. Even today, a clan, the "Asud", is still living in eastern Inner Mongolia (in China).
- I know three Mongolian words which made into the international vocabulary: 'Horde', from 'Ordon', the plural of 'tent'; 'Hurray', from the Mongolian for 'forward'; 'Dalai', the Mongolian for 'ocean'. And indeed, it was a 16th century Mongol khan who gave some Tibetan lama the title 'Dalai' to boost his own connection with Buddhism and increase his stature with his subjects.
November 8, 2008
I picked up this book because I wanted to learn more about the Great Wall which I am trying to convince my husband to take the time to see on our trip to China in January. I wish I could do 2 1/2 stars and this is probably not even fair - the book is well-researched and very interesting at points with all of the tales/folklore about the wall. However, I am not very well-versed in Chinese history so at times my eyes glazed over with references to dates, emperors, wars, and locations. If I knew more maybe I would have gotten more out of the book. Overall, I read the book to learn more, and I did. I was saddened to learn that much of the wall is in ruins and much of it was taken apart by the locals to build houses and such over the centuries. In some places it is completely gone - one can only imagine what it was like. I enjoyed the stories of all the labor that went into the wall - astonishing! One myth about the wall that I was saddened to learn was that it cannot be seen from space as many people believe - this is just a tale. I hope to see this structure so that I can stand in awe over all of the work that took centuries to build!
November 7, 2014
This is a mostly enjoyable book that is part history and part travelogue. The chapters on the history of The Great Wall are interwoven with chapters on the author's travels to the various parts of the Wall. The travel portions are entertaining in themselves, though at times they feel as if they are drifting away from the subject, especially the sections in Mongolia, which focus a little too much on the socio-political conditions of Mongolia, and a bit too little on the Wall itself.
The historical chapters are great, especially the way they incorporate the myths and legends surrounding the Wall. To someone like me, who has almost zero knowledge of Chinese history, the glut of names of Emperors, dynasties, and hundreds of supporting characters can get a bit overwhelming at times, but that’s hardly the author’s fault. History is complex, and Chinese history – given its length – particularly so. In other words, don’t try this book unless you love history and are prepared for a crash course in Chinese history.
On the whole, this is a very good book on the subject, whether you read it as a potential tourist to The Great Wall, or merely as someone interested in it and its history.
The historical chapters are great, especially the way they incorporate the myths and legends surrounding the Wall. To someone like me, who has almost zero knowledge of Chinese history, the glut of names of Emperors, dynasties, and hundreds of supporting characters can get a bit overwhelming at times, but that’s hardly the author’s fault. History is complex, and Chinese history – given its length – particularly so. In other words, don’t try this book unless you love history and are prepared for a crash course in Chinese history.
On the whole, this is a very good book on the subject, whether you read it as a potential tourist to The Great Wall, or merely as someone interested in it and its history.
November 30, 2008
Having been to "The Wall" last year, I knew there was a lot of misunderstanding about it. Man has done an excellent job of researching the many walls that have come and gone over the last 2000 years. China has restored and developed the portion of the Great Wall at Badaling, north of Beijing, but there are and were many other portions of walls built to defend against the (mostly Mongolian) invaders from the North.
Although accompanied by great photos and maps, the locations and names in the book can be a bit overwhelming to someone without some grounding in Chinese geography and history. For a casual vistor to Badaling, thiough, even the last two or three chapters on that portion would be an interesting read.
If you're going to visit the Great Wall, though, read the book first, visit, then reread it!
Although accompanied by great photos and maps, the locations and names in the book can be a bit overwhelming to someone without some grounding in Chinese geography and history. For a casual vistor to Badaling, thiough, even the last two or three chapters on that portion would be an interesting read.
If you're going to visit the Great Wall, though, read the book first, visit, then reread it!
March 19, 2009
The Great Wall can be seen from space. Not. John Mann gives a great history and geography lesson on China and the Great Wall while dispelling myths like "seen from space" one and "the wall is one continuous structure for 1000 miles". It is not. Mann writes this not as gotcha skeptic, but rather as a investigative reporter. He obviously loves China and Asia as he has written several other books about the history of the region. This book is a good history lesson as well as a very nice read. Mann writes in a style that is very readable and funny while still being authoritative. Despite busting some myths of the Great Wall this book makes me want to experience it even more. Having been to China twice and not yet seeing it, now I have remarked this quest on my bucket list. Thanks John Mann.
December 10, 2012
What we think of "the Great Wall of China" is a myth: it is not great everywhere, not all of it is really a wall, and when it was built, not all of it was in China. But what it is, and was, is still pretty interesting. Man combines travelogue, history, and mythology to tell the story of the wall.
My favorite parts were the various myths and embroidered versions of history that have sprung up around parts of the wall and their creators. Man does a pretty good job of separating out probable fact from likely fiction (including, alas, debunking the story of the lost Roman Legion) and presenting it in an entertaining way.
My favorite parts were the various myths and embroidered versions of history that have sprung up around parts of the wall and their creators. Man does a pretty good job of separating out probable fact from likely fiction (including, alas, debunking the story of the lost Roman Legion) and presenting it in an entertaining way.
January 20, 2010
Not as good as I had hoped. The book is a mix of travel diary interpersed with historical snippets. But the author betrays his ignorance when he notes that an inscription in Chinese on one gate is written from right to left and remarks that this shows that it did not matter how writing was done when traditionally, Chinese is written from right to left and only changed to read from left to right recently.
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August 2, 2011The author uses the Great Wall to weave together an accessible intro to the history of China; in the process, shattering some popular myths about this architectural wonder. The image of the Wall as it appears to foreigners today -- primarily the well-restored section in Badaling, gives a deceptive picture of what the Wall was like then and elsewhere. It's not one continuous segment, it overlaps in places, and parts of it are just rammed earth. And it certainly can't be seen from space!
August 16, 2016
A superb book on the true history of everything to do with the Great Wall of China. A really critical look at all the facts, with enough bits of myth and legend to keep it super interesting.
I absolutely loved this book. John Man really shines when it comes to writing about anything to do with the ancient Mongols. Also, prepare to be surprised many times over. The reality of China and it's great wall is not what most of us think. It goes a lot deeper.
Enjoy.
I absolutely loved this book. John Man really shines when it comes to writing about anything to do with the ancient Mongols. Also, prepare to be surprised many times over. The reality of China and it's great wall is not what most of us think. It goes a lot deeper.
Enjoy.
January 27, 2014
Man travels about China to discover the real Wall of China -- only a part of which is the one that comes to mind. Along the way he speaks with the peoples who live in its shadow, and tells a little history about China and the "barbarians" of the north. There's a lot of surprise for the western reader--you may not know the wall at all!
November 5, 2023
"The Great Wall" by John Man offers an engrossing exploration of one of history's most iconic structures. Through vivid storytelling, the book delves into the Wall's creation, purpose, and cultural significance. Man's meticulous research and engaging narrative make this a must-read for history enthusiasts and those curious about China's past.
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