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Who built the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall of China is not the work of a single dynasty or individual. Over a period of more than 2,500 years, at least 20 dynasties' monarchs ordered the construction of the Great Wall. Among them, Emperor Qin Shi Huang stands out for his pivotal role: he ordered the connection of the fragmented early walls built by pre-Qin states into a unified, thousand-mile-long defense system. The actual builders, however, were millions of soldiers, civilians, and criminals.

The labor force for building the Great Wall:

1. Soldiers

At that time, the core force in constructing the Great Wall was soldiers. They had undergone strict military training and possessed high combat effectiveness and organizational discipline. During the construction of the Great Wall, they played a significant role, not only undertaking arduous physical labor but also being responsible for the planning and management of the project. For example, after Emperor Qin Shi Huang defeated the Huns, he tasked General Meng Tian with leading some 300,000 soldiers to garrison the frontier and construct the Great Wall, taking over nine years to complete.

2. Civilians

Conscripted civilians were another critical labor source, drawn from across the nation to work as masons, stonemasons, bricklayers, and carpenters. During Qin Shi Huang’s reign, around 500,000 civilians were forcibly drafted. Other dynasties similarly mobilized large numbers: the Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 577), for example, conscripted 1.8 million people to build over 1,400 kilometers (900 miles) wall from Juyongguan Pass to Datong. By the Sui Dynasty (581 - 618), with all available male labor exhausted, even women were pressed into service.

A laborer chiseling stone

A laborer carrying stones

3. Criminals

Criminals were subjected to forced labor as punishment, marked by shaved heads and shackles. By day, they took turns patrolling the wall; by night, they labored on its construction and expansion. Under Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 207 BC) laws, their sentence mandated four years of such work.

How many people were needed to build the Great Wall of China?

With construction spanning over 2,500 years and carried out intermittently by multiple dynasties, the total number of laborers is incalculable. Historical records offer only partial estimates: during the Qin Dynasty, around 300,000 soldiers and 500,000 civilians were involved, roughly 20% of the country’s population. The Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 534) mobilized about 100,000 people, while the Northern Qi’s project engaged 1.8 million. The Sui Dynasty employed some 1 million workers. From this, it can be seen that each dynasty that participated in the construction of the Great Wall conscripted a large number of people.

How many people died from building the Great Wall of China?

The Great Wall of China

No comprehensive records exist for total deaths across all periods, but limited data sheds light on specific eras. During Qin Shi Huang’s reign, approximately 130,000 people perished, a mortality rate of about 10%, mostly from disease, overwork, or accidental falls. Extrapolating from this rate, total deaths throughout history may have exceeded 1 million.

Are there dead bodies buried in the Great Wall of China?

According to the situation at that time, it was very likely to bury the dead bodies under or near the Great Wall. Due to the heavy construction work, the controllers would not like to waste time to send the dead bodies away for burial. The legend Meng Jiangnu's Bitter Weeping is also a proof of this. It was about a wife who cried on the Great Wall and wept the section into collapse where her husband was buried. However, this guess has not been proved true since none of the dead bodies have been found under or near the wall yet.