Probably one of the more prolific city wall builders were the Chinese. With constant threats from other cities as well as bands of marauders, even the smallest village had some sort of protective fortification. Of course, the most grandiose protection built by man is the Great Wall, the only man-made artifact that can be seen from orbit.

But this book is on city walls and thanks to the Chinese, many of the more elaborate defensive walls are still extant and many are being restored to their past splendor. The finest surviving example is at the city of Pingyao. Most of these structures were made of beaten earth that was covered with stone or brick to help it hold its shape. Many of these were massive structures with complex main entry gates, giving the defenders ample opportunity to stop attackers while still allowing for the normal transit of commerce. Some were so large as to require over a kilometer of travel into the city before exiting the gate complex.

Author Stephen Turnbull, an internationally recognized researcher on the subject and provides a  most complete look at Chinese city wall construction.

The book covers the complete design and implementation of styles and shows how the various works were modified or improved to meet the needs of the areas in which they were placed. While all seem to follow a basic theme, the actual way in which it was carried out was quite dependent on local geography, as often natural features were incorporated into the defensive structure. The book looks at the design and development, the principles of defense, what it was like to live in these walled cities and how they performed their task in war. There is a more detailed look at the walled structures of several Chinese cities and how these sites appear today.

All of this is additionally enhanced by photos of the current sites, period art work and the illustrations of Steve Noon. Though some of the fortifications are either gone or inaccessible, many are still extant and those areas are shown and discussed.

In all, a superb addition to the Fortress series and a book that I believe you will find interesting.

August 2009

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