Page 15 - The Great Wall of China
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MING DYNASTY
The Ming wall extended from the Yalu River in Liaoning Province to the eastern bank of
the Taolai River in Gansu Province, and winded its way from east to west through today’s
Liaoning, Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia and Gansu.
Starting west of Juyong Pass, the Great Wall was split into south and north lines, respectively
named the Inner and Outer Walls. Strategic “passes” (i.e., fortresses) and gates were placed
along the wall; the Juyong, Daoma and Zijing passes, closest to Beijing, were named the Three
Inner Passes, while further west were Yanmen, Ningwu and Piantou, the Three Outer Passes.
All six passes were heavily garrisoned during the Ming period and considered vital to the
defense of the capital.
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