Research on the Architectural Structure and Distribution Characteristics of Beacon Towers along the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty in Shaanxi Province
The beacon tower is an important part of the Great Wall defense system,serving as a defensive facility independent of the wall and primarily responsible for information transmission.The Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty in Shaanxi Province passes through various types of terrain,mainly characterized by linear low mountainous areas in the east,loess hills and gullies in the central region,and sandy and grassy areas in the west.There are a total of 570 beacon towers along the wall,with 375 along the north line and 195 along the south lines.Their construction and distribution are the result of the combined influence of the geographical environ-ment,defense strategy,and other natural and social factors.This article focuses on the beacon towers along the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty in Shaanxi Province.It categorizes their ar-chitectural types based on different ancillary facilities and utilizes ArcGIS software and historical records to interpret the distribution characteristics and transmission routes of the beacon towers.Through the analysis,it is found that the beacon towers are classified into three construction material bused on construction material types:rammed earth,stone masonry,and brick masonry.Their architectural forms include stage body structures as well as various combinations with bases,enclosing walls,and trenches.The distribution of the beacon towers shows a denser presence in the east,followed by the central region,and a relatively scattered pattern in the west.This is mainly influenced by factors such as topography,slope,river systems,warfare frequency,and defense strategies in different regional environments.In terms of layout,the beacon towers are generally distributed on both sides of the Great Wall,roughly following the direction of the wall.Which exhibit various arrangements including continuous linear,centralized clustering,multi-level,and multi-angle patterns.Beacon transmission primarily occurs along the main east-west line and the north-south secondary lines.The main line horizontally transmits along both sides of the Great Wall's north and south walls,facilitating communication between the eastern,central,and western routes,as well as between Town garrisons and Road garrisons.The secondary lines vertically transmit informa-tion between the north and south walls of the Great Wall and between various military castles and watchtowers along the Great Wall.By combining the main and secondary lines,in vertical and horizontal direction a networked military information transmission system is established along the Ming Great Wall in Shaanxi Province.In comparison to previous literature,this paper attempts to use archaeological typology to analyze the architectural features of the beacon towers.It comprehensively analyzes the distribution characteristics of the beacon towers using ArcGIS software and explains the direction and transmission routes of military intelligence in the Yansui Garrison during the Ming Dynasty by using the concept of"The Beacon Line".This paper to some extent explores the design concepts of the beacon transmission system within the Ming Great Wall defense system,providing theoretical support for the construction of current Great Wall Theme Museums and The Great Wall Natinal Cultural Parks.
beacon towerarchitectural structuredistribution characteristicsbeacon transmission line
万方数据
维普
