Research on the Architectural Heritage Value of Guangwu City and Its Subordinate Fortresses in the Ming Dynasty
Guangwu City and its subordinate fortresses are strategically located at the junction of the Ming Dynasty's Great Wall between Datong Town and Shanxi Town,forming a mature military defense system during the Ming Dynasty.This paper inter-prets the construction considerations,development process,and operational mechanisms of this military defense system during the Ming Dynasty.Through literature review,this paper reveals that Guangwu City evolved from a post station during the Zhengde period(1506-1521)to a military station during the Jiajing period(1522-1566),and finally,in the thirty-first year of Wanli(1603),it was officially named Guangwu City and designated as a military fortress with independent jurisdiction.The historical context gradually highlighted its military status.The changes in the military status of Guangwu City illustrate the policy changes of the Ming Dynasty,which in-volved the southward contraction of territory and subsequently strengthened the defense system of the Great Wall within Shanxi Town in the Ming Dynasty.In addition,the management system of Guangwu City and its subordinate fortresses underwent a transformation from the"guard post system"during the Hongwu period(1368-1398),to the"town-road-guard-post-fortress(specifically refer-ring to fortresses)"during the Jiajing period(1522-1566),and to the"town-road-fortress city-fortress"during the Wanli period(1573-1620),reflecting the transition of the military management system of the Shanxi Town from the"guard post system"to the"nine-border general commanding garrison system"in the Ming Dynasty.Based on field research and historical satellite maps,this paper utilizes historical topographic maps to quantitatively analyze the synergistic relationship between the defense system of the subordinate fortresses of Guangwu City and factors such as the natural en-vironment,the Great Wall structure,passageways,enemy platforms,and weapon strike ranges.The study indicates that the fortresses are evenly distributed at the Yukou Pass on both sides of Guangwu City,situated on high ground near water sources,facilitating the control of key transportation routes while meeting the needs of water supply and livelihood.Furthermore,the fortresses are construct-ed with rammed earth and bricks,often interdependent with the Great Wall structure,forming a defensive posture.WHEN combined with beacon towers,they form a sequence of signaling facilities.Guangwu City gradually established and improved a military defense facility system that responded to each other,as well as a defensive cultural ideology of tenacious defense and maintaining peace.
Great Wallmilitary defense systemGuangwu CityfortressesGreat Wall value
万方数据
维普
