When people died while building the Great Wall of China did they bury their bodies in the Great Wall and build around them?

Answer 1

No. Burying human remains would have weakened the wall. Thus, dead bodies were buried a short distance away. This myth originated in some ancient folk songs and poems, to depict the tyrannies of the emperor Qin Shi-huang and the misery of the builders. Construction was by imperial decree, and local conscripts and prisoners did most of the heavy labor.

Answer 2

The middle part of the wall was filled with sands, gravels and rubble. One or few dead bodies would not cause any structural instability. However the average human adult body contains 60% of water in volume. If the middle part of the great wall was a mass grave, 60% of the volume would be evaporated over a short period. The structure would be weaken with the missing volume.

At last I still believe there were dead bodies in the great wall because some Chinese believe the dead people would become spirits to guard the wall.

Answer 3

There are no bodies in the great wall. This is a fable. A human body decomposes and if bodies had been placed in the wall it would fall apart where the body was located because of the decomposition.

Answer 4

some of the dead bodies were buried in the wall! the emperor didn't care, so they just built over them!

Answer 5

The Great Wall of China is considered to be the longest cemetery in the world. During the years of construction of the Great Wall more than 3,000 people died building it.

Answer 6

The people buried in it were mostly unimportant workers who died making the wall, it was the easiest way of disposing of their bodies.

Answer 7

Yes. Many died while working building the Great Wall, and their bodies were used as place holders. People just continued to build the Wall over their bodies.

Answer 8

Yes. There are many bodies in the Great Wall. In fact, it is called the "Longest Graveyard in the World!"