Meng Tian
Encyclopedia
Meng Tian (died 210 BCE) was a general of the Qin Dynasty
who distinguished himself in campaigns against the Xiongnu
and in the construction of the Great Wall of China
. He was the elder brother of Meng Yi
. He descended from a great line of military generals and architects. His father Meng Wu was also a Qin general who fought under Wang Jian
.
By the time the Qin Dynasty conquered the other six states and began its reign over a unified China in 221 B.C., the nomadic Xiongnu had grown into a powerful invading force in the north and started expanding both east and west. Qin Shi Huang
, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, sent a 100,000-strong army headed by General Meng Tian to drive the Xiongnu northward for 1,000 li (about 416 km) and began work on what has become known as the Great Wall to guard against invasion. The defensive works he began were said to extend over 10,000 li (4,158 km) "from Lintao to Liaodong and even extended across the Yellow River and through Yangshan
and Beijia.", that is, from the southwest corner of the Ordos Loop
to the Yellow Sea. Yangshan and Beijia are hard to locate, but the wall ran along the Yellow River and included all of the Ordos Loop.
Meng Tian's ingenuity can be seen in the efficient (though inhumane) building policy, the consideration of topography, and the utilisation of natural barriers. Meng Tian supervised the construction of a road system linking the former Yan
, Qi
, Wu
and Chu
areas, as well as a number of roads especially for imperial use. The system eventually formed played an extremely important role in ancient transportation and economic exchanges. He is also traditionally revered for important improvements of the "Ink brush
" (毛筆) and is specially remembered at the "Huzhou
Pen Festival", which developed from festivities at his ancestor temple.
When Prince Fusu
, Qin Shi Huang's eldest son and the then-crown prince
, was exiled to work at the northern border for disputing his father's policies, Meng Tian was ordered to assist the prince — a task he had accomplished loyally. When the First Emperor died, Meng's death was brought about through the plotting of Zhao Gao
. He was forced to commit suicide in prison, and his family was killed. Three years after his death, the Qin Dynasty collapsed.
Qin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
who distinguished himself in campaigns against the Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
and in the construction of the Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups...
. He was the elder brother of Meng Yi
Meng Yi
Meng Yi was a minister who served Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China, during the Qin Dynasty.-Biography:Meng Yi was the younger brother of the general Meng Tian. During the later years of Qin Shi Huang's reign, he became the closest and most trusted of the emperor's advisors...
. He descended from a great line of military generals and architects. His father Meng Wu was also a Qin general who fought under Wang Jian
Wang Jian
Wang Jian , courtesy name Guangtu , formally Emperor Gaozu of Shu , was the founding emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Former Shu...
.
By the time the Qin Dynasty conquered the other six states and began its reign over a unified China in 221 B.C., the nomadic Xiongnu had grown into a powerful invading force in the north and started expanding both east and west. Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
, the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, sent a 100,000-strong army headed by General Meng Tian to drive the Xiongnu northward for 1,000 li (about 416 km) and began work on what has become known as the Great Wall to guard against invasion. The defensive works he began were said to extend over 10,000 li (4,158 km) "from Lintao to Liaodong and even extended across the Yellow River and through Yangshan
Yangshan
Yangshan Port , or Yangshan Deep-Water Port , is a deepwater port for container ships in Hangzhou Bay south of Shanghai.Built to allow the Port of Shanghai to grow despite shallow waters near the shore, it allows berths with depths of up to 15 metres to be built, and can handle today's largest...
and Beijia.", that is, from the southwest corner of the Ordos Loop
Ordos Loop
The Ordos Loop is a region of China west of Beijing. The Yellow River flows north-northeast, then east, and then south forming three sides of an imperfect rectangle. The south side is formed by the Wei River which rises not far from the southwest corner and flows east to the southeast corner...
to the Yellow Sea. Yangshan and Beijia are hard to locate, but the wall ran along the Yellow River and included all of the Ordos Loop.
Meng Tian's ingenuity can be seen in the efficient (though inhumane) building policy, the consideration of topography, and the utilisation of natural barriers. Meng Tian supervised the construction of a road system linking the former Yan
Yan (state)
Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...
, Qi
Qi (state)
Qi was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States in ancient China. Its capital was Linzi, now part of the modern day city of Zibo in Shandong Province....
, Wu
Wu (state)
The State of Wu , also known as Gou Wu or Gong Wu , was one of the vassal states during the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period. The State of Wu was located at the mouth of the Yangtze River east of the State of Chu. Considered a semi-barbarian state by ancient Chinese...
and Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
areas, as well as a number of roads especially for imperial use. The system eventually formed played an extremely important role in ancient transportation and economic exchanges. He is also traditionally revered for important improvements of the "Ink brush
Ink brush
Ink brushes are used in Chinese calligraphy. They are also used in Chinese painting and descendant brush painting styles. The ink brush was invented in China, believed to be around 300BCE...
" (毛筆) and is specially remembered at the "Huzhou
Huzhou
Huzhou is a prefecture-level city in northern Zhejiang province of Eastern China. Lying south of the Lake Tai, it borders Jiaxing to the east, Hangzhou to the south, and the provinces of Anhui and Jiangsu to the west and north respectively.-Administration:...
Pen Festival", which developed from festivities at his ancestor temple.
When Prince Fusu
Fusu
Fusu was the first son of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, and hence the heir apparent. He believed that society would be impeccably run if everyone shared perfect knowledge ....
, Qin Shi Huang's eldest son and the then-crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
, was exiled to work at the northern border for disputing his father's policies, Meng Tian was ordered to assist the prince — a task he had accomplished loyally. When the First Emperor died, Meng's death was brought about through the plotting of Zhao Gao
Zhao Gao
Zhao Gao was the chief eunuch during the Qin Dynasty of China. He played an instrumental role in the downfall of the Qin Dynasty.- Early life :...
. He was forced to commit suicide in prison, and his family was killed. Three years after his death, the Qin Dynasty collapsed.
Popular culture
Meng Tian is one of the 32 historical figures who appear as special characters in the video game Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI by Koei. He also appears as a non-playable character in Prince of Qin.External links
- greatwall-of-china.com
- findarticles.com
- encarta.msn.com (Archived 2009-11-01)
- Asean Travel & Tours
- Beck, S. China, Korea & Japan to 1875, World Peace Communications. ISBN 0-9762210-1-2.