Shanhaiguan
/ʂáŋ.xàɪ.kwán/noun
A historic fortified pass and district in Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China, where the Great Wall meets the Bohai Sea.
Did you know?Shanhaiguan was known as 天下第一关, “The First Pass Under Heaven,” and marked the strategic eastern gateway into Ming China.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
山海關
“The characters mean “mountain-sea pass”: 山, mountain; 海, sea; 關, fortified pass or gateway.”
Ming Dynasty, 14th Century
Chinese
山海關
“A major military pass was constructed and expanded at the narrow corridor between the Yan Mountains and the Bohai coast.”
1381
Ming Chinese
山海關
“General Xu Da strengthened the fortress as part of the Ming defensive system and connected it with the eastern Great Wall.”
1644
Chinese
山海關
“The pass became famous when Ming general Wu Sangui opened its gates to Manchu forces, enabling the Qing conquest of Beijing.”
Modern English
English
Shanhaiguan
“The established English romanization for 山海關, now used for the historic fortress, district, and tourist site.”