Ancient DNA Analysis Reveals True Appearance of “Exotic” 6th-Century Chinese Emperor

Researchers reconstructed the face of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou using DNA from his remains, revealing his typical East Asian features and suggesting his premature death at 36 may have been due to a stroke. The study offers insights into the migration and integration of the Xianbei people in ancient China.

What did an ancient Chinese emperor from 1,500 years ago look like? A team of researchers reconstructed the face of Chinese Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou using DNA extracted from his remains. The study, recently published in the journal Current Biology, suggests the emperor’s death at the age of 36 might be linked to a stroke. It also sheds light on the origin and migration patterns of a nomadic empire that once ruled parts of northeastern Asia.