In 1996, scientists utilized DNA extracted from the remains of Emperor Wu of Zhou to create a portrait of him. This figure is renowned for his significant contributions to unifying China during the 6th century. Emperor Wu of Zhou reigned during the Northern Zhou Dynasty from 560 until his death at the age of 36 in 578. He is famous for establishing a powerful army and uniting northern China after defeating the Northern Qi Dynasty. However, the cause of his untimely death has been a subject of debate among historians, with theories ranging from poisoning to illness.
The genetic analysis revealed that Emperor Wu had brown eyes, black hair, and dark skin similar to individuals in North and East Asia today. The study also indicated that he belonged to the Xianbei ethnic group, nomadic people who migrated from southern to northern China and intermingled with the Han population. Contradicting prior assumptions about their physical characteristics, this analysis indicated that Wu’s facial features aligned more closely with East Asian traits rather than those specific to the Xianbei.
Furthermore, the DNA analysis suggested that Wu likely succumbed to complications from a stroke. This conclusion matched historical descriptions of his health issues, including symptoms like aphasia and sunken eyelids.
Moving forward, researchers plan to expand their investigation by studying individuals who resided in Chang’an, an ancient capital in northwest China that played a significant role in Chinese history as the starting point of the Silk Road. By delving deeper into the genetic makeup of past populations, they hope to gain further insights into ancient migration patterns and interactions between diverse groups in Eurasia.
