Noblewoman from the past gives researchers new insight

After the release of Xin Zhui's digital image, some netizens raised doubts about the depiction, suggesting that the facial features of the marquise, particularly the nose, bear a striking resemblance to Yuan. They suspect that Yuan may have used his own face as a reference in the reconstruction of Xin Zhui's appearance.

In early June, Hunan Museum stated that the digital representation of Xin Zhui has no connection to the face of Yuan, the reconstruction expert.

It was not the first time the museum has attempted to restore Xin Zhui's appearance. In 2002, it invited a professor of forensic medicine to reconstruct the facial images at four different ages — 7, 18, 30 and 50 years old. The next year, it unveiled a statue of Xin Zhui based on the painted images.

Explaining why the museum tried repeatedly to reconstruct the noblewoman's appearance, Zhang Xingguo, an assistant researcher at the Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, says that chasing the truth about history is a key part of how humans move forward. "To get closer to what really happened, we need to use scientific methods," Zhang says.

In June, the digital rendition of Xin Zhui was showcased on large screens at a metro station in Changsha. Plans are underway for an interactive artificial intelligence-driven version of the marquise. Xin Zhui is anticipated to serve as a cultural relics interpreter and engage in real-time conversations with visitors.