Emperor Han Wendi ascended the throne in 180 BC at the age of 23 and then ruled for 23 years. The Han Empire was already flourishing at the time, while Rome was just beginning its expansion into northern Italy and Spain. A major discovery near Xi’an, the former capital of Chang’an, now tells us more about the Han Wendi period. Among other things, mountains of ceramic figurines were found in a recently uncovered mausoleum. They were part of a symbolic court that followed a dignitary into the grave. fin