What do you know about Mulan? There is much more to know about the story than the hit 1998 movie suggests. For those who don’t remember, 13 years ago, one of the best Disney productions, Mulan hit the box office with a cartoon classic. With stars, such as Eddie Murphy, this film was popular amongst all ages. It was based on the legend of Hua Mulan, an iconic figure in Chinese ancient history. This is a story of bravery, courage and family values. China has such a fascinating history and this only one of the many tales, which are expressions of Chinese culture. So if you Travel to Beijing or Travel to Shanghai, or even Xi’an, after taking in the tourist attractions, take some time to learn more about these folklores.
The tale is described through the words of a unique Chinese poem, the ‘Ballad of Mulan.’ It is said that Mulan served in the army
for 12 years during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386AD-534AD). The legend states that during her battles, she merited 12 ranks of rewards, further proving what a heroine she is
To some extent, the outline and plot of the Disney film is a fair reflection on the real story. This is shown through the words of the ballad. For example, one of the verses reads:
“The Khan is calling many troops,
The army list is in twelve scrolls,
On every scroll there is a Father’s name.
Father has no grown-up son,
Mu-lan has no elder brother.
I want to buy a saddle and a horse,
And serve in the army in Father’s Place.
The poem was developed into a novel during the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The ballad, itself, was one of the first poems in Chinese history to support the notion of gender equality. The essential plot is that of a young woman who disguises herself as a man to fight in place of her elderly father, who was too weak and frail to go into battle at the time. She selflessly offered to enter the depths of manhood, just for her father. She proved to be a great soldier, soaring to the rank of General in quick succession. The war was won, and even up till this point no one knew she was a woman. Eventually, a friend she made in the army, General Li, visited her home and came to know she was a woman. As a result, he asked for her hand in marriage. However, there are many versions to the end of the story. The general consesnsus is that after the war, the Emperor offered her a governmental job to which she refused, so she could stay and take care of her father. A lot of the tale is still up for debate, but the main plot and outline highlighted in this article is believed to be true. It is also said that Hua Mulan (pictured below and above) lived till she was 90 years old.
So there you have it! A story of one of the bravest warriors China ever saw. There are very few female legends in Ancient Chinese history, but the legend of Mulan is to some extend, symbolic of feminism in China. So when you are on your China tours, ask someone to give you an account of this epic tale.
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