The Ballad of Mulan

The Ballad of Mulan

Many people have seen the Disney movie Mulan, but not so many people know that it is telling a true story of an ancient Chinese poem the Ballad of Mulan. In China, middle school students are required to recite the whole poem. If you travel to China, you can actually visit Mulan’s real village and museum now.

The poem was first written in the 6th century. The story has changed through the centuries. In the year of 1998, Disney made an animated film Mulan which was based on this story, but it isn’t entirely true though. It set the record for box office sales of that year. 

Hua Mulan is a legendary heroine from Chinese folklore. She joined an all-male army instead of her father, because her father is too old and ill to go off to fight. Mulan learnt how to ride a horse and use a sword from her father and spends 12 years fighting alongside other male soldiers. To do so, she needs to disguise herself as a man. After the army won the war, Mulan returned to her hometown to her parents. She surprised her companions when she takes off her armor, puts on her dress and makeup. No one ever suspected she  was a girl when she’s in army.

Anonymous (c.5 A.D.)

Tsiek tsiek and again tsiek tsiek,
Mulan weaves, facing the door.
You don't hear the shuttle's sound,
You only hear Daughter's sighs.
They ask Daughter who's in her heart,
They ask Daughter who's on her mind.
"No one is on Daughter's heart,
No one is on Daughter's mind.
Last night I saw the draft posters,
The Khan is calling many troops,
The army list is in twelve scrolls,
On every scroll there's Father's name.
Father has no grown-up son,
Mulan has no elder brother.
I want to buy a saddle and horse,
And serve in the army in Father's place.
In the East Market she buys a spirited horse,
In the West Market she buys a saddle,
In the South Market she buys a bridle,
In the North Market she buys a long whip.
At dawn she takes leave of Father and Mother,
In the evening camps on the Yellow River's bank.
She doesn't hear the sound of Father and Mother calling,
She only hears the Yellow River's flowing water cry tsien tsien.
At dawn she takes leave of the Yellow River,
In the evening she arrives at Black Mountain.
She doesn't hear the sound of Father and Mother calling,
She only hears Mount Yen's nomad horses cry tsiu tsiu.
She goes ten thousand miles on the business of war,
She crosses passes and mountains like flying.
Northern gusts carry the rattle of army pots,
Chilly light shines on iron armor.
Generals die in a hundred battles,
Stout soldiers return after ten years.
On her return she sees the Son of Heaven,
The Son of Heaven sits in the Splendid Hall.
He gives out promotions in twelve ranks
And prizes of a hundred thousand and more.
The Khan asks her what she desires.
"Mulan has no use for a minister's post.
I wish to ride a swift mount
To take me back to my home."
When Father and Mother hear Daughter is coming
They go outside the wall to meet her, leaning on each other.
When Elder Sister hears Younger Sister is coming
She fixes her rouge, facing the door.
When Little Brother hears Elder Sister is coming
He whets the knife, quick quick, for pig and sheep.
"I open the door to my east chamber,
I sit on my couch in the west room,
I take off my wartime gown
And put on my old-time clothes."
Facing the window she fixes her cloudlike hair,
Hanging up a mirror she dabs on yellow flower powder
She goes out the door and sees her comrades.
Her comrades are all amazed and perplexed.
Traveling together for twelve years
They didn't know Mulan was a girl.
"The he-hare's feet go hop and skip,
The she-hare's eyes are muddled and fuddled.
Two hares running side by side close to the ground,
How can they tell if I am he or she?”

Translation from The Flowering Plum and the Palace Lady: Interpretations of Chinese Poetry. By Han H. Frankel, Yale University Press, 1976