A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – <\/strong>The story of Hua Mulan, a brave young female warrior, is related to the Three Kingdoms Period (220\u2013280), a chaotic and difficult time of war and stagnation when China was divided by three robust regimes: Wei, Shu, and Wu.<\/p>\n Still, China’s so-called dark Middle Ages\u00a0was a time full of inspiration for creating beautiful tales, poems, and stories about famous historical figures, heroes, and love.<\/p>\n The Chinese heroine Hua Mulan is one of the oldest and most enduring examples of a woman who becomes a warrior because of her role as a daughter. She was the subject of the \u201cPoem of Mulan,\u201d which undoubtedly inspired other similar Mulan stories, handed down from one generation to another.<\/p>\n Historians have long debated whether she was a real historical figure. In China, however, several variations of the Mulan story have survived for at least 1,500 years. It has been told in Chinese operas, plays, folk tales, and now video games. It is included in Chinese school textbooks and inspired by\u00a0writers, artists, and storytellers. In 1998, Disney adapted her story for an animated cartoon to great acclaim worldwide.<\/p>\n The \u201cPoem of Mulan\u201d appeared in a twelfth-century poetry anthology compiled by Guo Maoqian (1041 – 1099), who attributes it to an old, sixth-century source that no longer exists.<\/p>\n We must rely on this poem because the available information about her life and deeds is very limited or nonexistent.<\/p>\n The poem tells of a devoted daughter who entered the battlefield disguised as a man. She defended her elderly father, a brave\u00a0warrior. The girl changed her clothes and fought on equal terms with men.<\/p>\n In general, this is not just a story about a girl\u00a0but about\u00a0traditional Chinese virtues, including loyalty, devotion to parents, courage, and honor.<\/p>\n Mulan (her name ‘Mulan’ means \u2018Magnolia liliiflora,’ a small tree native to southwest China) was born in a small village in northern China and probably lived from 581 to 618 AD (or between 386 and 534 AD, according to other versions). Her father was a soldier and raised Mulan like a boy.<\/p>\n She learned weaving and embroidery from her mother but also trained in archery, martial arts, equitation, and fencing with her father. Additionally, she devoted time to reading her father\u2019s manuals on military strategy.<\/p>\n Her father was already very old, but he responded to the emperor’s request and was about to go to war. Then, Mulan decided to go instead of his father to the war. She realized that his age and health may not allow him to fight successfully, survive, and return home. Mulan\u2019s brother was too young and had to stay at home.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/mulanwarrior14.jpg\")
<\/a>A scene from Hong Kong director Jingle Ma’s Mula. Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>An iron statue of Mulan being welcomed home, in the city of Xinxiang, China. Image credit: Kruuth<\/a><\/span> – <\/em>–CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/p>\n