Mulanshi
Mulanshi, also known as the "Ballad of Mulan," has been a significant part of Chinese folklore for over a thousand years, with origins traced back to the Northern Dynasties (386-588 CE). The ballad tells the story of Mulan, a courageous young woman who disguises herself as a man to take her aging father's place in the Imperial army, thereby defying traditional gender roles. Over ten years, she fights bravely against invading troops, ultimately securing victory for her nation and bringing honor to her family. Despite being offered wealth and high office by the emperor, Mulan chooses to return home, symbolizing her desire for a return to normalcy and fulfillment of familial duties. The lyrical narrative of Mulanshi is concise, containing only 330 Chinese characters, yet it effectively conveys a rich and engaging story through its structured stanzas. This ballad not only highlights themes of honor, bravery, and sacrifice but also reflects the cultural values and historical context of the time. The enduring appeal of Mulan's story has transcended generations, inspiring various adaptations, including the popular 1998 Disney film.
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Mulanshi
Also known as: Mu-lan shih (Wade-Giles).
Date: c. 386-581 c.e.
Locale: North China
Authorship: Unknown
Mulanshi
Mulanshi (MEW-lahn-shee; Ballad of Mulan, 1923) has circulated among the Chinese people for well over a millennium. Historians credit its authorship to the people of the Northern Dynasties (386-588 c.e.), when aggressive northern tribes invaded north China during the period just preceding the founding of the Tang Dynasty. The ballad is collected in the one-hundred-volume Yuefushi Ji (compiled eleventh century c.e.; partial translation; commonly known as Anthology of Ancient Songs) compiled by Guo Maoqian. Mulan is the young heroine of the ballad (on which the 1998 Walt Disney film Mulan was based). When her aging father is drafted into the Imperial army to fight against the invading troops of Hu (a general term for the northern and western tribes), Mulan disguises herself as a warrior and takes his place. She undertakes responsibilities that are not traditional for a woman, fights countless battles for ten years, and brings victory to her country and glory to her family. The emperor awards her with citations, wealth, and a high office, but Mulan kindly declines them and expresses her unyielding character: “I wish to ride on a winged steed,/ And fly aback to my home.” Upon arrival, she “took off her suit of armor,/ And put on her girl’s wear,” happily returning to normal life.
The ballad has only 330 Chinese characters, but its fast-moving narrative paints a tightly knit plot incorporating seven events, each corresponding to one stanza of short and long lines.
Bibliography
Chang, Wei, and Ch’eng-an Chiang. The Legend of Mu Lan. Monterey, Calif.: Victory Press, 1997.
Ts’ai, Cho-chih, Yen-kuang Lu, and Kate Foster. One Hundred Celebrated Chinese Women. Singapore: Asiapae Books, 1995.