Who Is This Girl I See?

As I prepare to embark on my own Asian adventure, I wondered…Is there anything factual about the adventure of our favorite Chinese Disney Heroine, Mulan? Thanks to my DVD and Wikipedia, I was able to do some research and bring you the following. I hope you enjoy. Even if you don’t, well..deal with it.

PLOT

This retelling of the old Chinese folktale is about the story of a young Chinese maiden who learns that her weakened and lame father is to be called up into the army in order to fight the invading Huns. Knowing that he would never survive the rigours of war in his state, she decides to disguise herself and join in his place. Unknown to her, her ancestors are aware of this and to prevent it, they order a tiny disgraced dragon, Mushu to join her in order to force her to abandon her plan. He agrees, but when he meets Mulan, he learns that she cannot be dissuaded and so decides to help her in the perilous times ahead.

THE FACTS

The story can be traced back to The Ballad of Mulan. The earliest accounts of the legend state that she lived during the Northern Wei dynasty. However another version reports that Mulan was requested as a concubine by Emperor Yang of Sui China (400-600A.D). Concubines were found in large numbers in the Emperor’s palace, especially in the Forbidden City. It should be noted that the soldiers in the final scene sneak into the Forbidden City, posing as Royal Concubines. In the original legend, Mulan is never discovered as being male until after returning home. Much like her film counterpart, she gets offered a place in th Emperor’s council, but she rejects it (it seems unlikely that a ruling emperor would select a woman for his council during these times.) Our main villain, Shan Yu, was identified as a leader of the Huns. China fought the “original” Shunyu and the Huns largely around the turn of the first Century. Ironically, Mulan’s horse is named Atilla (likely after Atilla the Hun, leader of the Huns before or after this story is set, depending on which timeline you choose.) Yet with action at the Great Wall, in Beijing, and the Forbidden City, the story likely takes place during the 15th Century Ming Dynasty. Despite these inconsistencies, there are many details that are curiously present, including the Hun’s use of the curve-ended composite bow and the detailing of the Forbidden City (gargoyles representing each chamber’s authority).

CONCLUSION

So despite no one really knowing when this story takes place or who some of these main characters are, the plot itself largely follows the original ballad, and there are many cultural phenomenon prominent in this film that should not be ignored. The ideas of family, honor, and tradition are still strong in Chinese society, even today. While not necessarily a documentary, Mulan can provide a larger picture of China and its people. And lets face it, it’s Disney.

This entry can also be found over at This Blog Not Yet Rated.

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