In the story, after prolonged and distinguished military service against nomadic hordes beyond the northern frontier, Mulan is honored by the emperor but declines a position of high office. She retires to her hometown, where she is reunited with her family and reveals her sex, much to the astonishment of her comrades.
Was Mulan based on a true story?
Well, we might be able to answer that! Is Mulan Based on a True Story? No, Mulan is not based on a true story. However, the film takes inspiration from the life of Hua Mulan, a warrior from the Chinese folklore who belonged to the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
Is Mulan based on a real person?
While the social and cultural milieu of the Northern Wei dynasty provided the context for the tale’s origins, there’s no corroborative evidence to confirm that Mulan was ever a real person. Over time, the story and character’s nomadic and tribal origins have significantly changed from the original.
Was Hua Mulan a real person?
Originally Answered: Is Hua Mulan a real historical person in China history? She's not real, just a story. There is a real female general in ancient China, her name is Qin Liangyu. According to archaeological findings, her body showed that she was 6′5″ tall, a stunning height at that time. 2.6K views View upvotes Steven Zhang , History expert
What is the true story of Mulan?
The beginning of Mulan's true story. Mulan story stemmed from a true legend that occurred in ancient China. It is known to all chinese people. Which turned it into a cartoon afterwards. That is, it wasn't just the writer's imagination. There was a big war and they need every family to come to war. In order to defend China. But the Mulan family had only her father. He was too old to go to war.
What is the real story of Mulan?
Who was the original Mulan? Although there are many different stories about Mulan beyond the Ballad of Mulan, the original poem tells the tale of the brave female warrior known as Mulan, who was a soldier in China during the Northern and Southern dynasties period (between 420 and 589 CE).
What happened to the actual Mulan?
The character was later included in a popular 17th-century novel about the Sui and early Tang dynasties, which was a marked departure from the poem. Here, Mulan commits suicide rather than live under a foreign ruler, meeting a tragic end.
Did the war in Mulan actually happen?
Based on Chinese historical documents, a real war happened between the Northern Wei state and a Mongolic state called Rouran. In 429, the emperor (khan) of Northern Wei led an army to fight Rouran, which according to the Ballad of Mulan lasted 12 years.
What is the dark story of Mulan?
In One Dark Version, Mulan Is Forced To Become A Concubine The tale of Mulan's heroism spreads even while Hua Mulan mourns. The Turkic khan learns of Mulan's talent and beauty. He orders Mulan to become his concubine. For a heroic warrior, becoming a concubine would shame Mulan, so she takes her own life.
How old was Mulan when she got married?
Married off to a stranger at 13 It's believed that Mulan lived during the Wei dynasty, a time when young girls were forced to marry when they were as young as 13 years old - a rule imposed by the government, according to researchers. Women were seen as servants from birth.
How did they find out Mulan was a girl?
Mulan chooses to reveal herself In the animation, Mulan is injured in battle after saving Li Shang. When the doctor checks her over it becomes clear she's a woman. In the 2020 movie, Mulan chooses to reveal herself.
How old is Mulan and Shang?
Mulan and Li Shang Mulan was thought to be just 16 when she chopped off her hair and took her father's place in the army, and Shang was 19.
Why is Mulan sad at the beginning of the story?
Why is Mulan sad at the beginning of the story? She doesn't like to sew. Her mom is mean to her. She doesn't want her dad to go to war.
Is Mulan a real princess?
She uses courage and determination to win the day." Although Mulan is a member of the Disney Princess franchise, she is not a legitimate princess in the traditional sense, as she was neither born the daughter of a king or queen, nor does she become princess consort by marrying a prince.
Did Mulan save China?
1:4715:22Film Theory: Did Mulan REALLY Save China? (Disney Mulan Trailer)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEver from a Disney movie when Mulan fires a rocket at a mountain to create an avalanche. And buryMoreEver from a Disney movie when Mulan fires a rocket at a mountain to create an avalanche. And bury the invading Huns who historically would have been Mongols.
What war is Mulan based on?
“Based on Chinese historical documents, a real war happened between the Northern Wei state and a Mongolic state called Rouran,” the company states. “In 429, the emperor (khan) of Northern Wei led an army to fight Rouran, which according to the Ballad of Mulan lasted 12 years.”
Does Mulan have happy ending?
The film ends there, but it implies that, having brought honor to her family, her village, and her country by being true to herself, Mulan will now honor her own wishes and accept the offer to join the emperor's guard and continue to cultivate her qi.
Why is Mulan sad at the beginning of the story?
Why is Mulan sad at the beginning of the story? She doesn't like to sew. Her mom is mean to her. She doesn't want her dad to go to war.
How long was Mulan away from home in the movie 1998?
In the film, Mulan sneaks off in an epic montage set to an intense soundtrack, but in the ballad she heads off with her mother and father's blessing. Mulan, already trained in martial arts, sword fighting and archery, manages to go undetected for 12 years in the army.
How old is Li Shang in Mulan?
She was 16 (and not sure how many months) when she joins the army and maybe 17 (and not sure how many months) by the end. A month passes until they get engaged and it's not stated how long it is after that when they actually get married (their wedding at Mulan's house, not by Mushu).
Is Mulan Japanese or Chinese?
Created by author Robert D. San Souci, Mulan is based on the legendary Chinese warrior Hua Mulan from the poem the Ballad of Mulan. The only child of an aging war veteran, Mulan disregards both tradition and the law by disguising herself as a man in order to enlist herself in the army in lieu of her feeble father.
How did Mulan become a woman?
In the Disney movie, Mulan’s identity as a woman is discovered by accident after she was wounded. She was nearly killed by Shang Li, as the penalty for a woman impersonating a soldier is death.
Why did Mulan join the army?
Mulan secretly joined the army to serve in her father’s place. Her father is elderly and will undoubtedly die if he is forced into battle. In one version of the story, she has a younger brother who is still too young to enlist. Perhaps this is why, in the Disney version, she has a dog named “Little Brother.”.
What is the difference between Disney and Mulan?
One striking element about the original version of Mulan is its lack of supernatural features. The Disney version has Mulan ’s ancestors appear as spirits, along with the dragon Mushu, who awakens and goes out to help her. But none of those things are present in the original.
Why does Mulan want a horse?
She just wanted to protect her father. This part is another place where Disney got it right. The real Mulan didn’t set out to earn honor and glory for herself. In the end, after she has spent 12 years consistently saving the empire, all that she asks for is a horse so that she can return home to her family.
What is Mulan's job?
After all of her courageous exploits, Disney’s Mulan is honored by the emperor and offered a job as his royal counselor. But all that she wants to do is return home to her family. She never set out to become a hero. She just wanted to protect her father.
What is the most glaring inconsistency in Mulan?
There are a few ways that the Disney movie deviated from the original story. The most glaring inconsistency is that in Disney’s Mulan, the title character faced certain death if anyone discovered that she was discovered actually to be female.
What is the opposite of Mulan?
Disney movies like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty are the exact opposite of Mulan. Sleeping Beauty and Snow White are both princesses who fall into a deathlike sleep and can only be re-awakened by true love’s kiss. They are passive characters who need a man to rescue them.
Why did Mulan leave Mushu?
Part of the reason Mulan left animated character Mushu out (no matter how beloved the Eddie Murphy-voiced ancestral guardian was), was to replace him with the phoen ix. In Chinese mythology, the phoenix is a symbol blending both male and female identities, which is key here, of course, but it is also more broadly a symbol of uniqueness. And that final moment in the fight against Bori Khan that shows Mulan and the phoenix almost becoming one to use her Qi powers to defeat the bad guy is very much that "Let It Go" moment. It isn't just that Mulan defies her difference to be victorious, it's that she uses it. In essence, Mulan 's central message is that it is wrong to reject people - as Xianniang was - for perceived differences because they could be strengths.
What is the new Mulan about?
Just as the animated classic challenged the message of the Ballad, so too does Caro's version. Mulan 2020 is not only about honor and sacrifice, it is about being true to yourself, which is a modern addition to the Hua Mulan story.
Why is Xianniang a villain?
And Xianniang is only a villain because she was ostracized for her supernatural Qi powers, which Mulan also possesses, crucially. She seeks a place where she is not considered an abomination and is willing to overturn the Emperor for that opportunity.
What is the ending of Mulan 2020?
Here's what the ending of Mulan 2020 really means. Disney's live-action remake of Mulan is a story of self-realization, but there is more to its meaning than the original animated adaptation of the 'Ballad of Mulan' and even of the ballad itself. Director Niki Caro has changed the story to be a more true adaptation of the Chinese legend ...
What is the meaning of Li Shang in Mulan?
In the animated version, Li Shang is introduced as a means for Mulan to defy the matchmaker's restrictive control of her. As well as defying the devaluation of feminine identities in that society by proving herself as useful to the Empire as any man, Mulan strikes out to control her own life by making a decision as fundamental as her relationship on her own too. The animated version is heavily tied to this romance as a means for Mulan to find herself, but in the 2020 version, it is pushed back. Li Shang is replaced by a fellow soldier on Mulan's level (so as not to introduce an inappropriate power dynamic) and the romantic subplot is played down to separate Mulan's self-realization from her romantic revelation. In Mulan 2020, the titular hero is less defined and validated by finding a partner and it is presented, justly, as a more incidental development, giving her more important revelations more space.
What is Mulan's message?
In essence, Mulan 's central message is that it is wrong to reject people - as Xianniang was - for perceived differences because they could be strengths. Next: Mulan 2020 Copied Game Of Thrones' Cheesiest Season 8 Moment.
Who is the villain in Mulan?
It's only because the audience is invited to side with the Empire that he's categorized the villain. And Xianniang is only a villain because she was ostracized for her supernatural Qi powers, which Mulan also possesses, crucially. She seeks a place where she is not considered an abomination and is willing to overturn the Emperor for that opportunity. In effect, she is a villain by circumstance and is a product of callous societal rejection.
What is the ending of Mulan?
In one particularly dark version of the Mulan legend, she is intercepted by the opposing king's army and taken prisoner. When the king's daughter, also a warrior, questions Mulan and discovers she's a woman, they become sworn sisters. When the king's army is defeated by their enemy and the king himself is condemned to die, Mulan and her adopted sister offer their lives in exchange for his. The Emperor is impressed by their courageous offer and instead gives Mulan enough money to return home to her family.
Why does Mulan fear her father?
When her father is drafted into the army, she fears for his safety because he is depicted as frail and likely to die if he saw battle. She then decides to disguise herself as her father's son and take his place.
What is the closest thing to the Mulan legend?
Both of these villains are variations of the ones from the different versions of the Mulan legend. However, the Hun army from the animated Mulan movie is closest to the legend, where the main threat is often an invading army from another country. Next: All The Live-Action Disney Remakes In Development.
What Disney movie changed from the real Chinese legend?
Mulan: What Disney's Movie Changed From The Real Chinese Legend. Here are some notable ways the legend of Hua Mulan was changed for the Disney live-action remake, including how the story ends and why she enlists. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history ...
Why is Mulan considered a taboo?
The big reason Mulan's story is so legendary is because she was a woman who disguised herself as a man and spent years defending China from various threats.
What song is the musical montage in Mulan?
The same thing happened in the animated movie, with Mulan's Imperial army training being turned into a short musical montage set to the song "I'll Make a Man Out Of You ".
Is Mulan based on a real story?
Disney's live-action remake of Mulan changes some key details for the legend on which it is based. This new live-action take on the story of Mulan has based its story on both the 1998 animated film of the same name and the actual Chinese legend of Hua Mulan. Directed by Niki Caro (Whale Rider), the live-action remake of Mulan stars Liu Yifei as ...
Why is Mulan a household tale?
In China, Mulan is a byword for heroines and Mulan’s story is a household tale to encourage girls to be brave or to “make a man out of you” as the popular saying goes nowadays. The gist of the ballad tells of how Hua Mulan replaced her aging father to serve the country, disguised herself as a man, and fought bravely in the army.
Where Did Mulan’s War Take Place?
The Rouran Khanate (394–552) was a major Mongolian state, covering most of modern-day Mongolia. Many wars occurred between the Northern Wei and its neighbor states during its existence. Most of them took place between Black Mountain and Mount Yanran.
What is the name of the Xiongnu?
The Rouran are referred to as the Xiongnu in the translation of the Ballad of Mulan below. The Northern Wei Dynasty were initially a nomadic Mongol people too, called the Xianbei (who also used the title Khan, a title which appears in the Ballad of Mulan). They became sinicized by the Tang Dynasty ...
When was the Ballad of Mulan created?
The Ballad of Mulan was created during the late Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534), during which period the northern region of Han China was frequently invaded by the Hun (Xiongnu) people along the northern border.
Which countries did Mulan's war between?
Which Countries Was Mulan’s War Between? Based on Chinese historical documents, a real war happened between the Northern Wei state and a Mongolic state called Rouran. In 429, the emperor (khan) of Northern Wei led an army to fight Rouran, which according to the Ballad of Mulan lasted 12 years.
Where is Mount Yanran?
Mount Yanran is where an Eastern Han Dynasty inscription was made in 89 AD about a Chinese victory over the Xiongnu. Mount Yanran is now called Delgerhangay Uul in central modern-day Mongolia, about 800 km (500 miles) northwest of Black Mountain. In the ballad, Mulan has to travel across the Yellow River to reach Black Mountain where she can hear ...
Where does Mulan go in the ballad?
In the ballad, Mulan has to travel across the Yellow River to reach Black Mountain where she can hear the enemy’s horses neighing fiercely. At its closest the Yellow River is only 80 km west of Black Mountain, where its easterly course turns south.
Why does Mulan disguise herself as a man?
And in general, the original tale is pretty similar to the Disney film: Mulan disguises herself as a man in order to take her father’s place in the army and fight against invaders. Mulan’s story has been through multiple iterations over the centuries, cementing its place in folklore.
When was the Ballad of Mulan written?
The Ballad of Mulan dates back to the 6th century.
Does Mulan fight in the Ballad of Mulan?
Yes and no. In The Ballad of Mulan, Mulan takes the place of her father to fight against Rouran invaders (as opposed to the Huns), and after a full 12 years of fighting, she returns home to her family—eventually revealing her true identity to her fellow warriors. Meanwhile in the animated Disney movie, Mulan’s identity is revealed against her will and she’s expelled from the army—only to later save the day.
Is Mulan expelled from the army?
Meanwhile in the animated Disney movie, Mulan’s identity is revealed against her will and she’s expelled from the army— only to later save the day . This content is imported from YouTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Is Mushu in Mulan?
Disney took some major liberties there. According to live-action Mulan producer Jason T. Reed (via Collider ), Mushu wasn’t universally loved when the animated movie was released—so don’t expect him to appear in the upcoming live-action film: “The dragon is a sign of respect and it’s a sign of strength and power, and that sort of using it as a silly sidekick didn’t play very well with the traditional Chinese audience.”
What is the movie Mulan based on?
8 Fact: Her Name Is Mulan. The film is based on a real Chinese ballad called Ballad of Mulan, and it depicts a girl who leaves her home to join the Imperial army in her father's place. It has been retold several times over the years, and the ballad itself left plenty of room for interpretation.
Do Chinese dragons breathe fire?
Chinese dragons do not breathe fire, even though Mushu does in the film several times, albeit a small flame. They were also said to live in bodies of water, according to China Highlights, which is another fact that this movie missed in its creation.
Did Mulan disguise herself?
The ballad states that Mulan had to disguise herself, however, there is some historical evidence that she didn't actually have to do this at all. There is some evidence that shows women warriors have existed in China since the time her story was created, which mutes the point that she would have to pretend to be a man at all. This would have put a damper on a few of the movie's famous songs, so it's probably better that Disney decided to stay true to the ballad rather than history itself.
Is Mulan historically accurate?
One of the complaints about Disney's animated Mulan is the fact that it is not entirely historically accurate. This is what is and isn't factual. One of the biggest complaints about Disney's animated Mulan is the fact that it is not entirely historically accurate. There are several discrepancies about the past that teach children ...
Was Mulan expected to be married?
2 Fact: She Was Expected To Fill A Domestic Role. Mulan was all set to be married off to a nice man as she was dressed in traditional garb and made to play the part of a wife. This was true of China as even in the ballad she went home following the war to become a weaver.
Did the cages in the Tang Dynasty exist?
However, it is still a bit false as the cages didn't begin to exist until the Tang Dynasty. Fans also doubt that this cricket would have survived for as long as it did, although that is part of the joy that makes up classic Disney movies.
Is Mulan a woman?
Mulan was exposed at the camp after she received a wound that required medical care, and Li Shang was told that she was a woman. However, in the ballad, she reveals her secret on her own terms after she returns home and invites all of her war buddies to visit. They are shocked that they spent their time serving together in the army for 12 years and never uncovered the truth, which only proves that she is the strongest princess.
When was Mulan a Chinese hero?
Hua Mulan ( traditional Chinese: 花木蘭; simplified Chinese: 花木兰) is a legendary folk heroine from the Northern and Southern dynasties era (4th to 6th century AD) of Chinese history.
How did Mulan take her father's place in the army?
According to legend, Mulan took her aged father's place in the conscription for the army by disguising herself as a man. In the story, after prolonged and distinguished military service against nomadic hordes beyond the northern frontier, Mulan is honored by the emperor but declines a position of high office.
What is Mulan's family name?
Mulan may have been the sinified version of the Xianbei word "umran" which means prosperous. According to later books such as Female Mulan, her family name is Zhu ( 朱 ), while the Romance of Sui and Tang says it is Wei ( 魏 ).
What is the first recorded song of Mulan?
The first written record of Mulan is the Ballad of Mulan, a folk song believed to have been composed during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–535 AD) and compiled in an anthology of books and songs in the Southern Chen dynasty (557–589 AD). The historical setting of Ballad of Mulan is usually the Northern Wei's military campaigns against the nomadic Rouran. A later adaptation has Mulan active around the founding of the Tang dynasty ( c. 620 AD). The story of Hua Mulan was taken up in a number of later works, including the 16th-century historical fiction Romance of Sui and Tang [ zh], and many screen and stage adaptations. The Hua Mulan crater on Venus is named after her.
What is the ballad of Mulan?
The Ballad of Mulan refers to the sovereign by both titles. The Northern Wei also adopted the governing institutions of Imperial China, and the office of shangshulang (尚書郎) the Khagan offered Mulan is a ministerial position within the shangshusheng (尚書省), the highest organ of executive power under the emperor.
How many couplets are there in Mulan?
The poem consists of 31 couplets and is mostly composed of five-character phrases, with a few extending to seven or nine. An adaptation by playwright Xu Wei (d. 1593) dramatized the tale as "The Female Mulan" or, more fully, "The Heroine Mulan Goes to War in Her Father's Place" , in two acts.
Where is Hua Mulan painting?
Painting of Hua Mulan, 18th century, housed in the British Museum. The Ballad of Mulan was first transcribed in the Musical Records of Old and New, a compilation of books and songs by the monk Zhijiang in the Southern Chen dynasty in the 6th century.
