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Mulan: The Legend Through History
Mulan (“magnolia”) is a legendary character in Chinese literature who is best known in the modern day from the Disney filmed adaptations (1998, 2020). Her story, however, about a young girl who takes her father's place in the army to help...
Article
Gender & Identity in Mulan: Text & Commentary
The legend of Mulan, now world-famous thanks to the Disney films of 1998 and 2020, is the story of a young girl who disguises herself as a man to take her aged father's place as a conscript in the army and so preserve the family honor...
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Mulan
Painting depicting Mulan in the album known as Gathering Gems of Beauty, by artist He Dazi.
Qing dynasty
Album leaf, ink and colors on silk
National Palace Museum, Taipei
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Mulan Statue
Hua Mulan, Chinese and Japanese Gardens, Singapore
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Lady Mulan
18th-century (Ming Dynasty) depiction of Mulan.
Ink and colour on silk.
School of Qiu Ying
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Mulan with a Horse
Scene of Mulan a with horse. Printed in ink, colour on paper.
1867 CE, Dingmao, China
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Mulan Enlists as a Soldier
Hua-Mu Lan enlists as a soldier instead of her father.
Dalongdong Baoan Temple, painted by Pan-Li.
Video
The True Tale of Mulan - WooKong
As far as Disney Princess movies go, Mulan was arguably one of the best. Despite how good it was, the original Chinese fairy-tale was arguably much more interesting. How can an ancient story top a Disney classic? Let’s Get down to Business...
Video
Is Mulan Historical?
Our animated historical documentary series on the history of China continues with a video on the legendary Mulan. Is there a truth to the modern incarnation of her story where she fights against the Huns? What is real history and what is...
Video
The Lives of Women in Ancient China
In Ancient China, it was widely known that it was better to be born a male than a female. To be born a female meant being subordinate to one’s father, then to one’s husband and if a wife became a widow, then she would be subordinate to her...