The+Legend+of+Mulan

Mulan The story of Mulan is traced back to a poem told during the Tang Dynasty, around 600 AD. Over the years, that poem has changed and grew, much like the poetry of Homer and his Odyssey and Illiad. The story was passed from a mother to her children. And even today, it is taught in schools and is one of the many poems that Chinese students learn and memorise during the early years of their education.

Mulan has also gone by the name Fa Mu Lan, or Hua Mu Lan. Her name translates roughly to "the magnolia flower". As the Chinese poem goes, there are invaders from the North and the Emperor calls for every family to send their eldest son to fight the invaders. Mulan's family did not have a son old enough to fight. Thus, her elderly father would have to have answered the call. In an act of bravery, Mulan disguises herself as a man and joins the forces. They fight for over 10 years and when they return, the Emperor thanks each of them by granting them wealth, title and land. When he comes to Mulan, she requests only one thing, a camel that she might journey back home safely. When she returns home, she discards her warrior's outfit and puts back on her silks to become a woman again. This surprises her companions but they realize that when in peaceful times, it is easy to tell a man from a woman, but when there's a call to arms, everyone fights equally hard.

There are several different versions of this story. Some, more modern ones, have made it into a love story where she falls in love with one of the other warriors and when she returns, marries him. Each, however, speak to the same themes:

- War affects everyone, not just the men. - When necessary, a woman can fight just as hard as a man - Bravery and dedication to the family will be rewarded