In China, the name Hua Mulan (???) has been linked to the term "heroine" for hundreds of years. Hua Mulan has become a symbol of heroic behavior. Her character inspired many Chinese women to challenge traditional gender roles. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Throughout history, there have been many versions of the legend of Mulan. They all have a common plot: Mulan's father was ordered to serve in the army. Due to her age and frailty, Mulan decided to disguise herself as a male and take her place. Mulan achieved a lot during the battle and was soon promoted to general thanks to her great military strategy. When the war ended, the emperor asked her what she would like as a reward. Mulan wanted nothing more than to go home to her parents. The legendary character, Mulan, originates from a Chinese poem, the "Ballad of Mulan (???)". It is one of the first poems in Chinese history to advocate for women's equality. In the poem, Mulan seems disinterested in household chores and marriage. What worries her most is the draft which requires a male in the family to serve in the military. Towards the end of the poem, Mulan is said to have returned to her feminine appearance and met the men she was fighting. They were shocked to discover that it was a woman. The last four lines mention how it is impossible to distinguish the difference in gender when they "run side by side close to the ground". This poem was first put into written form in the Ancient and New Musical Documents in the 6th century. However, the original work no longer exists. The story of Mulan has been passed down over the years in all different ways and forms. During the late Ming Dynasty, the story was expanded into a novel. And as time went by, the story of Mulan has become a popular folktale among the Chinese people. The historical setting of Mulan is uncertain. Early accounts of the legend state that he lived during the Northern Wei dynasty, from 386 AD to 534 AD However, Cheng Dachang of the Song dynasty recorded that he lived during the Sui and Tang dynasties, from 581 AD to 618 AD Many others throughout history they stated different time periods and places that Mulan was from. However, most agree that it came from a region of China known as the Central Plains. Mulan turns out to be a very caring daughter. She sacrificed herself to serve the army in her father's place. She was said to be a skilled fighter and a courageous warrior. She was far from home and fought in the war for twelve years. Over the next twelve years she was promoted to general and became famous for her military tactics and strategies. She was said to have saved China and was offered a reward by the emperor. She became a very significant person in Chinese history and a symbol of heroism. Was Hua Mulan a real person? It is not yet known whether or not Hua Mulan was a real person or was based on a real person. However, a woman in Chinese history, Wang Cong'er, is believed to be similar to Mulan. Although Wang Cong'er's story is different from Mulan's, his courage and tactics are similar. Wang Cong'er led the White Lotus Sect's revolt against the Qing regime. He led an army of men and fought with kung fu and acrobatics with a sword in each hand. Current Qing court documents state that “the most lethal of all the rebels are those led by Madame Wang, Qi's wife.” After thousands of men were killed by the Qing army, Wang forcibly retreated. With nowhere left to go, she threw herself to her death. Despite the defeat, Wang has, 10(1), 1-12.