Editing Hua Mulan (section)

== ''Ballad of Mulan'' ==
{{stack|[[File:Dai fu chong jun.JPG|thumb|Mural of Hua Mulan enlisting; in the [[Dalongdong Baoan Temple]] in [[Taipei]], Taiwan.]]}}
Mulan sighs at her loom.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.wku.edu/haiwang.yuan/China/tales/mulan.htm |title=Mulan (Original Story) |translator-first=Yuan |translator-last=Haiwang |date=2005 |website=Western Kentucky University |access-date=January 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123185352/https://people.wku.edu/haiwang.yuan/China/tales/mulan.htm |archive-date=November 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://classicalpoets.org/2018/09/23/the-ballad-of-mulan-a-rhyming-translation/ |title='The Ballad of Mulan': A Rhyming Translation |translator-first=Evan |translator-last=Mantyk |date=September 23, 2018 |website=The Society of Classical Poets |access-date=January 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725013136/https://classicalpoets.org/2018/09/23/the-ballad-of-mulan-a-rhyming-translation/ |archive-date=July 25, 2019}}</ref> The [[Khagan]] is mobilizing the military, and her father is named in each of the conscription notices from the [[Son of Heaven|emperor]]. As the eldest child, she decides to take her father's place. She buys a fine horse from the eastern market, [[saddle]] and [[stirrup]] from the western market, [[bridle]] and [[reins]] from the southern market and a long [[whip]] from the northern market.

She bids farewell to her parents in the morning and leaves for the Black Mountain, encamping by the [[Yellow River]] in the evening, where she cannot hear the calls of her parents due to the rushing waters; only the sounds of the barbarians' cavalry in the Yan Mountains. She advances ten thousand ''[[Li (unit)|li]]'' to battle as if flying past the mountains. The sound of the sentry gong cuts through the cold night air, and the moonlight reflects off her metal armor. A hundred battles take place, and generals die.

After the ten-year campaign, the veterans return to meet the [[Son of Heaven]] ([[Mandate of Heaven]]), enthroned in the splendid palace, who confers promotions in rank and prizes of hundreds of thousands. He asks Mulan what she would like. Mulan turns down the high-ranking position of [[Department of State Affairs|''shangshulang'']] in the central government, and asks only for a speedy steed to take her home.

Her parents, upon hearing her return, welcome her outside their hometown. Her elder sister puts on her fine dress. Her younger brother sharpens the knife for the swine and sheep. Mulan returns to her room, changes from her tabard into her old clothes. She combs her hair by the window and, before the mirror, fastens golden yellow flowers. Her comrades are shocked to see her. For twelve years of their enlistment together, they hadn't realized that she was a woman. Mulan responses:<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://moviepilot.com/posts/2826859|title=The Legendary Warrior that Inspired Disney's Mulan Is Pretty Badass|access-date=2016-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211233838/http://moviepilot.com/posts/2826859|archive-date=2016-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Columbia University|date=2002|title=China for Educators: Primary Sources: China: Ballad of Mulan|url=http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/|access-date=3 September 2020|website=China For Educators}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jack Yuan |date=2006 |title=Translation:Ballad of Mulan
|url=https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/Translation:Ballad_of_Mulan |access-date=January 3, 2025 |website=Wikisource}}</ref>
{{Verse translation|The male hare has heavy front paws.
The female hare tends to squint.
But when the two hares run side by side,
How can you tell the female from the male?
|雄兔腳撲朔
雌兔眼迷離
雙兔傍地走
安能辨我是雄雌？}}