Mulan Might Actually Have Existed. Here's Why

The older folks can be prone to entertaining the whippersnappers with a yarn or two from days gone by, before the world was in color (haven't you seen The Wizard of Oz?) and giants walked the land. And the narrative concludes, and someone asks, "Is that story true?" and the tale-teller might reply, "All of my stories are true." And the kid might press: "But did it really happen?" And might hear, "All of my stories are true. And some of them really happened." Or at least should have happened. Whether it's the Amazons, or Robin Hood, or King Arthur himself, there's "true" and there's "really happened." For instance: "The Ballad of Mùlán."

Lots of us have at least a passing knowledge of the legend of Huā Mùlán via Disney's 1998 animated retelling. Her father is conscripted to join the emperor's army, but is too old and ill to serve. Mulan disguises herself as a male and takes his place. Ancient Origins says that the tale dates back to around the Fourth Century CE, first written down about 200 years later in the form of a folksong, "The Ballad of Mùlán." Even that original text is missing; the oldest copy only dates back to the Twelfth Century CE. Like any good folk tale, there are variations on the themes — one version has her already skilled in various combat techniques; when she returns home, her fellow soldiers are amazed that she's actually a she.