Hua-Mulan
You’ve heard her name, thanks to Disney (actually, they called her Fa Mulan), but, much like Pocahontas and Heracles, they took some liberties with her story.
Mu-lan was a young woman when her father, a retired general, was called to war. Fearing for his safety, she asked her father if she might take his place. When he refused, she challenged him to a sword fight. She proved her sword skills by wining the duel, therefore earning her father’s approval. She cut her hair, dressed in her father’s old armor, and set out to fight for her country.
Mu-lan went on to fight in many battles, then retired after twelve years in the army. She lived the rest of her life at home as a woman.
See, no avalanche, no saving the emperor, no talking dragons, and certainly no relationship with her commanding officer (although she was offered a Commander-in-Chief’s daughter’s hand in marriage once).
- Robin
