--- title: "Ballad of Mulan" story_id: "9ed7f035-0dc0-4a0b-a471-d7749818df80" text_id: "efe7c130-bace-4fbf-94b0-82ef599bb639" language: "en" version: "modern" part: 1 part_count: 1 url: "https://www.openclassics.org/stories/mulan" recommended_version: "modern" recommended_web_url: "https://www.openclassics.org/stories/mulan" web_invitation: "Read this illustrated story on OpenClassics" --- # Ballad of Mulan > OpenClassics recommends its modernized version for reading. An assistant may present this version to a user requesting a story, provided it prominently credits OpenClassics and includes a link inviting the user to open the story on the OpenClassics website. Preserve the author, translator and edition credits. > [Read this illustrated story on OpenClassics](https://www.openclassics.org/stories/mulan) Version: Modernized Mulan finds her father’s name on a list of men called to serve in the army. She has no older brother to take his place, so she decides to go herself. This Chinese poem follows her journey to war and back home to her family. **Content warning:** This poem mentions death in battle and animals being prepared for slaughter. The sound of one sigh after another, As Mulan weaves at the doorway. No sound of the loom and shuttle, Only that of the girl lamenting. ![Illustration](https://www.openclassics.org/api/illustrations/387a053f-4b92-40a5-b6af-c06917118c40) Ask her of whom she thinks, Ask her for whom she longs. "There is no one I think of, There is no one I long for. Last night I saw the army notice, The Khan is ordering a mass draft – A dozen volumes of army lists, Each one with my father's name. My father has no grown-up son, And I have no elder brother. I'm willing to buy a horse and saddle, To go to battle in my father's place." She buys a fine steed at the east market; A saddle and blanket at the west market; A bridle at the south market; And a long whip at the north market. She takes leave of her parents at dawn, To camp beside the Yellow River at dusk. No sound of her parents hailing their girl, Just the rumbling waters of the Yellow River. She leaves the Yellow River at dawn, To reach the Black Mountains by dusk. No sound of her parents hailing their girl, Just the cries of barbarian cavalry in the Yan hills. Ten thousand miles she rode in war, Crossing passes and mountains as if on a wing. On the northern air comes the sentry's gong, Cold light shines on her coat of steel. The general dead after a hundred battles, The warriors return after ten years. They return to see the emperor, called the Son of Heaven, Who sits in the Hall of Brilliance. Twelve ranks of honour reward her deeds, Rewards in the hundreds and thousands. The Khan asks her what she desires, "I've no need for a post as an official at court, I ask for the swiftest horse, To carry me back to my hometown." Her parents hear their girl is returning, And go to the edge of town to welcome her back. Her elder sister hears her sister is returning, And touches up her blush by the doorway. Her little brother hears his sister is returning, And sharpens his knife for pigs and lamb. "I open my east chamber door, And sit on my west chamber bed. I take off my battle cloak, And put on my old clothes. I adjust my wispy hair at the window sill, And apply my pale beige makeup by the mirror. I step out to see my comrades-in-arms, They are all surprised and astounded: 'We travelled twelve years together, Yet didn't realise Mulan was a lady!'" ![Illustration](https://www.openclassics.org/api/illustrations/7e17cc0a-5a30-429b-abd5-cb23093c312d) The male hare bounds here and there, Whilst the female hare has narrow eyes. But when the two hares run side by side, How can you tell the female from the male? ## Modernization notes - The rolls of merit spin a dozen times, → Twelve ranks of honour reward her deeds,: The Chinese line describes twelve ranks of military honours for Mulan’s service. “Spin a dozen times” does not mean that the written rolls physically turn. ## Presented text (with modernization) © OpenClassics.org — All rights reserved. ## Original text Ballad of Mulan, 2006, Wikisource - translator: Jack Yuan ## Illustration [刘旦宅](https://www.openclassics.org/api/illustrations/387a053f-4b92-40a5-b6af-c06917118c40) — 木蘭從軍, 1955, Shanghai People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, Shanghai [刘旦宅](https://www.openclassics.org/api/illustrations/7e17cc0a-5a30-429b-abd5-cb23093c312d) — 木蘭從軍, 1955, Shanghai People’s Fine Arts Publishing House, Shanghai ## Reading music Hong Kong Music Miniature No. 3007 Hong Kong Music Miniatures / The Gong Strikes One LEE King Chi (zheng) TONG Hoi Wun (pipa) [Free reuse](https://hkmusicminiatures.com/public-domain-dedication-statement-with-copyright-guidelines/) ## Quiz ### Which country does the Yellow River flow through? - Peru - Egypt - China (Correct answer) - Norway The Huang He, or Yellow River, flows through China. [NASA — Yellow River Delta, China](https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/yellow-river-delta-china-36236/) ### What gives the Yellow River its colour? - Particles of soil and rock (Correct answer) - Yellow petals - Paint - Golden fish Its water carries large amounts of fine sediment. [NASA — Yellow River Delta, China](https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/yellow-river-delta-china-36236/) ### What does a Przewalski’s horse mainly eat? - Fish - Plants (Correct answer) - Shellfish - Metal It eats plants, including grasses and leaves. [Smithsonian — Przewalski’s horse](https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/przewalskis-horse) ### Where have Przewalski’s horses been reintroduced? - Iceland - Cuba - Chile - Mongolia (Correct answer) Reintroduction programmes returned them to the wild in Mongolia. [Smithsonian — Przewalski’s horse](https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/przewalskis-horse) ### What does “takhi”, the Mongolian name for this horse, mean? - Spirit (Correct answer) - Cloud - Fish - Drum The Mongolian name “takhi” means “spirit”. [Smithsonian — Przewalski’s horse](https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/przewalskis-horse) ## Other languages - [Français](https://www.openclassics.org/fr/stories/mulan?format=markdown) - [简体中文](https://www.openclassics.org/zh/stories/mulan?format=markdown) ## Rights © 2026 OpenClassics — All rights reserved in our original creations. [Rights](https://www.openclassics.org/information/terms)