| |
Why did she join the army in her aged father's
place......
Mulan is the heroine of a famous Chinese poem written
during the Northern Dynasties (AD 420-589). In 5th century China,
the Emperor is calling upon the Chinese people to fight the invader
from the outside of the country. When Mulan's aged father is called
to certain death in war, Mulan's bold spirit compels her to save
his life by dresses herself as a man and joining the Chinese army
in her father's place. While she was in the army, she is recognized
as a brave soldier and offered a government after the war. However,
she turns down the position instead of going home and living peaceful
life with her family. Mulan returns home, she puts back on her lady's
clothes, and it shocks her soldier friends, who didn't know she
was a girl during all that time on the battlefield.
The legend of Mulan has been written in various
plays, operas, novels, and films. The original poem is based on
describing a woman who contributes her brave heart to her country
and pays her filial piety to her family. The original poem is very
beautiful and unusual during the time in ancient China. Especially
in the society, which treated women as a secondary human being,
Mulan became an icon of female hero.
I am deeply touched by this story, but every time
I read the story, there is something in my mind. Why did Mulan has
to disguise herself as a man and joined the army in her father's
place? Because, in the old Chinese society, woman has no position,
a girl's life is to staying at home, and doing some house works.
Women in that society shouldn't have her voice, and own opinion.
They were restrained by their father, or husband in whole her life.
Mulan has no elder brother who can take her father's place to fight
in the battle, so she has to make her own decision to save her aged
father. Therefore, Mulan disguised herself as a man, and then she
can has the same position to do her job as a man did. She has to
dress like a man, because woman is not allow to do man's job during
the time. I love the poem and the story because women in the Chinese
society have always been treating unfairly. The story brings me
a strong encouragement that women should be treated better if we
seeing women's specialty rather than their appearance.
I like the story about how Mulan shows both her
feminine side and her masculine side. I am very impressed because
the poem was written in two thousands years ago, and people still
love the story. I read the original Chinese poem, and I think it
is more charming than the English vision. The elements of the poem
contain so many Chinese culture, life style, philosophy, thinking,
and the morality. It shows the courage, honor, and love.
|