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CHAPTER II REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter deals with the explanation that supports to topic of this final project. They are ancient Chinese culture, gender, feminism theory, feminism in literature,
women’s struggle to defend their countries, rights, character and characterization.
2.1 Ancient Chinese Culture
Mulan is a film by Robert D. San Souci which was launched by Disney in 1998 that tells about the struggle of a Chinese girl. Therefore, the entire story
takes place in China. Here I would like to explain the culture in China at that time.
2.1.1. Situation in Ancient China
The film Mulan is adapted from an old Chinese ballad. “The Ballad of Mulan” dates back to the Southern-Northern Dynasty AD 420-589. This is
because the word “Khan” is mentioned in the ballad as the name of emperor of China. “Khan” is not an indigenous Chinese word. It came from the nomads on
Chinas northern frontier http:www.colorqworldarticle.aspx.htm In http:en.wikipedia.orgwikiSouthern_and_Northern_Dynasties states
that it was an age of civil war and political disunity. While Rodriguez states that this dynasty was a dark age; feudalism disintegrated when civil wars and foreign
invasions divided the preceding empire into small territories. The rich and the royal retreated to the South because of barbarian invasions. Eventually, through
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relentless bloodbaths and cultural assimilations, some of the invaders could be wiped out, some cast away to Europe, and some absorbed into China’s multi-
ethnic http:ubcpress.cabookspdfchapters2007cinematicHowling.pdf. This ballad tells us that the civil war happened at a time when North China
was ruled by the nomadic Toba. At this time many wars were fought between the different nomadic tribes and against invasion by tribes from Manchuria and
Mongolia. Mulan was North Wei citizen. She was involved the battle between the North Wei and Rou-ran. At the time, Rou-ran was a strong realm of northern
nomads with a history of 158 years occupation of the Wei. The Wei regime sent an army to the far north to fight against Rou-ran. Nort Wei ended the turmoil of
the after sixty years of wars and united the area along the Yellow River. It had been eighty-six years with five emperors when it came to emperor Xiaowen of the
North Wei. Since the nation had enjoyed a long-lasting time of peace, social and economic development were achieved under the emperor Xiaowen
http:www.asianresearch.orgarticles2805.html.
2.1.2 The Ballad of Mulan
As I have explained above, Mulan which was launched by Disney in 1998 is a film which was adapted from an ancient Chinese poem entitled “The Ballad of
Mulan”. Over the years, that poem has changed. And even today the story is told by mothers to her children. It is also taught at schools and one of the many poems
that Chinese students learn and memorize during the early years of their
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education. The rough translation of the ballad from Chinese as stated in http:en.wikipedia.orgwikiHua_Mulan can be seen in the Appendix B.
According to the story, there were invaders from the North and the Emperor called for every family to send their eldest son to fight the invaders.
Mulans family did not have a son old enough to fight. Thus, her elderly father would have to answer the call. So in an act of bravery, Mulan disguised herself as
a man and joined the forces. They fought for over 10 years and when they returned, the Emperor thanked each of them by granting them wealth, title and
land. When he came to Mulan, she requested only one thing, a camel that she might journey back home safely. When she returned home, she discarded her
warriors outfit and put back on her silks to become a woman again. This surprised her companions but they realized that when in peaceful times, it was easy to tell a
man from a woman, but when there was a call to arms, everyone fought equally hard.
The ballad is an example story of women characters who did not take traditional role. This figure had been a source of inspiration for young Chinese
girls to defy their traditional gender roles. Therefore, through this ballad Chinese women try to show their ability to men that they have power and may not be
differentiated. They have the same right as men. They also want to be treated equally as men. Even they can contribute to the country.
In china, Mulan is a symbol of heroic. The name “Mulan” refers to the magnolia liliflora, a kind of flower. “Mu” itself means wood and “Lan” means
orchid http:en.wikipedia.orgwikiMulan.
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2.1.3. Ancient Chinese Parental Upbringing toward Girl
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