"Every Hero Has A Story." My Blogging From A to Z theme bridges the summer library reading programs throughout the U.S. with storytelling opportunities, ideas, and activities.
I had no idea that the legend of Fa Mulan existed until the Disney animated version came out. We loved the heroine Mulan and her sidekick, Mushu, the small dragon. What a great role model for girls - sharing all of the following traits:
*Heroes persevere
*Heroes have personal courage
*Heroes care for others
*Heroes are resourceful
*Heroes believe in themselves
*Heroes are Optimistic
*Heroes persevere
*Heroes have personal courage
*Heroes care for others
*Heroes are resourceful
*Heroes believe in themselves
*Heroes are Optimistic
The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all." by the Emperor in Disney's animation movie of Mulan.
Mulan character from the TV series "Once Upon a Time" Source: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Fa_Mulan It seems that Mulan is a fictional historical character that dates back to a poem or folk song titled "Ballad of Mulan" which was read/sung in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589 A.D.). This poem had 14 stanzas depicting and otherwise ordinary girl who makes a life changing decision to fight in the war (disguised as a man) to save her agingfather from peril and probably death. She's quite capable of handling the weapons available and serves in the Chinese army for ten years. She then returns to her home after declining an invitation to serve as a high official with the emperor. She transforms herself one last time as a woman which totally shocks the soldiers who served with her - they didn't have a clue for 10 years? This story was then rewritten in several different formats from dramatic plays, poems, and novels from the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) to the present.
The story has remained popular throughout the world, especially China because of the equality represented with a woman serving in a man's army. She did what she had to for her family, never bragging, but always persevering, and believing that one day she would return home.
This is a wonderful story to share with children during this summer's big reading program - Every Hero Has a Story. World history is not taught in our Texas Elementary Schools unless your school is either part of a Core Knowledge School or a private school whom elects to incorporate World History into their curriculum. I typically have a multicultural group of kids in my storytelling club and I love the fact that one of the picture books noted below is written in both English and Spanish - more power to the kids!
Resources
 The Story of Mulan: The Daughter and the Warrior by Gang Yi |  The Legend of Mulan: A Folding Book of the Ancient Poem by Lei Fan |  Mulan: A Story in Chinese and English by Li Jian |
1. Nice bare bones story of Mulan with other links included.
2. Mulan (1998) and Hua Mulan (2009)
National Myth and Trans-Cultural Intertextuality by Jinhua Li
2. Mulan (1998) and Hua Mulan (2009)
National Myth and Trans-Cultural Intertextuality by Jinhua Li
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