The Global Novel: a literature podcast
Mulan: Different Versions of a Classic Chinese Legend
Mulan is a legendary folk heroine from the Northern and Southern dynasties era of Chinese history, roughly from 4th to 6th century CE. The story of Mulan was originally told in Ballad of Mulan as a Yuefu (樂府) genre, in which Chinese poems were composed in a folk song style. Over the centuries, the story of Mulan has been reiterated, being performed on the stage, adapted for the screen, and rewritten as dramas for television and even animated films.
Joining us today is Dr. Shiamin Kwa, associate professor of East Asian languages and cultures and comparative literature at Bryn Mawr College. Among her expertise ranging from graphic narratives to Chinese literature, she is best known for her book with Wilt Idema titled Mulan: Five Versions of a Classic Chinese Legend.
Recommended Reading:
Shiamin Kwa, Mulan: Five Versions of a Classic Chinese Legend
Primary Text: The Ballad of Mulan by anonymous
(The English translation is included in Shiamin Kwa's Mulan: Five Versions of a Classic Chinese Legend)
The original text:
木蘭詩
唧唧復唧唧，木蘭當戶織。不聞機杼聲，惟聞女嘆息。
問女何所思，問女何所憶。女亦無所思，女亦無所憶。
昨夜見軍帖，可汗大點兵。軍書十二卷，捲捲有爺名。
阿爺無大兒，木蘭無長兄。願為市鞍馬，從此替爺徵。
東市買駿馬，西市買鞍韉，南市買轡頭，北市買長鞭。
旦辭爺娘去，暮宿黃河邊。不聞爺娘喚女聲，但聞黃河流水鳴濺濺。
旦辭黃河去，暮至黑山頭。不聞爺娘喚女聲，但聞燕山胡騎鳴啾啾。
萬里赴戎機，關山度若飛。朔氣傳金柝，寒光照鐵衣。
將軍百戰死，壯士十年歸。
歸來見天子，天子坐明堂。策勳十二轉，賞賜百千強。
可汗問所欲，木蘭不用尚書郎，願馳千里足，送兒還故鄉。
爺娘聞女來，出郭相扶將；阿姊聞妹來，當戶理紅妝；
小弟聞姊來，磨刀霍霍向豬羊。
開我東閣門，坐我西閣床。脫我戰時袍，著我舊時裳。
當窗理雲鬢，對鏡帖花黃。出門看伙伴，伙伴皆驚惶。
同行十二年，不知木蘭是女郎。
雄兔腳撲朔，雌兔眼迷離；雙兔傍地走，安能辨我是雄雌？
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