History Alive! The Ancient World
Investigating Literature
Unit 4: Ancient China
Chapter 23: The Han Dynasty
Tales from the Common People: The Ballad of Mulan
In Chapter 23, you learned that China enjoyed a time of peace and prosperity during the
Han dynasty. Education, literature, and art flourished. Under the rule of Emperor Wu, the
Chinese established a music bureau, or yuefu. The purpose of the yuefu was to collect and
record songs and ballads of the ordinary people. Many of these pieces were anonymously
written, though educated people also wrote for the yuefu. The word yuefu also came to
mean the type of poetry that came from these songs and ballads.
Emotions and relationships were one theme of yuefu poetry. The most popular theme was
the daily life of common people, such as peasants. During the Han dynasty, about 90
percent of the people were peasants. They lived in small villages in simple homes and
traveled to work in the fields. The peasants worked long and difficult hours raising
livestock and cultivating grain. They did not own the land, but rented it from the
landowner. The government required peasants to pay taxes and to work one month each
year on government projects. During wartime, peasants served as soldiers.
One of the most well-known examples of yuefu poetry is the Ballad of Mulan. Although not
credited to an author, some say that a women poet around the year 5 c.e. wrote it. It is the
story of a young woman with was living the typical life of a commoner. As you read the
poem, think about what happens to Mu-lan.
Tsiek, tsiek and again tsiek, tsiek,
Mu-lan weaves, facing the door.
You don’t hear the shuttle’s sound,
You only hear Daughter’s sighs.
They ask Daughter who’s in her heart,
They ask Daughter who’s on her mind.
“No one is on Daughter’s heart,
No one is on Daughter’s mind.
Last night I saw the draft posters,
The Khan [the emperor] is calling many troops,
The army list is in twelve scrolls,
On every scroll there’s Father’s name.
Father has no grown-up son,
Mu-lan has no elder brother.
I want to buy a saddle and horse,
And serve in the army in Father’s place.”
In the East Market she buys a spirited horse,
In the West Market she buys a saddle,
In the South Market she buys a bridle,
In the North Market she buys a long whip.
At dawn she takes leave of Father and Mother,
In the evening camps on the Yellow River’s bank.
She doesn’t hear the sound of Father and Mother calling,
She only hears the Yellow River’s flowing water cry.
At dawn she takes leave of the Yellow River,
In the evening she arrives at Black Mountain.
She doesn’t hear the sound of Father and Mother calling,
She only hears Mount Yen’s nomad horses cry.
She goes ten thousand miles on the business of war,
She crosses passes and mountains like flying.
Northern gusts carry the rattle of army pots,
Chilly light shines on iron armor.
Generals die in a hundred battles,
Stout soldiers return after ten years.
On her return she sees the Son of Heaven [the emperor],
The Son of Heaven sits in the Splendid Hall.
He gives out promotions in twelve ranks
And prizes of a hundred thousand and more.
The Khan asks her what she desires.
“Mu-lan has no use for a minister’s post.
I wish to ride a swift mount
To take me back to my home.”
When Father and Mother hear Daughter is coming
They go outside the wall to meet her, leaning on each other.
When Elder Sister hears Younger Sister is coming
She fixes her rouge [makeup], facing the door.
When Little Brother hears Elder Sister is coming
He whets [sharpens] the knife, quick, for pig and sheep.
“I open the door to my east chamber,
I sit on my couch in the west room,
I take off my wartime gown
And put on my old-time clothes.”
Facing the window she fixes her cloudlike hair,
Hanging up a mirror she dabs on yellow flower powder.
She goes out the door and sees her comrades.
Her comrades are all amazed and perplexed.
Traveling together for twelve years
They didn’t know Mu-lan was a girl.
“The he-hare’s feet go hop and skip,
The she-hare’s eyes are muddled and fuddled.
Two hares running side by side close to the ground,
How can they tell if I am he or she?”
Source
The Flowering Plum and the Palace Lady: Interpretations of Chinese Poetry. By Han
H. Frankel, Yale University Press, 1976.Copyright © 1976 by Yale University Press.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------History Alive! The Ancient World
Investigating Primary Sources
Unit 4: Ancient China
Chapter 21: Three Chinese Philosophies
Lessons for Women
In Chapter 21, you read that Confucius taught that peace and order depended upon proper
behavior. He defined five basic relationships: ruler and subject, husband and wife, father
and son, older sibling and younger sibling, and friend and friend. Those with authority,
such as rulers, husbands, fathers, and older siblings, should lead by example. Those below
people with authority must respect and obey. Confucian philosophy eventually had a
significant impact on life during the Han dynasty.
Under this way of life, women were subordinate to men. Girls served their fathers, and
wives served their husbands. Even mothers had to respect and obey their adult sons.
Marriage and motherhood were valued in Chinese society, and the Han dynasty gave
women some rights. They could inherit property and remarry after a husband's death.
Even so, opportunities outside of these, such as education, were limited.
Below is an excerpt from Lessons for Women by Pan Chao. As the daughter of scholarly
parents, she became educated and held a teaching position with a Han empress. Her
writings became a handbook for women's behavior across China. As you read, think about
this question: According to Pan Chao, what is the role of women in a Confucian society?
Let a woman retire [go] late to bed, but rise early to duties; let her nor dread tasks
by day or by night. Let her not refuse to perform domestic [household] duties
whether easy or difficult. That which must be done, let her finish completely, tidily,
and systematically. When a woman follows such rules as these, then she may be said
to be industrious.
Let a woman be correct in manner and upright in character in order to serve her
husband.. Let her love not gossip and silly laughter. Let her cleanse and purify and
arrange in order the wine and the food for the offerings to the ancestors.
No woman who observes these. fundamentals [basic ideas] of life has ever had a
bad reputation or has fallen into disgrace. If a woman fails to observe them, how can
her name be honored; how can she but bring disgrace upon herself?
Now examine the gentlemen of the present age. They only know their wives must
be controlled, and that the husband's rules of conduct manifesting [showing] his
authority must be established. They therefore teach their boys to read books and
study histories. But they do not. understand that husbands and masters must also be
served [by women], and that the proper relationship. should be maintained. Yet only
to teach men and not to teach women-is that not ignoring the essential relation
between them?. Why should it not be that girls' education as well as boys' be
according to this principle?
Excerpt from Lessons for Women by Pan Chao
Investigating Primary Sources-additional commentary
Confucius believed that people should show good conduct and moral judgment. During the
Han dynasty, potential government officials were given a long and challenging exam to
prove their knowledge of Confucian ideas. Though this exam was open only to men, women
were also expected to understand these ideas.
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Assignment on next page
History Alive! The Ancient World, Investigating Literature
History Extra Credit Project-China Unit
Relating Literature to History
In order to complete this project, you will need to have read chapters 21, 23, and
24; “The Ballad of Mulan”; and the excerpt from “Lessons for Women”
thoroughly. Reflect upon what you read, and then complete the tasks below. Be
sure to follow directions carefully, or your work may not be accepted or won’t be
graded.
As a woman among the common people and according to the principles of
Confucianism, Mu-lan was expected to lead a life serving her father, brothers,
and eventually her husband and family. A peasant’s life was not an easy one.
Instead, Mu-lan chose to disguise herself as a soldier to fight for the emperor in
her father’s place. Her life was not easy, but it certainly was extraordinary.
Create two comic strips, each with at least four panels (blocks). In one comic
strip, illustrate Mu-lan’s life journey as outlined in the Ballad of Mulan. In another
comic strip, illustrate what Mulan’s life would have been like otherwise based on
what a common woman’s role was during the Han dynasty. Each drawing must
be colored or shaded, include a title, and show Mu-lan with
•
clothing appropriate to her life.
•
possessions, such as a weapon, she would have had.
•
an animal she would have had.
•
background setting appropriate to her life.

thought and/or dialogue bubbles with appropriate thoughts and/or
conversationsthat show your understanding of the time in history and
roles of society under the Han. Include Mulan’s feelings about her
situation.
Under each comic panel (box) identify the item from the above list and explain
why it fits her life. Use correct grammar and spelling.
Use your comic strips to help you write an accompanying 5-paragraph essay
where you discuss these two topics. (Be sure to write your essay first and then
type it into Vantage. I will print it out so you can add it to your board.)
OUTLINE
I.
Introduction
A. Hook related in general to your topic
B. Background info about the Han dynasty including the philosophy they
used to govern
C. Explain that you examined the History Alive text and two works of
literature and give basic background about what those sources were
about
D. Describe Mulan’s physical and character traits
E. Thesis statement that expresses that Mulan’s life was very
extraordinary in comparison to the normal life of a peasant woman
during the time of the Han dynasty
II. 1st Body Paragraph
A. Topic sentence related to your thesis statement
B. Explanation of Mulan’s life based on the poem, “The Ballad of Mulan”
C. Details, examples, and illustrations of how this was extraordinary
D. How you think she felt on her adventures based on your readings and
assertions about her character.
III. 2nd Body Paragraph
A. Topic sentence related to your thesis statement
B. Explanation of what Mulan’s life would have been like had she stayed
home to fulfill the normal duties of a woman during the Han dynasty
based on your readings from “Lessons for Women” and the required
textbook chapters.
C. How you think she would have felt based on your readings and
assertions about her character.
IV. Conclusion
A. Restatement of thesis beginning with a closing transition.
B. Short summary of main point from each body paragraph
C. Explanation of a major theme of The Ballad of Mulan
D. Explanation of how this poem is important to our understanding of
society under the Han.