The legend of Mulanthe daughter who disguises herself as a man, dons her father's armor, and heads off to war in his placeremains one of the most popular Chinese folktales despite (or because of) its lack of supernatural demonstrations or interventions. In addition to a translation of the earliest recorded version of the legend, this volume offers translations of several later iterations of the tale (including the screenplay of the hugely successful 1903 Chinese film Mulan Goes to War) that illustrate the many ways in which the basic story has been reinterpreted over centuries to reflect changes in Chinese cultural, political, and sexual attitudes.
