Elliott Yrastorza

Dr. Sun

FYS

14 November 2024

Mulan: Where Tradition Meets Transformation

Disney’s Mulan presents a fusion of Chinese cultural values and American ideals of self-

discovery, creating a complex portrayal of tradition and personal freedom. Adapted from an

ancient Chinese ballad, the film reimagines Mulan as a character who not only honors her family

and respects her ancestors but also embarks on her journey of self-discovery. This adaptation

takes a distinctly American approach, where the protagonist’s path to self-discovery and personal

transformation becomes as important as her duty to family. In blending these cultural

frameworks, Mulan embodies both the Confucian ideals of family and honor and Western values

of individualism, positioning her as a symbol of both tradition and transformation.

Filial piety, a cornerstone of Confucianism, emphasizes a deep respect and loyalty to

one’s family, particularly to one's parents and elders. In the film, Mulan takes her father’s place

in the Chinese army to protect his honor and ensure his safety—a decision that underscores her

commitment to family duty and filial piety. By doing so, Mulan demonstrates her willingness to

sacrifice her own safety and personal comfort for the well-being of her father, echoing Confucian

ideals that place family above self. This act of self-sacrifice establishes her as a character

motivated by loyalty and love for her family, highlighting how central filial piety is to her

actions. Through this lens, Mulan’s initial motivation is not rebellion or independence but a

deeply rooted respect for her family and a desire to protect her father from harm. The film shows

that Mulan’s decision, while outwardly heroic, is grounded in her cultural commitment to family.

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As Christina and Suprajitno observe, "Mulan seems to break Confucian principle, but at the end

she still shows the act of filial piety by bringing honor to her family. She...experiences a self-

truths adventure...and ends up becoming a hero for her country" (30). Her selflessness in this act

serves as a bridge to the original ballad, which portrayed Mulan as a dutiful daughter rather than

a character driven by personal growth or internal conflict.

Another essential aspect of Chinese culture highlighted in Mulan is ancestor worship, a

tradition rooted in the belief that deceased family members continue to influence the lives of the

living. In the film, Mulan’s family calls upon their ancestors for protection and guidance,

illustrating the respect with which ancestors are viewed in Chinese society. This high regard for

ancestors reflects an important dimension of Confucian and Chinese spiritual beliefs, where

family connections extend beyond the physical world. Disney’s portrayal of ancestor worship as

an active part of Mulan’s life and family is seen when the ancestors respond by sending Mushu, a

guardian figure, to help her. While Mushu’s presence introduces a comedic element, the

inclusion of an ancestral guide remains a testament to the cultural significance of ancestors in

traditional Chinese families. According to Christina and Suprajitno, “Disney still presents the

‘asianess’ of the folklore,” blending humor with reverence to make the story culturally engaging

for Western audiences (35). Through this element, Mulan emphasizes that Mulan’s actions are

not isolated but part of a larger familial and spiritual support system, reinforcing her connection

to her heritage and the strength she draws from her ancestors.

In Confucian society, women are expected to adhere to specific roles that often

emphasize obedience, modesty, and support for their families. Early in the film, Mulan is

depicted as struggling to meet these expectations, especially during the scene with the

matchmaker, where her attempts to be the "perfect bride" end in comic disaster. This tension

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reflects the pressure Mulan faces to conform to societal ideals of womanhood, which place

significant emphasis on a woman’s role in upholding family honor through marriage. Mulan’s

initial struggle to fulfill these expectations highlights her internal conflict and sets the stage for

her journey. Her inability to conform to traditional gender roles is not portrayed as a fault but

rather as an indication of her unique character and strength, subtly critiquing the rigidity of

Confucian ideals. As Ding (2024) states, “Mulan’s role fully embodies female values in the film.

She not only bravely joined the army for her father, but also made repeated achievements on the

battlefield, breaking the shackles of gender stereotypes. This subversion of traditional gender

roles highlights the women’s important status and value in society, and plays a role in promoting

the awakening of female consciousness in Eastern culture” (p. 5). In showing this, the film

reflects an important aspect of Chinese culture while simultaneously questioning whether these

roles allow for true individuality.

While Mulan’s initial motivation is rooted in familial duty, her decision to dress as a male

soldier and join the army signals her quiet rebellion against these gender roles. Her choice to

defy societal expectations, even at great personal risk, symbolizes her refusal to be confined by

her prescribed role. Unlike the traditional ballad, which focuses primarily on Mulan’s

selflessness and duty, the film highlights her internal struggle and desire for self-expression. This

reimagining aligns with Western ideals of independence and personal growth, emphasizing

Mulan’s journey toward self-discovery. As Ding (2024) explains, “Mulan’s bravery and

intelligence not only break the traditional gender role positioning, but also inject new

connotations into the female consciousness in Eastern culture" (p. 5). In contrast to the

traditional Mulan, who simply fulfills her duty and returns to her role, Disney’s Mulan is

depicted as a character who undergoes a transformation, learning to balance her responsibilities

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with her personal identity. By doing so, the film provides a narrative of growth and

empowerment, adding a distinctly American dimension to her story.

In Mulan, the process of hybridization merges Chinese cultural traditions with American

values, particularly in how the protagonist’s identity is constructed. In the original Ballad of

Mulan, the protagonist is portrayed as a dutiful daughter who disguises herself as a man to take

her father’s place in the military. This act reflects the deeply rooted Chinese value of filial piety,

which underscores the importance of family loyalty and sacrifice. However, Disney's adaptation

of Mulan transforms this cultural trait into an Americanized narrative of self-empowerment. The

film emphasizes the pursuit of individualism and the assertion of personal worth, reflecting

American ideals, particularly in the context of third-wave feminism, which advocates that

women are just as capable as men (Zhao, Ang, & Toh, Year). In the 1998 animated version,

Mulan's decision to go to war is driven by her desire to prove her value, not only to her family

but also to herself, a notion that speaks more to American individualism than Chinese

collectivism. Furthermore, Disney’s portrayal of Mulan as a headstrong, independent character

aligns her more with an American cultural framework, where the focus is on the personal journey

and growth of the individual. This transformation exemplifies how Disney’s adaptation

hybridizes the original Chinese folktale to meet the expectations of a global audience, leading to

a loss of the more traditional cultural values like filial piety that were central to the original story.

The film’s narrative shift from themes of duty and honor to self-expression and

independence marks a significant departure from the historical Ballad of Mulan, where the

protagonist’s actions are motivated by selflessness rather than personal identity. In the original

ballad, Mulan’s decision to disguise herself as a man and take her father’s place in the military is

driven purely by filial duty. She embodies the traditional Confucian values of loyalty, family

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honor, and sacrifice, without any indication of internal struggle regarding her own identity or

desires. Mulan’s courage is portrayed as a reflection of her commitment to her family’s well-

being, rather than any desire for personal recognition or self-actualization. In contrast, Disney’s

adaptation introduces an internal conflict, focusing on Mulan’s personal journey toward self-

expression. The animated film portrays Mulan not only as a dutiful daughter but as an individual

seeking validation for her own worth. Her desire to prove herself, particularly through the pursuit

of military glory, suggests a deeper yearning for personal independence and autonomy, rather

than solely fulfilling familial expectations. This narrative shift aligns with modern Western

ideals of individualism and personal freedom, which are at odds with the communal and duty-

bound values central to the original ballad. The film’s focus on Mulan’s internal conflict between

honoring her family’s wishes and finding her own voice highlights a move toward a more

individual-centric narrative, where personal identity and self-expression become paramount.

According to Zhao, Ang, and Toh (2023), Disney’s Mulan reinterprets the traditional narrative to

cater to contemporary global sensibilities, emphasizing the protagonist’s personal growth and

self-determination rather than her adherence to cultural and familial obligations. This

transformation exemplifies how the film reshapes Mulan’s character from a figure of selfless

devotion into one of self-empowerment, reflecting a significant shift in values from duty to

independence.

Disney's Mulan offers a unique blend of Chinese cultural traditions and Western ideals,

creating a narrative that is both familiar and transformative. While the film retains elements of

the original Chinese ballad, such as Mulan's devotion to her family, it introduces a significant

shift in the character’s motivations. The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery, independence,

and personal empowerment aligns with American values of individualism and personal growth,

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while still honoring the traditional Confucian concepts of filial piety and honor. This

hybridization process underscores the tension between collective responsibility and individual

autonomy, offering a narrative that appeals to a global audience. Through its portrayal of Mulan

as both a dutiful daughter and a self-empowered woman, the film reflects the complex

intersection of tradition and modernity, while also transforming a traditional Chinese figure into

a symbol of personal and cultural transformation. In reimagining Mulan’s journey, Disney

navigates the delicate balance between respecting cultural heritage and embracing contemporary

ideals of identity and freedom, ultimately highlighting the evolving role of women in both

Eastern and Western contexts. The film’s enduring popularity speaks to its ability to resonate

with viewers across cultures, serving as a reminder that while traditions may change, the pursuit

of self-expression and growth remains a universal desire

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 Works Cited

Christina, Christina, and Setefanus Suprajitno. “The Americanization of Confucian Filial

Piety in Disney’s Mulan (1998).” Kata Kita: Journal of Language, Literature, and Teaching,

katakita.petra.ac.id/index.php/sastra-inggris/article/view/2992. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Ding, Fangfang. “Stories from the Perspective of Eastern Cultural Complex: Taking

Mulan as an Example.” Trans/Form/Ação, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de

Filosofia, 21 June 2024, doi.org/10.1590/0101-3173.2024.v47.n2.e02400181.

Qing Yang. (2019) Cross-cultural Variation: Chinese Monkey King Legend as a Trickster

in America. Comparative Literature: East & West 3:2, pages 205-215.

Zhang, Song Nan. The Ballad of Mulan. Pan Asian Publications, 1998.

Zhao, Meijuan, et al. “Hybridization of the Cultural Identity in Disney’s Mulan.”

Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing, 21 Sept. 2020,

doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2020-0083.

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