Shen Yun Performing Arts
  • About Shen Yun
    New to Shen Yun?
    9 Characteristics of Shen Yun
    Our Story
    Challenges We Face
    Classical Chinese Dance
    Symphony Orchestra
  • Artists
  • Videos
  • What’s New
    What’s New
    News
    Blog
  • 5,000 Years
    Chinese Dance
    Music
    Vocal Music
    Shen Yun Costumes
    Digital Projection
    Shen Yun Props
    Stories and History
    Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
  • FAQ
  • Reviews
  • Newsletter Support Employment Search
    English
  • 中文正體
  • 中文简体
  • 日本語
  • 한국어
  • Česky
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Français
  • Indonesia
  • Italiano
  • Nederlands
  • Polski
  • Português
  • Pусский
  • Română
  • Svenska
  • Việt
  • עברית
  • Tickets & Info
    Menu
    Shen Yun Logo
    Tickets
    What’s New
    Menu
    • About Shen Yun
      • New to Shen Yun? 9 Characteristics of Shen Yun Our Story Challenges We Face Classical Chinese Dance Symphony Orchestra
    • Artists
    • Videos
    • What’s New
      • What’s New News Blog
    • 5,000 Years
      • Chinese Dance Music Vocal Music Shen Yun Costumes Digital Projection Shen Yun Props Stories and History Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
    • FAQ
    • Reviews
    • Shop
      • Shen Yun Creations
      • Shen Yun Dancer
      • Shen Yun Gift Shop
    Shen Yun 9 Characteristics Link Image

    What Makes Us Unique?

    DISCOVER THE 9 CHARACTERISTICS
    • Employment
    • Support
    • Subscribe
    • Search
    Language
    • 中文正體
    • 中文简体
    • 日本語
    • 한국어
    • Česky
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Indonesia
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Pусский
    • Română
    • Svenska
    • Việt
    • עברית
      Blog
      Back Blog > Famous Parallel Figures 3/10: Mulan and Joan of Arc

    Famous Parallel Figures 3/10: Mulan and Joan of Arc

    In this series we look at historical figures from China’s past who have intriguing Western parallels.

    Two female warriors of yore that come easily to mind are China’s Mulan and France’s Joan of Arc. Both women are distinguished not only for their bravery in battle, but also for adhering to their values and beliefs. Despite their obvious similarities, though, the two were also remarkably different.

    Let’s start with Mulan.

    Nowadays cartoons and movies have made Mulan a household name in the West. But in the East, people have been retelling her story for almost two millennia.

    Although the exact date of her birth is unknown, her hometown is up for debate, and varying adaptions of her story have emerged throughout the dynasties, Mulan apparently did exist. She is most commonly recognized as Hua Mulan. The surname Hua means “flower,” and pairs artistically with her first name, which means “magnolia.”

    Her story, captured in the Ballad of Mulan written during the Northern Wei Dynasty between the fourth and sixth centuries, tells the most popular version. With China at war against the Mongolian state of Rouran, every family received a conscription notice. But Mulan’s elderly father was in no shape for battle. His only son, Mulan’s brother, was just a child. Out of a sense of filial piety, Mulan cut her hair, geared up in dad’s armor, and set off in his place.

    On the battlefield, Mulan was sharp-witted, brave, and successful. All the while, she managed to keep her gender a secret from her comrades-in-arms. Twelve years later, the soldiers returned triumphant. The emperor was quite impressed to learn of Mulan’s prowess on the battlefield, and wanted “him” (her) to serve as an official in the imperial court. Mulan graciously declined, asking only for a fast steed to get her home so she could care for her aging parents.

    Meanwhile, oceans apart and centuries later, Joan of Arc took her place on the battlefield, leading soldiers to victory in Europe during the Hundred Years’ War.

    Like Mulan, Joan of Arc (1412-1431) came from an ordinary family. Her parents farmed in a small village in northeast France. Her mother raised Joan as a devout Catholic. As a child, Joan was kind by nature, and would often fast, pray, and go out of her way to help the disadvantaged.

    When she was thirteen, Joan said she heard angels, and even God, speaking to her. Through these revelations, she learned it was her mission to help France win the war against England, regain lost lands, and help the French prince become king.

    Initially, most people didn’t believe the farm girl. But through unfaltering faith, she broke through all barriers, had an audience with the crown prince, and convinced him to grant her military power. In subsequent battles, she led French soldiers to several victories and greatly raised troop morale. To many, she was not only a military leader, but also a spiritual one.

    In the end, Joan was captured while trying to relieve a besieged city. Following months of interrogation, she was sentenced to death as a heretic and burned at the stake. After 20 years, however, Joan’s name was restored, and four centuries later Napoleon made her a national symbol. Eventually, she was canonized as a saint.

    Mulan and Joan of Arc enlisted for fundamentally different reasons. Mulan was driven by filial duty—a central tenet in traditional Chinese society. Although impersonating a soldier was punishable by death, she took the risk in order to save her father. And while she had to be careful to conceal her secret, she still went above and beyond defending her country.

    As for Joan, she was driven by spiritual devotion. Despite everyone’s doubts, she remained steadfast in her faith in God and committed to the mission entrusted to her. She persisted, even after she was captured and abused, and all the way to her final moments before she was consumed by flames.

    Although Joan and Mulan’s reasons for taking up the sword were different, the aura they emanated of determination, courage, and selflessness feel remarkably similar. And each warrior left an indelible mark in history, although only one got to be a main character on the Shen Yun stage.

    • Artist Perspectives
    • Famous Historical Figures
    • Ancient History
    • Great Generals
    Betty Thumb

    Betty Wang

    Dancer

    View all posts
    RELATED CONTENT
    • SYWEB FPF #1 Kangxi LuisXIV  V4 AB 400x246
      Famous Parallel Figures 1/10: Kangxi and Louis XIV
    • Mulan V2
      Mulan
    • SYWEB 271 FPF #7  GenghisKhan AlexanderGreat  V1  AB 800x376
      Famous Parallel Figures 6/10: Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great
    • SYWEB 277 FPF 10  LuBan LeonardoDaVinci  V1  Web Head Thumb 400x246 A
      Famous Parallel Figures 9/10: Leonardo da Vinci and Lu Ban
    Comments
    verification

    Previous

    Accessories Inspired by Ethnic Fashions

    Next

    Your Guide to the Lunar New Year
    Most Recent
    • Ancient Lifehack: Spring into Action
      Lifehack Spring Header Update2
    • ‘Tis the Season to Give Thanks
      Thanksgiving Header
    • Ancient Lifehack: Don’t Fall for the Chill
      Lifehack Header
    • The Man in the Moon: A Mid-Autumn Festival Legend
      Change JadeRabbit SYWeb 嫦娥 玉兔 Thumb
    • Parallel Figures BONUS: Ye Xian and Cinderella
      SYWEB ### FPF 11  YeXian Cinderella  V3  AB 400x246
    Most Popular
    • All
    • News
    • Blog
  • 1 Ancient Lifehack: Spring into Action
  • 2 Artist Spotlight: Evangeline Zhu
  • 3 A Lady’s Guide to Manchurian Etiquette
  • 4 Artist Spotlight: Melody Qin
  • 5 Introducing: Shen Yun Collections Retail Store
  • 6 Artist Spotlight: William Li
  • 7 Photos from Tour: A Jump Start to the 2023 Season
  • 8 Q&A with Dancer Lillian Parker
  • 9 Photos from Tour: Sunshine, Spaceships, and the Swiss Alps
  • 10 First-Ever Classical Chinese Dance Glossary
  • Show More
  • 1 Artist Spotlight: Evangeline Zhu
  • 2 Artist Spotlight: Melody Qin
  • 3 Introducing: Shen Yun Collections Retail Store
  • 4 Artist Spotlight: William Li
  • 5 Photos from Tour: A Jump Start to the 2023 Season
  • 6 Q&A with Dancer Lillian Parker
  • 7 Photos from Tour: Sunshine, Spaceships, and the Swiss Alps
  • 8 First-Ever Classical Chinese Dance Glossary
  • 9 How To Enjoy the Lunar New Year at Home
  • 10 Photos from Tour: Footsteps Across the Continents
  • Show More
  • 1 Ancient Lifehack: Spring into Action
  • Show More

    Tags

    • Artist Perspectives
    • Famous Historical Figures
    • Ancient History
    • Great Generals
    Shen Yun logo golden
    Shen Yun logo golden

    Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world's premier classical Chinese dance and music company, established in New York in 2006. It performs classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dance, and story-based dance, with orchestral accompaniment and solo performers. For 5,000 years, divine culture flourished in the land of China. Through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is reviving this glorious culture. Shen Yun, or 神韻, can be translated as: “The beauty of divine beings dancing.”

    About
  • New to Shen Yun?
  • Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra
  • Challenges We Face
  • Shen Yun & Spirituality
  • Meet the Artists
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Videos
  • Latest & Featured
  • About Shen Yun
  • Meet the Artists
  • Reviews
  • News & Blog
  • What’s New
  • Featured
  • News
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Explore
  • Chinese Dance
  • Music
  • Vocal Music
  • Shen Yun Costumes
  • Digital Projection
  • Shen Yun Props
  • Stories and History
  • Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
  • Interact with us:
    Sign Our Guestbook
    Get to Know More about Shen Yun
    on Our Streaming Platform
    Arts Proficiency Assessment Center
    Keepsakes and Premium Collections
    Inspired by Shen Yun
    Shen Yun Dancer
    Shen Yun Performing Arts Official Website Copyright ©2023 Shen Yun Performing Arts. All Rights Reserved.
    Contact us Terms Privacy Site map