Mulan Poem: Northern Dynasty Folk Song

木兰词 (mù lán cí)
北朝民歌 (běi cháo mín gē), Northern Dynasty Folk Song

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Ji-ji and again ji-ji, Mulan weaves while facing the door.
Not hearing the shuttle's sound, only hearing Daughter's sighs.
Ask Daughter who is in her heart, ask Daughter who is on her mind?
No one is in Daughter's heart, no one is on Daughter's mind.
Last night I saw the draft posters, the Khan is calling many troops.
The army list is in twelve scrolls, on every scroll there is Father's name.
Father has no grown-up son, Mulan has no elder brother,
She wants to buy a saddle and a 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 she camps on the Yellow River's bank,
She does not hear the sound of Father and Mother calling,
She only hears the Yellow River's flowing water cry jian-jian.
At dawn she takes leave of the Yellow River, in the evening she arrives at Black Mountain,
She does not hear the sound of Father and Mother calling,
She only hears Mount Swallow's nomad horses cry jiu-jiu.
She goes ten thousand miles on the business of war, crossing 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 Son of Heaven sits in the Splendid Hall.
He gives out promotions in twelve ranks, awarding prizes of a hundred thousand and more.
The Khan asks her what she desires,
"Mulan has no use for a minister's post;
I wish to ride a swift mount, for it to take me back to my home."
Father and Mother hear that Daughter is coming,
They go outside the wall to meet her while leaning on each other.
Elder Sister hears Younger Sister is coming,
She fixes her rouge as she faces the door.
Little Brother hears Elder Sister is coming,
He whets the knife quickly and went for the pig and sheep.
I open the door to my east chamber, I sit on my bed in the west room.
I take off my wartime gown, and put on my old-time clothes.
By the window she fixes her cloud-like hair, facing the mirror she dabs on yellow flower-powder.
She goes out the door and sees her comrades, her comrades are taken by surprise.
Traveling together for twelve years,
They did not know Mulan is 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 on the ground,
How can they tell if I am a male or female?

Translation adapted from The Flowering Plum and the Palace Lady: Interpretations of Chinese Poetry by Hans H. Frankel

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Mulan Poem: Northern Dynasty Folk Song

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