Famous Chinese women in folklore, from Hua Mulan to a consort who brought down a dynasty
These women have inspired countless poems, books, movies and TV shows over the centuries, but what are their stories and why do they endure?
Women are vastly under-represented in ancient Chinese literature. The few who appear, often in myth or semi-fiction, serve primarily to reflect that era’s moral expectations for women.
From filial warriors to patriotic seductresses and femmes fatales, these women have one thing in common – they all trade personal autonomy for survival in a man’s world.
Here are three fictional women in Chinese history and what makes their names live on to this day.
1. Hua Mulan
The only historical record of Hua Mulan is the Ballad of Mulan, a melodic 332-character folk poem believed to have been written during China’s Northern Wei dynasty (386-535).