the story of mulan

"Mulan" is a name that carries multiple meanings.

The word "Mulan" is a Chinese transliteration of the magnolia flower, as well as the name of a historical heroine who served in an all-male army in place of her old age father.

The story of our heroine has captivated and inspired generations of Chinese poets, writers, artists, and playwrights. It first appeared as a poem entitled the Ballad of Mulan, written sometime between 420 and 589 AD.

When Mulan's father received an order to join the imperial army, the family worried, for although once a great warrior, he was now too old and ill to fight. To refuse the Khan's (ruler's) order, however, would bring dishonor and punishment upon the entire family. There was no question that Mulan's father had to go, for his only son, who might have served as a substitute, was much too young. Mulan, though, thought of another way. To protect her father and her family, Mulan herself decided to join the army in his place. Disguised as a man, she distinguished herself in battle as a brave warrior and a clever strategist.

In capturing the spirit of our heroine, the Mulan Restaurant embodies a perfect infusion between Eastern and Western culinary culture, and the courage to expand one's horizons. Our cuisine, disguised as art masterpieces that look too-good-to-be eaten, vividly reflects the splendor of the liuli crystals surrounding the restaurant.

花木蘭是中國文學作品中一位代父從軍的巾幗英雄，其真實性不詳。花木蘭最早出現於南北朝一首敘事詩《木蘭辭》中。該詩約作於北魏，最初錄於南朝陳的《古今樂錄》，僧人智匠在《古今樂錄》稱：“木蘭不知名。 ”

此詩長300餘字，後經隋唐文人潤色。明代文學家徐渭將《木蘭詩》改編的《雌木蘭替父從軍》，劇中自稱“妾身姓花名木蘭，祖上在西漢時，以六郡良家子，世住河北魏郡。俺父親名弧字桑之，平生好武能文，舊時也做一個有名的千夫長。”自此木蘭的父親叫花弧，姐姐叫花木蓮，弟弟叫花雄，母親是花袁氏。清代《曲海總目提要•雌木蘭》也說：“木蘭事雖詳載古樂府。按明有韓貞女事，與木蘭相類，渭蓋因此而作也。木蘭不知名，記內所稱姓花名弧及嫁王郎事，皆係渭撰出。”

祖沖之《述異記》、李亢《獨異志》都提到木蘭姓花。一說木蘭本姓朱，清康熙年間的《黃陂縣志》：“木蘭，本縣朱氏女，生於唐初，……假男子代父從軍，……至今其家猶在木蘭山下。”焦竑在其《焦氏筆乘》中也說：“木蘭，朱氏女子，代父從征。今黃州黃陂縣北七十里，即隋木蘭縣。有木蘭山、將軍塚、忠烈廟，足以補《樂府題解》之缺。”又有木蘭姓魏的說法，一說木蘭姓韓。另據《新唐書》載：“少女木蘭，姓任”。

花木蘭的籍貫也是眾說紛紜。 《大清一統志》稱是潁州譙郡城東魏村人（今亳州市譙城區）。姚瑩的《康輶紀行》稱是甘肅武威人。劉廷直在《木蘭碑》中稱木蘭是直棣完縣人。 《商丘縣誌》載木蘭為商丘人。後人創作了很多有關花木蘭的戲劇作品，現代還將花木蘭搬上電影銀幕。

根據《木蘭辭》的描述，北朝可汗徵兵抵禦北方民族入侵，女子花木蘭之父亦在受召之列；木蘭不忍見其年邁的父親從軍受苦，又沒有年長的兄弟可以代替老父，她於是自己喬裝成男人，購買各種裝備，代父從軍。

多年後戰事結束，木蘭因軍功彪炳得到可汗召見；可汗雖授以高官厚祿，木蘭卻只請准予解甲返鄉。木蘭獲準返鄉後，回復女性裝扮，昔日同袍才驚覺原來木蘭實為女子。