Hua Mulan (花木兰; Huā Mùlán) is a legendary figure from ancient China who was originally described in a Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan (木兰辞). In the poem, Hua Mulan takes her aged father’s place in the army. She fought for 12 years and gained high merit, but she refused any reward and retired to her hometown instead.

The historical setting of Hua Mulan is uncertain. The earliest accounts of the legend state that she lived during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534).

唧唧复唧唧，     Tsiek tsiek and again tsiek tsiek,
木兰当户织。	Mu-lan weaves, facing the door.
不闻机杼声，     You don't hear the shuttle's sound,
唯闻女叹息。	You only hear Daughter's sighs.
问女何所思，     They ask Daughter who's in her heart,
问女何所忆。	They ask Daughter who's on her mind.
女亦无所思，	"No one is on Daughter's heart,
女亦无所忆。	No one is on Daughter's mind.
昨夜见军帖，     Last night I saw the draft posters,
可汗大点兵，	The Khan is calling many troops,
军书十二卷，     The army list is in twelve scrolls,
卷卷有爷名。	On every scroll there's Father's name.
阿爷无大儿，     Father has no grown-up son,
木兰无长兄，	Mu-lan has no elder brother.
愿为市鞍马，     I want to buy a saddle and horse,
从此替爷征。	And serve in the army in Father's place."

东市买骏马，     In the East Market she buys a spirited horse,
西市买鞍鞯，	In the West Market she buys a saddle,
南市买辔头，     In the South Market she buys a bridle,
北市买长鞭。	In the North Market she buys a long whip.
旦辞爷娘去，     At dawn she takes leave of Father and Mother,
暮宿黄河边。	In the evening camps on the Yellow River's bank.
不闻爷娘唤女声， She doesn't hear the sound of Father and Mother
                calling,
但闻黄河流水鸣溅溅。She only hears the Yellow River's flowing water
                  cry tsien tsien.
旦辞黄河去，     At dawn she takes leave of the Yellow River,
暮至黑山头。	 In the evening she arrives at Black Mountain.
不闻爷娘唤女声， She doesn't hear the sound of Father and Mother
                 calling,
但闻燕山胡骑鸣啾啾。She only hears Mount Yen's nomad horses
                    cry tsiu tsiu.
万里赴戎机，    She goes ten thousand miles on the business of war,
关山度若飞。	She crosses passes and mountains like flying.
朔气传金柝，    Northern gusts carry the rattle of army pots,
寒光照铁衣。	Chilly light shines on iron armor.
将军百战死，    Generals die in a hundred battles,
壮士十年归。	Stout soldiers return after ten years.

归来见天子，    On her return she sees the Son of Heaven,
天子坐明堂。	The Son of Heaven sits in the Splendid Hall.
策勋十二转，    He gives out promotions in twelve ranks
赏赐百千强。	And prizes of a hundred thousand and more.
可汗问所欲，     The Khan asks her what she desires.
木兰不用尚书郎，"Mu-lan has no use for a minister's post.
愿驰千里足，     I wish to ride a swift mount
送儿还故乡。	To take me back to my home."

爷娘闻女来，    When Father and Mother hear Daughter is coming.
出郭相扶将。    They go outside the wall to meet her, leaning on each other.
阿姊闻妹来，    When Elder Sister hears Younger Sister is coming
当户理红妆。    She fixes her rouge, facing the door.
小弟闻姊来，     When Little Brother hears Elder Sister is coming
磨刀霍霍向猪羊。 He whets the knife, quick quick, for pig and sheep.
开我东阁门，      "I open the door to my east chamber,
坐我西阁床。	 I sit on my couch in the west room,
脱我战时袍，     I take off my wartime gown
着我旧时裳。	 And put on my old-time clothes."
当窗理云鬓，      Facing the window she fixes her cloudlike hair,
对镜帖花黄。	  Hanging up a mirror she dabs on yellow flower powder
出门看火伴，      She goes out the door and sees her comrades.
火伴皆惊忙。	  Her comrades are all amazed and perplexed.
同行十二年，      Traveling together for twelve years
不知木兰是女郎。  They didn't know Mu-lan was a girl.
雄兔脚扑朔，      "The he-hare's feet go hop and skip,
雌兔眼迷离。	  The she-hare's eyes are muddled and fuddled.
两兔傍地走，      Two hares running side by side close to the ground,
安能辨我是雄雌。  How can they tell if I am he or she?"