Mulan

Classical Stories · No. 12 — The daughter who rode to war in her father's name.

• Classical Stories
• 40 min
• Ages 8–13
• 6 chapters

About this audiobook

The conscription scrolls come to the village, and on every one of them is her father's name — a father too old for war, with no grown son to send. So Mulan buys a horse at the east market, a saddle at the west, a bridle at the south, a whip at the north, and rides to the frontier in her father's name. Twelve years of campaigns follow — cold light on iron armour, generals falling, comrades saved — before the Emperor himself offers her any reward she names. She asks only for a swift camel to carry her home.

Why it's worth a listen

Twelve years at war, and nobody knew. The ballad of Mulan is fifteen centuries old and still one step ahead of every listener: it has armour and mountain passes and camp fires, but its finest moment is quiet — comrades meeting a friend they never really saw. No film version; this is the original, and the original is better.

A question to keep

How much of who you are is what people see — and how much is what you do?

Based on the book by A tale from China, published by Emma's Library original retelling

Chapters

1. The Loom and the Scroll
2. Four Markets by Day, Two Rivers by Night
3. Cold Light on Iron Armor
4. The Hall of the Son of Heaven
5. The Door by the Mulberry Trees
6. A Question to Keep