subject: Famous Women in China - Yi Women, Mulan [print this page] Imagine a scene where two groups of men, both of which are Yi ethnicity are armed and ready to kill. When a women suddenly runs in between the two groups of men, dressed in a number of skirts. She stands in the middle of the potential violence unafraid and in distress. Both group of men lower the weapons but still are prepared to fight and all eyes are on the women as her skirts are blowing slowly in the wind. This woman is not a powerful figure or an important one she is just an ordinary women who has a son in one group and a father in the other group waiting to fight each other.
It is a tradition of the Yi that if a war broke out between 2 or more Yi villages that women were exempted from any kidnapping or violence. This means they could visit friends in other villages with out fear of violence. It also means that women were perfect for mediating between warring villages.
The scene above can continue by the women stripping and finally committing suicide if both parties won't listen to her advice The group who started the war or refused to stop the violence is condemned with the death of that women and this could result in more and more people joining that war. So often the women's advice was taken.
In the last years of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the borders need to be continually strengthened so forced conscription started within the dynasty. Hua Mulan was an only child and her father taught her reading, writing and Kung Fu. When the Emperor men told Hua Mulan's family that one man had to join the army, Hua Mulan made the decision to disguise herself and join the army instead.
She great courage and kungfu help many victories and she was rewarded for her service and her secret was never discovered.
