Mulan breaks the traditional idea of ??the image of a weak woman. It confirmed the feudal idea that women cannot contribute to the country, and made people look at women again, reposition and score women. It changes the status of women and overturns the fallacy that "women are inferior to men". So it has always been loved by people.
*About the theme of this poem
(1) In feudal society, women have no status. Mulan is a working woman who "works as a household weaver" and joins the army on her father's behalf. "Generals die in a hundred battles, and strong men return in ten years." Mulan can do what men can do; Mulan can do what men can't do. The heroic image of Mulan itself is a ruthless mockery of the traditional concepts that discriminate against women in feudal society.
(2) In feudal society, the pursuit of fame and wealth was the dominant traditional thought, and many people dreamed of it. After ten years of intense fighting, Mulan returned triumphantly, but refused to give up her title or reward, and was willing to be demobilized and return to the fields to return to the farming and weaving life of the working people. This fully reflects the simple and humble qualities of the working people. Mulan's behavior itself is a powerful satire on the feudal literati who are eager for fame and fortune.
(Dou Zhongwen "Several Issues in the Teaching of "Mulan Poetry"", "Chinese Teaching Newsletter" of Shanxi Normal University, Issues 4 and 5, 1978)
(3) "Mulan" The theme of "Poetry" is actually directly stated in the poem. That is: women are no less than men. Their talents, wisdom, courage and insight are definitely not inferior to men. This is the theme of this poem. To sum it up in one sentence, it would be: praising the female heroes who came from working people.
(Liu Binrong and Hua Xue, "It should be noted that Mulan is a girl", "Journal of Henan Normal University", Issue 6, 1979)
(4) The theme of "Mulan Poetry" is not to praise The martial spirit reflects the people's yearning for a peaceful life. However, "Mulan Poetry" is not expressed in the form of melancholy or tragedy like the folk songs of the Northern Dynasties mentioned above, but in a unique way, it is expressed in the form of comedy in which a woman joins the army on her father's behalf.
Of course, the storyline itself makes it possible for the poem to objectively praise the heroic spirit of women. However, the issue of praising heroes in the poem is secondary to the issues reflected in the theme. It can only be regarded as the content of the poem. An ideological content cannot be said to be a theme.