From Mulan to Three Kingdoms: how traditional Chinese culture inspires the global entertainment industry (2)

The upcoming Mulan movie is a live-action adaptation of Disney's 1998 animated film of the same name. The film stars Liu Yifei as the eponymous character and is set to be released on March 27, 2020. (Photo Credit: Walt Disney Pictures)

An authentic Chinese warrior, not a westernized heroine

Alex Xin, an Art research fellow at Peking University, told People’s Daily Online that Mulan’s image in the western world has changed over the past two decades, altering from a westernized heroine into an authentic Chinese girl.

“When you check the 1998 animation, Mulan was depicted as a fighter for gender equality, which kind of missed the point, as the original story mainly focused on promoting traditional family value. I’m glad that the new movie has included this important clue, showing that after two decades, Westerners now have a better understanding of Chinese culture.”

The upcoming Mulan movie, which has a release date of 2020, has caused an online frenzy, with many foreign audiences calling it a great way to become familiar with traditional Chinese culture.

“When I was a child, Mulan’s story helped me develop a strong interest in Chinese culture. I am looking forward to the new movie, which may help us understand more cultural elements behind the story,” said Vegard Persen, a 24-year-old Norwegian artist.

Total War: Three Kingdoms. (Photo Credit: Creative Assembly)

Though not as famous as Mulan, another character in Guo’s poetry, a John Doe veteran who joined the army at the age of 15, has done a great job of introducing authenticity to tales of Chinese culture. In Total War Three Kingdoms, a popular game from UK-based developer Creative Assembly, the nameless soldiers’ story has been adapted into a theme song, showing the audience the brutal war of the Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China.

Based on Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the game represents historical depictions. In one trailer, the Imperial Seal of China, a famous jade seal in Chinese history, is seen to have a broken corner decorated with gold. Such a design is in accordance with real historical records, as the seal indeed had a chipped edge, which was later restored with gold.

In addition to Chinese history, the game has also introduced some philosophical concepts to foreign players. The Chinese concept of “guanxi,” which deals with social connections and relationships, has been included in the game system, while virtues that the ancient Chinese revered such as “obligation, reciprocity and trust” are also essential factors in the game.

“As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, Chinese culture is deep and obscure to us foreigners. By introducing traditional Chinese in popular genres such as film and games, it will be much easier for foreigners to understand China,” noted Persen.

To date, the game trailer has received over 2.5 million views on Youtube, with many players expressing their desire to learn more about the history, as well as showing their respect for Chinese culture.

“Over the years, the background of most strategy stories is set in Ancient Europe or Japan. With more people getting interested in China, the time seems right for game producers to cater to a Chinese audience,” said Alex.