The idealized legends of Mulan and
other Chinese women warriors contrast sharply to the more historically true
story of Lady Yang. The legends have found a comfortable niche among the
history of China; their stories are passed down through stories, plays, poems,
and continue to play an important role in the Chinese culture. Mothers tell
their daughters of the dutiful Mulan and the loyal Mu Guiying. Their reflections
of Confucian ideals secure their place and their acceptance among the people of
China, FOR many of them are viewed as well-loved heroes of China (COMPOUND
SENTENCE WITH COMMA). Young girls look up to these warriors; FOR they show them
the importance of the Confucian ideals, while giving them hope that one day
they will be called forth to be a woman warrior of China (COMPOUND SENTENCE
WITH SEMICOLON). YET Lady Yang remains a shadow -- her history and legacy left
mostly to the dry pages of books (SENTENCE THAT BEGINS WITH FANBOY). Because she
does not fit into an acceptable role, she is excluded from the popularity and
recognition of her fellow Chinese women warriors. Her power, her choice to
commit adultery, and her unconventional role as a leader kept her from
encompassing the ideals that the legends such as Mulan were able to project despite
being warriors. From these viewpoints one can see how the legends play a far
larger role in Chinese society than the women warriors whose stories have not
been turned into a myth. Despite the fact that Lady Yang is portrayed more
accurately than her legendary counterparts, it the legends that will continue
to play a larger role in the society of China. The Confucian ideals that allow
them to be accepted in society give them a stronger hold in the culture than
the less fabricated stories where the actions of the woman challenge Confucian ideals.
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