Sooooo Mulan. It's not that I didn't want to do Mulan (she's fantastic so far as the Disney "princesses" go), but pinning down her time period stopped being fun and rapidly became a headache- you have the original legend taking place in the Wei Dynasty, the Huns as an actual threat during the Western Han Dynasty, the Forbidden City of the Ming Dynasty, the hanfu fashion setting it earlier AGHGHGhjffjhfghgjhkh
On that note, I'll be the first to admit that this piece isn't tying Mulan down to a particular period, rather putting her in plausible historical textiles and hanfu. When I was asking around for references most of the stuff sent my way were from Chinese period films or other modern recreations, so I just threw up my hands and decided to have fun with it.
It's based on Mulan's finale/epilogue costume at the end of the film; she never seemed at home in either the matchmaker costume or the armor, so this seemed like the best "Mulan has come into her own" middle ground.
-C
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I feel your pain. When I was trying to create my version of steampunk Mulan I wanted it to be more historically accurate. Yet, I couldn't pinpoint the time period because of all the things you said. I was confused if she was from the Wei, Han or Ming Dynasty so I said, "forget it" and just made her wear whatever I could dream up!
This is beautiful! I love the fact that you chose her outfit from the final battle. That scene is her at her best with all her femininity and masculinity together in balance. I'm disappointed that Disney seems to have her in her matchmaker dress instead of this one.
It is noteworthy that in the original poem wanted to punish her in any for pretending to be a man, her comrades are just surprised when they find out. In later versions the revelation draws to much positive attention and she commits suicide to avoid a marriage imposed by the emperor.