Understanding the genre of 'Mulan'

‘Mulan’ is a legend which belongs to the genre of folklore. Folklore is a genre in which oral stories are passed down over time and they originate from a range of cultures. Legends are a type of folktale that reflect some element of true history and convey an important moral or lesson. ‘Mulan’ originated in China during a time of real war and it challenges ideas around the role of women. The legend of ‘Mulan’ is about a young girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to fight in the army.