In this post, we are going to learn the second part of Mulan poem. For the first part, please read the post: Let’s Learn Mulan’s Story in Mandarin Chinese (1) Mulan Joined the army.
From the first part of this poem, we learned the reason why Mulan joined the army and her hard life in the army. In the second part, we will learn Mulan’s life after she went back home. Let’s take a look.
jiāng jūn bǎi zhàn sǐ ，zhuàng shì shí nián guī
将军百战死，壮士十年归。
Generals and soldiers experienced many wars. Some died. Some came back in ten years.
guī lái jiàn tiān zǐ ，tiān zǐ zuò míng táng
归来见天子，天子坐明堂。
The king sat in the royal palace and received me.
cè xūn shí èr zhuàn，shǎng cì bǎi qiān qiáng
策勋十二转，赏赐百千强。
I was promoted many times and rewarded with a lot of treasures.
kè hán wèn suǒ yù ，mù lán bú yòng shàng shū láng
可汗问所欲，木兰不用尚书郎，
The king asked me what I want. Mulan I didn’t want to be an official.
yuàn chí qiān lǐ zú ，sòng ér hái gù xiāng
愿驰千里足，送儿还故乡。
I was willing to ride a good horse to go back my hometown.
yé niáng wén nǚ lái ，chū guō xiàng fú jiāng 。
爷娘闻女来，出郭相扶将。
My dad and mom heard that I went back home, they came outside of the town to greet me.
ā zǐ wén mèi lái ，dāng hù lǐ hóng zhuāng
阿姊闻妹来，当户理红妆。
My old sister heard that I went back, she dressed herself beautifully.
xiǎo dì wén zǐ lái ，mó dāo huò huò xiàng zhū yáng
小弟闻姊来，磨刀霍霍向猪羊。
My younger brother heard his sister was home, he sharpened a knife and was ready to kill the pig and sheep.
kāi wǒ dōng gé mén ，zuò wǒ xī gé chuáng 。
开我东阁门，坐我西阁床。
I was so excited to be home. I opened the door of every room and sat on the bed.
tuō wǒ zhàn shí páo ，zhuó wǒ jiù shí shang
脱我战时袍，着我旧时裳。
I took off my army uniform and put on my old clothes.
dāng chuāng lǐ yún bìn ，duì jìng tiē huā huáng
当窗理云鬓，对镜帖花黄。
I dressed up my hair in front of the mirror close to a window, I applied makeup on my face.
chū mén kàn huǒ bàn ，huǒ bàn jiē jīng máng
出门看火伴，火伴皆惊忙。
I went out to visit my army fellows. They were all surprised.
tóng háng shí èr nián ，bú zhī mù lán shì nǚ láng
同行十二年，不知木兰是女郎。
Stayed together for twelve years, they didn’t recognize Mulan was a woman.
xióng tù jiǎo pū shuò ，cí tù yǎn mí lí
雄兔脚扑朔，雌兔眼迷离。
A male rabbit’s feet moved around, a female rabbit’s eyes often half open.
liǎng tù bàng dì zǒu ，ān néng biàn wǒ shì xióng cí
两兔傍地走，安能辨我是雄雌。
If a male and female two rabbits walked on the ground, how can you tell I am the male or female one.
Now we learned the whole poem. When you watch a movie about Mulan, I am sure you will have a better idea about the real Mulan’s story.
By the way, Mulan’s full name is: 花木兰 ( huā mù lán ). 花 is her last name. Some said her last name should be: 魏 ( wèi ).
Based on some documents, Mulan committed suicide when the King planned to take her into the royal palace.
Now let’s read this poem one more time.
唧唧复唧唧，木兰当户织。不闻机杼声，惟闻女叹息。
问女何所思，问女何所忆。女亦无所思，女亦无所忆。
昨夜见军帖，可汗大点兵，军书十二卷，卷卷有爷名。
阿爷无大儿，木兰无长兄，愿为市鞍马，从此替爷征。
东市买骏马，西市买鞍鞯，南市买辔头，北市买长鞭。
旦辞爷娘去，暮宿黄河边，
不闻爷娘唤女声，但闻黄河流水鸣溅溅。
旦辞黄河去，暮至黑山头，
不闻爷娘唤女声，但闻燕山胡骑鸣啾啾。
万里赴戎机，关山度若飞。朔气传金柝，寒光照铁衣。
将军百战死，壮士十年归。归来见天子，天子坐明堂。
策勋十二转，赏赐百千强。
可汗问所欲，木兰不用尚书郎，愿驰千里足，送儿还故乡。
爷娘闻女来，出郭相扶将；阿姊闻妹来，当户理红妆；
小弟闻姊来，磨刀霍霍向猪羊。
开我东阁门，坐我西阁床，脱我战时袍，著我旧时裳。
当窗理云鬓，对镜贴花黄。
出门看火伴，火伴皆惊忙。
同行十二年，不知木兰是女郎。
雄兔脚扑朔，雌兔眼迷离。
双兔傍地走，安能辨我是雄雌？
As we know, many musicians created a song inspired by Mulan’s story. Let’s listen to a song by 戴蕙心 ( dài huì xīn ).
Just let you know, the song lyric is mostly based on the poem but it changed the order sometimes.
Check it out yourself to see if you can catch up the lyric. Enjoy your learning.