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Appendix
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Appendix: Selected English Translations of the “Ballad of Mulan,” Listed in Chronological Order Martin, W.A.P. (1827–1916). “Mulan, the Maiden Chief.” The Chinese Their Education, Philosophy, and Letters, 316–19. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1881. William Alexander Parsons Martin is probably the first person to introduce the “Ballad” to English readers. His translation was first published in 1881 when he was president of the Tungwen College in Beijing. Martin identifies the poem as “a Chinese ballad of the Liang Dynasty (502–556 A.D.)” with anonymous origin and uncertain date (316). He includes English translation on pages 316 and 318, and the poem in classic Chinese on pages 317 and 319. Martin’s translation appeared again in his 1894 anthology of Chinese poetry, Chinese Legends and Other Poems (Shanghai: Kellly & Walsh, 1894. 1–4). This anthology presents the poem in English translation only, except that poem’s title is printed in both English and classic Chinese. The translator’s introductory note sets the background of the poem: “An officer being disabled, his daughter puts on his armour, and so disguised leads his troops to the conflict. The original is anonymous, and of uncertain date” (1). Later Martin included his translation again in the appendix of his other book, The Siege in Peking: China against the World, and changed the title into “Mulan, a Chinese Joan of Arc” (New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1900. 172–73). According to Martin’s note to the appendix , the “Ballad” and two other poems he includes “throw much light on Chinese life” and are translated and published for the first time in the 196 / appendix United States (171). Then, it was collected in Book III “Legends from Chinese Folklore” in another anthology of Martin’s, Chinese Legends and Lyrics, under the title of “Mulan, the Maiden Chief” (Shanghai: Kelly and Walsh Limited, 1912. 35–37). Martin’s translation “Mulan, the Maiden Chief” is collected in the first volume of the fourteen-volume The World’s Story (Eva March Tappan, ed. The World’s Story: A History of the World in Story, Song, and Art. Vol. 1: China, Japan and the Islands of the Pacific. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1914. 57–59). The editor adds three introductory paragraphs about the historical background of the poem with a particular focus on the chaotic warfare and fast shifting political power in China during that period. Tappan concludes her introduction by stating: “In these times of constant fighting, it happened more than once that a woman held a fort against an invading enemy. Such a warrior was Mulan. This poem was written between 502 and 556 A.D.” (58). Now the reprint in Tappan’s volume is available online through the Modern History Sourcebook http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ mod/556mulan.html. Stanton, W. “Muk Lan’s Parting: A Ballad.” The China Review (Notes and Queries on the Far East) 17 (1888–1889): 171–72. Stanton’s translation appeared in a bimonthly periodical published in Hong Kong. The English translation was printed above the “Ballad” in classic Chinese in each stanza. The brief introduction at the beginning states: “It is not known who wrote this ballad, but some suppose the famous heroine herself wrote it. It is taken from the poetry of the Tang Dynasty” (171). Stanton does not provide any information about the reference to the Tang poetry. Budd, Charles. “Muh-Lan.” Chinese Poems, 124–29. London: Oxford University Press, 1912. Budd’s translation is included in his translated collection of Chinese poems. His “Preface,” written in the Tung Wen Kwan Translation Office in Shanghai, states that many of the translations are “nearly literal, excepting adaptations to meet the exigencies of rhyme and rhythm” and “[a] few notes are given at the end of each poem to explain historical names” (4–5). In this collection, the “Ballad” only appears in English translation. Budd’s brief note dates Mulan to the Liang Dynasty (502–556) without any supporting references. His translation was later reprinted under the title of “The Ballad of Mulan” in Asian-Pacific Folktales and Legends [54.234.143.240] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 15:05 GMT) appendix / 197 (edited by Jeannette Faurot. New York: Touchstone, 1995. 95–98) under the category of “Myths and Legends.” Waley, Arthur. “The Ballad of Mulan.” Chinese Poems: Selected from 170 Chinese Poems, More Translations from the Chinese, The Temple and The Book of Songs, 113–15. London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd., 1946. Waley’s translation is included...