The 3 Kingdoms and the Huns

[whitewater]

ok, so I was watching Mulan the other day, and I started wondering about the time period. I believe it is set sometime in the vicinity of the Three Kingdoms period - at least, that's what my history teacher told me - but I googled the Three Kingdoms and found nothing about a Hun invasion at that time. I know that there are definitely some established historical inaccuracies in that movie (e.g. the fireworks and cannons - gunpowder didn't come until a few dynasties later) but is there a sort of ballpark figure as to the time period of the movie? I just like to connect different cultures throughout history; like, "Who was Emperor of Rome during the heyday of the Mayans?" or "What African dynasty was in power when the Tain was written?" random stuff like that.

Yes, I know it's just a movie, and that the filmmakers may not have given any thought to Chinese history when they made it, and I know this post itself is sort of pointless, but it's just really bothering me... :whatmewor

[whitewater]

ok, guys. I'm noticing a lot of views, and no actual replies. This is either because no one actually knows the answer to my question (which is understandable), or because most people are under the impression that this thread is very silly, because it concerns a Disney movie, and they are sniggling at me behind their keyboards. I do not blame them. Therefore, if this thread continues to sink down to the bottom of the queue, as it seems to be doing now, then I'll just go research it myself - that is, if there is anything to be researched. I was just hoping, since these days I don't have time to research things for fun, that I could just take the easier road.

Lesson learned: My idiosyncratic OCD's will probably not interest anyone else, and I should therefore keep them to myself.

I suppose I also may want to look into getting a life.

[Crystal Willowtree]

I find it an interesting question, but I'm afraid I do not know the answer _inabox_

[whitewater]

Yeah...it's difficult to say, I know. It's just really bothering me for some reason. I dunno...maybe I ought to turn to some other area of interest. Like snooker. Or making salt water taffy. Or studying scarlet tanagers. Or the Jonas Brothers. <---- :lol:

Oh, and just a warning: spell salt water as two words, like I just did, because if you try to spell it as one, it changes it to saltkittyer, and I think I know why. Observe:

salt water -------------> sal[t wat]er

see it? :hehehehe:

[omar]

The Huns invaded Europe in 402 AD. Some of my kinfolk. Hun means "bear".

[Avanti]

The story of Mu Lan didn't originate during the three kingdoms period. I believe the ballad first originated during the Northern Wei Dynasty( AD 386-534) that came after the period of the three kingdoms (AD 220-280)

Attila the Hun is most renowned for his invasion of the West (AD 406 – 453). There is some speculation that they descended from the Xiongnu tribes that was a threat to China even before the time of Emperor Qin Shi and prompted him to build parts of the great wall. So when they say Hun in the movie, it's probably a reference to the earlier Xiongnu tribes. Being Disney, they probably thought Xiongnu was too chinese to pronounce.

I can't remember what name they used for the mandarin dubbed version...I think they used Xiongnu.

[whitewater]

a - HA!!!!!!------------> http://www.chinapage.com/mulan.html
This is the Ballad of Mulan.

http://www.woa.tv/articles/hi_mulanh.html
According to this website, the story was set around 300-400 CE, and may or may not have been based on a real woman who lived in the 3rd century CE.

whew. that saves me a headache.

Avanti: Thanks for the information. Before I found those two links, I nearly googled myself to death in an attempt to pinpoint the time period myself, using your information as a starting point. I wasn't successful at first, but I enjoyed it because I learned a lot of stuff about the Xiongnu that was fun to read about (apparently they practiced a religion called Tengriism. Look it up; it's neat). So now I have a whole bunch of other topics that I want to research if I have time!

[Avanti]

a - HA!!!!!!------------> http://www.chinapage.com/mulan.html
This is the Ballad of Mulan.

http://www.woa.tv/articles/hi_mulanh.html
According to this website, the story was set around 300-400 CE, and may or may not have been based on a real woman who lived in the 3rd century CE.

whew. that saves me a headache.

Avanti: Thanks for the information. Before I found those two links, I nearly googled myself to death in an attempt to pinpoint the time period myself, using your information as a starting point. I wasn't successful at first, but I enjoyed it because I learned a lot of stuff about the Xiongnu that was fun to read about (apparently they practiced a religion called Tengriism. Look it up; it's neat). So now I have a whole bunch of other topics that I want to research if I have time!


I got all my info from wikipedia. I should have just linked them for you but there were quite a few.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hua_Mulan- this one has the ballad and translation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Wei-Northern Wei

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Kingdoms-3 kingdoms period

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulan-If you look under Plot, they say "White Huns" in the first sentence and click on that and it talks about the xiongnu etc.

[Louisvillian]

Interestingly, the name the "Hun" leader in the film, Shan Yu, is the same as the title of the supposed Turkic kings of the Xiongnu tribes. As said, the filmmakers probably decided to use "Hun" so the audience will have some kind of an idea of what they were talking about.

[whitewater]

Interestingly, the name the "Hun" leader in the film, Shan Yu, is the same as the title of the supposed Turkic kings of the Xiongnu tribes.

yeah, I read that! I have added that to my list of factoids that I use when I want to impress people with my witty erudition. :hehehehe:

[omar]

The Huns came from the Hungi River in Mongolia. Bear River. As they moved east towards Europe they conqured everything in there path. Including the Turks. So the Turkish ruler was a Hun. They started there migration about 370 BC arrived in Europe about 402 AD. Attila & Bleda his brother was joint rulers from 434 - 444 when Attila had Bleda murdered. Attila died 454. Strangeled on wine while sleeping of a drunk with his new bride. Some believe he was poisoned? There capitol was on the Danube River in eastern Hungary.