古の中国でのこと、北方の異民族が国境を越えて攻め込んできた。これに伴って、皇帝は国中から兵士を集めるため、各家族から必ず一人の男を従軍させるよう命じた。木蘭の家にも召集令状が届いたものの、彼女の家には幼い弟しかおらず、父親は年老いて病気がちであった。「父上を戦場に行かせるわけにはいかないが、皇帝の命令に背くわけにもいかない」と、木蘭は深く思い悩むほかなかった。
In ancient China, northern foreign tribes crossed the border and invaded. Along with this, the Emperor ordered that each family must send one man to serve in the military in order to gather soldiers from across the country. A recruitment notice reached Mulan's family as well, but her family had only a young younger brother, and her father was elderly and prone to illness. "I cannot let my father go to the battlefield, but I also cannot disobey the Emperor's order," Mulan could not help but worry deeply.
悩んだ末に、木蘭は重大な決断を下した。驚くべきことに、彼女は自ら男装して父の代わりに戦場へ行くことを決意したのである。家族は必死に止めたが、「たとえ命を落としてでも、家族を守ってみせる」という彼女の決意は固かった。市場で馬と武器を買い揃えた木蘭は、両親に別れを告げ、軍隊に加わるために故郷を旅立った。彼女の勇気ある行動は、家族への深い愛情にほかならなかった。
After much deliberation, Mulan made a major decision. Surprisingly, she resolved to disguise herself as a man and go to the battlefield in her father's place. Her family desperately tried to stop her, but her determination that "even if I lose my life, I will protect my family" was firm. After buying a horse and weapons at the market, Mulan bid farewell to her parents and traveled from her hometown to join the army. Her courageous action was nothing other than deep affection for her family.
戦場での生活は、女性にとって想像を絶するほど過酷なものであった。しかし木蘭は決して弱音を吐くことなく、厳しい訓練のもとで立派な兵士へと成長していった。十数年にも及ぶ長い戦いを戦い抜く中で、彼女は数々の手柄を立てた。剣術や馬術にかけては右に出る者がおらず、勇敢な指揮官として兵士たちから厚い信頼を得るようになった。戦場において、彼女が女性だとは誰も気づかなかったのである。
Life on the battlefield was unimaginably harsh for a woman. However, Mulan never uttered a single word of weakness and grew into a fine soldier under rigorous training. While fighting through a long war spanning over ten years, she achieved numerous feats. In swordsmanship and horsemanship, she had no equal, and as a brave commander, she gained the deep trust of the soldiers. On the battlefield, no one noticed that she was a woman.
ついに戦争が終わり、勝利を収めた軍隊は都へ凱旋した。皇帝は木蘭の輝かしい功績を称え、高い官職を与えようとした。しかし木蘭は、「私は高い地位など望みません。ただ、一刻も早く故郷へ帰り、家族に会いたいだけなのです」と言って、褒美をすべて断った。そして、皇帝から賜った一頭の素晴らしい馬に乗って、懐かしい家族の待つ家へと急いだのである。
Finally, the war ended, and the victorious army returned in triumph to the capital. The Emperor praised Mulan's brilliant achievements and tried to grant her a high official position. However, Mulan declined all rewards, saying, "I do not desire a high position. I only want to return to my hometown as soon as possible and see my family." Then, riding a magnificent horse granted by the Emperor, she hurried to the home where her dear family was waiting.
故郷に到着した木蘭は、長年着ていた軍服を脱ぎ捨て、本来の美しい女性の姿に戻った。後日、戦友たちが彼女の家を訪ねてきた時、目の前に現れた美しい女性を見た彼らの驚きといったらなかった。「長い間共に戦ってきた勇ましい将軍が、まさか女性だったとは！」誰もが耳を疑った。木蘭の勇敢な物語は、親孝行の鑑として、その後も世代を問わず語り継がれていくこととなったのである。
Upon arriving in her hometown, Mulan shed the military uniform she had worn for many years and returned to her original, beautiful female form. Later, when her comrades-in-arms visited her home, their surprise at seeing the beautiful woman who appeared before them was beyond words. "The brave general we fought alongside for so long was actually a woman!" Everyone doubted their ears. Mulan's courageous story would continue to be passed down through generations as a model of filial piety.