Abstract：Taking the Disney movie Mulan I and the Chinese Yuefu poem the Ballad of Mulan as research targets, this thesis will mainly analyze and illustrate three main characters in the movie, i.e. Mulan, Mushu, the emperor, especially their appearance, personalities and symbolization in the view of the producer whose opinion reflects the general western idea. And, as their counterparts, the appearance and personalities of Mulan, the dragon and the emperor in Chinese traditional culture are included in this thesis, as well. By comparing and contrasting in this thesis, I hope I can help the readers understand the cultural differences between Chinese and western cultures, and the meaning of cultural “otherness” in order to treat the works of arts from different cultural perspectives more objectively.

Key words: Mulan Mushu emperor eastern and western culture

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Introduction-1

Chapter 1 Mulan—the Woman Image Understood in Different Cultural Backgrounds-3

1.1-Different Appearance-3

1.1.1-Facial Features-3

1.1.2-Different Styles of the Apparel-4

1.2-Different Values-5

1.3-Supportive Philosophy-6

1.3.1-Confucian Philosophy in the Ballad of Mulan.-6

1.3.2-Individualism and Feminism in the Movie-7

Chapter 2 Mushu—Different Understanding for a Totem-8

2.1-Different Appearance-9

2.2-Different Values-10

2.3-Supportive Philosophy-11

Chapter 3 Emperor—Two Different Expectation for the Country Leader-12

3.1-Different Appearance-12

3.2-Different Values-13

3.3-Supportive Philosophy-14

Conclusion-15

Notes-16

Bibliography-17

Acknowledgements-17