1 The sound of creaking.

唧唧复唧唧，
Mùlán sat at home weaving, 木兰当户织。
but the loom’s resonant sound could not be 不闻机抒声，
heard 唯闻女叹息。
over the girl’s sighs. Jījī fù jījī;
Mùlán dànghù zhī.
Bù wén jī shū shēng;
wéi wén nǚ tànxī.
2 Asked what thoughts and memories 问女何所思，
led to this, she said, 问女何所忆?
“A girl should have no thoughts 「女亦无所思，
or memories. 女亦无所忆。
Wèn nǚ hé suǒ sī;
wèn nǚ hé suǒ yì?
“Nǚ yì wú suǒ sī;
nǚ yì wú suǒ yì.
3 But last night I saw the call to arms; 昨夜见军帖，
the khan is calling up soldiers. 可汗大点兵，
There were twelve scrolls of names, 军书十二卷，
and each included Father’s name. 卷卷有爷名。
Zuóyè jiàn jūntiě;
Kèhàn dà diǎn bīng;
jūnshū shí'èr juàn;
quánquán yǒu yé míng.
4 But Father has no son, 阿爷无大儿，
and I have no big brother. 木兰无长兄，
I want to go to buy a saddle and horse 愿为市鞍马，
and serve in Father’s place.” 从此替爷征。」
Āyé wú dà ér;
Mùlán wú zhǎngxiōng;
yuàn wéi shì ān mǎ;
cóng cǐ tì yé zhēng.”

5 In the east market she bought a steed, 东市买骏马， 西市买鞍鞯， 南市买辔头， 北市买
and in the west market a saddle; 长鞭。
in the south market she bought a bridle, Dōng shì mǎi jùnmǎ;
and in the north market she bought a whip. xī shì mǎi ānjiān;
nán shì mǎi pèitóu;
běishì mǎi cháng biān.

6 In the morning she took leave of her parents 朝辞爷娘去，

and went to camp beside the Yellow River. 暮宿黄河边。
She no longer heard parent’s calling to her; 不闻爷娘唤女声，
by evening she heard only splashing of the 但闻黄河流水鸣溅溅。
 river. Zhāo cí yéniáng qù;
mù sù Huánghé biān.
bùwén yéniáng huàn nǚshēng;
dàn wén Huánghé liúshuǐ míng
jiānjiān.
7 The following morning she left the Yellow 旦辞黄河去，
River 暮至黑山头。
and by sunset had reached Black Mountain. 不闻爷娘唤女声，
She no longer heard her parents calling to 但闻燕山胡骑鸣啾啾。
her; Dàn cí Huánghé qù;
by evening she heard only the neighing of mù zhì Hēishān tóu.
the horses of the barbarians at Mount Yān. bùwén yéniáng huàn nǚshēng;
dàn wén Yānshān hú qí míng jiūjiū.
8 She traveled ten thousand miles to do battle, 万里赴戎机，
and traversed mountain passes as though 关山度若飞，
flying; 朔气传金柝，
the night air moved the watchman’s rattle; 寒光照铁衣。
the cold light glinted on her armor. Wàn lǐ fù róngjī;
guānshān dù ruò fēi;
shuò qì chuán jīntuò;
hán guāng zhào tiěyī.
9 A hundred generals died in battle; 将军百战死，
in ten years she returned as a great warrior. 壮士十年归。
On returning she met the emperor 归来见天子，
seated in his bright palace. 天子坐明堂。
jiāngjūn bǎi zhànsǐ;
zhuàngshì shí nián guī.
guīlái jiàntiān zi;
tiānzǐ zuò míngtáng.
10 He praised her expansively 策勋十二转，
and gave her extravagant gifts. 赏赐百千强。
The Khan asked what she wanted. 可汗问所欲，
She replied, “I have no use for honors or 「木兰不用尚书郎，
servants; 愿借明驼千里足，
I would only borrow a swift camel 送儿还故乡。」
to take me back home.” Cèxūn shí'èr zhuǎn;
shǎngcì bǎi qiān jiàng.
Kèhàn wèn suǒ yù,
“Mùlán bù yòng Shàngshū láng;
yuàn jiè míngtuó qiān lǐ zú;
sòng ér huán gùxiāng.”
11 When her parents heard that their daughter 爷娘闻女来，
had returned, 出郭相扶将。
they went out to the village gate to welcome 阿姊闻妹来，
 her back. 当户理红妆。
When her younger sister heard that she had Yéniáng wén nǚ lái;
returned, chū guō xiāngfú jiāng.
she stayed inside to put dress herself up. Āzǐ wén mèi lái;
dànghù lǐ hóngzhuāng.
12 When her little brother heard that his sister 小弟闻姊来，
had returned, 磨刀霍霍向猪羊。
he sharpened a cleaver to slaughter a pig 开我东阁门，
and a goat for a feast. 坐我西阁床。
She opened the door on the east side of her Xiǎodì wén zǐ lái;
room, mó dāo huòhuò xiàng zhū yáng.
and sat on her bed on the west side. Kāi wǒ dōng gé mén;
zuò wǒ xī gé chuáng.
13 She removed her war clothing and 脱我战时袍，
donned the dress she had worn of old. 著我旧时裳。
Looking out her window she tied up her 当窗理云鬓，
hair, and 对镜贴花黄。
looking in her mirror she placed a yellow Tuō wǒ zhànshí páo;
flower in her hair. zhù wǒ jiùshí cháng.
Dāng chuāng lǐ yúnbìn;
duì jìng tiē huā huáng.

14 She went out to see her companions; 出门看伙伴，

the companions were astonished. 伙伴皆惊惶。
Comrades for twelve years, they 同行十二年，
did not know Mùlán was a woman. 不知木兰是女郎。
Chū mén kàn huǒbàn;
huǒbàn jiē jīnghuáng.
Tóngháng shí'èr nián;
bù zhī Mùlán shì nǚláng.
15 Mùlán said, “The male rabbit normally hops 「雄兔脚扑朔，
and runs, 雌兔眼迷离。
while the female sits and stares. 双兔傍地走，
But both flee fast when danger threatens. 安能辨我是雄雌? 」
How can one tell whether they are male or “Xióng tù jiǎo pū shuò;
female then?” cí tù yǎn mílí.
Shuāng tù bàng dì zǒu;
ān néng biàn wǒ shì xióng cí?”