Hua Mulan is a legendary woman warrior from the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420–589) of China who was originally described in a ballad known as the Ballad of Mulan . In the ballad, Hua Mulan takes her aged father's place in the army. She was known for practicing martial arts such as Kung Fu and for being skilled with the sword. She fought for twelve years and gained high merit, but she refused any reward and retired to her hometown instead.