Mulan (1998)

"What is a Calling?"

If you're anything like me, the 1998 animated film Mulan unlocks a tidal wave of nostalgia—catchy songs like "I'll Make a Man Out of You," the hilarious Matchmaker scene, and of course, Eddie Murphy as Mushu the tiny dragon. But beyond the memories, Mulan resonates on a deeper level. It's a story about someone who doesn't wait to be chosen, but chooses for themselves; and in doing so, redefines what it means to be called. At its core, Mulan asks: What is a calling—and how do you know when it's yours?

We tend to think of "calling" as a grand moment—when the heavens open and the path is made clear. But in reality, callings are often messy. They appear as problems and disrupt comfort. Callings demand action, even when no one else is watching.

Honor To Us All

Mulan is set in ancient China, during the Han Dynasty, when the country is preparing for war. The Emperor calls for one man from every family to join the army against the invading Huns. One thing I have always appreciated about this movie is that it doesn't shy away from real-world realities and pressures. Right from the beginning, we are met with war, family expectations, and patriarchy. 

In Mulan's family, that "one man" is her aging, injured veteran father, who uses a cane. His decision to answer the draft is framed as honorable. The cultural concept of "honor" plays a significant role in this movie, particularly in its exploration of callings. In many Western cultures, honor is viewed as scarce and encompasses respect, integrity, and adherence to social norms and obligations. Honor has become somewhat of a Westernized idea of the East in pop culture. According to the UN Refugee Agency, there is no Chinese virtue for "honor." Still, Mulan's father's decision is most likely driven by what many Eastern cultures call "face"—the social need to maintain appearances, rather than acknowledge the reality of a situation. Mulan finds her calling here. It isn't mystical. It's circumstantial. Her father will die if he goes to war, and no one else in her family can serve. So, she decides to go in his place, disguised as a man.

True To Your Heart

To follow this call, Mulan must become someone she's not. She binds her chest, cuts her hair, and pretends to be a boy to survive military life and protect her secret. It's painfully relevant because for many, especially in minority or marginalized communities, this is reality. This is code-switching, assimilating, and pretending to belong in a system that was never designed for you. Mulan's journey compels her to conceal her true self to fulfill a need. When she's found out, her identity overshadows her accomplishments. She saved lives and outsmarted the enemy. But all they see is "a woman."

This is the heart of the tension so many feel today:

"Do I belong here?"

"Will I still be accepted if they knew who I really was?"

We don't resist calling out of complacency, but rather because the cost is something with immense stakes. It may mean going against family expectations, social norms, or the image we've worked hard to maintain. It may require disobedience to systems that pretend to keep us safe, but really keep us small. That's what makes Mulan's story so powerful: She doesn't wait to be validated. She sees the need, and she answers anyway, risking being misunderstood. She breaks the mold—literally and culturally redefining what it means to have honor.

Mulan’s Decision

Callings don't always look like burning bushes or perfect clarity. In fact, we did a 2024 Lenten study on the callings stories of the Prophets here. What those Bible stories and Mulan both reveal is that calling looks like a crisis. Sometimes callings look like your father being drafted.

Sometimes it looks like a broken system.

Sometimes, it can even appear like a failure at the Matchmaker's house, leading to a redirection of purpose.

Calling comes dressed as disruption. It arrives in ordinary moments, and they often require you to act before you feel ready. But like Mulan, the calling you step into might be the salvation that sets others free—and reveals who you really are in the process.

Useful Information on Chinese Culture and Basic Chinese Phrases. UNHCR The Refugee Agency. (n.d.). https://help.unhcr.org/china/asylum/rights/useful-information-on-chinese-culture-and-basic-chinese-phrases/#:~:text=Respect%20for%20Elders:%20Chinese%20culture,be%20helpful%20for%20daily%20interactions.