Consider this stream of questions:

1. Have you seen the Disney movie Mulan? 

2. Do you remember the powerful and ruthless Huns, i.e., the main villains of the story championed by their golden-eyed leader, Shan Yu?

3. Do you remember the fact that somehow, one of the only characters who was unfazed by Mulan’s being a woman was the murderous and evil villain of the story? (What are the odds??)

Well, if the answer to all three questions is yes, then I’m here to finally satisfy your insatiable curiosity on the matter by explaining why:

The Huns were actually a real group of people. Their origins are somewhat unknown and debated amongst historians. According to History , “Some scholars believe they originated from the nomadic Xiongnu people who entered the historical record in 318 B.C. and terrorized China during the Qin Dynasty and during the later Han Dynasty.” Some even go as far as to say that they were so egregious that the Great Wall of China was built to help protect against the mighty Xiongnu, though this hasn’t been proven. Other historians, though, believe that they may have origins in Kazakhstan or elsewhere in the central and eastern parts of Asia.

Following their arrival in southeastern Europe near 370 A.D., they continuously conquered territory for almost 70 years. Their defining characteristic lies in their unbelievable military prowess and horsemanship. Their brutal conquests granted them a reputation as “ruthless, indomitable savages”.

You may be thinking, “Okay, that’s cool and all, but what does that have to do with the relationship between two characters in a Disney movie?”. So let’s connect the dots. 

What’s very intriguing about the Huns was the heavy involvement of women in many aspects of their society (including the military!). The Huns uniquely used archery as their main weapon, allowing women to both participate and excel in their military since they could avoid combat reliant on physical strength. And so, it was considered fairly normal to fight alongside women in the Hun army.

The Huns are one of many groups in human history that may not have aligned with traditional views on social organization (in many ways). So learning about them, especially the role women have, helps challenge our preconceived notions that society has and always must be so patriarchal. 

So, all that being said, with Shan Yu being Hun, it’s incredibly unsurprising that this great, formidable foe and equal in battle was a woman; it didn’t faze him, and why would it? And now, after learning a little about the role of women in the Huns, it no longer fazes you either!