Hua Mulan is a legendary folk heroine from the 4th to 6th century AD of Chinese history, known as the Northern and Southern dynasties. He provides many fantastic Mulan tattoo ideas for ink lovers.
Most tattoo ideas featuring Mulan–and often her wisecracking red dragon companion Mushu–come from the original Disney animated film of 1998.
According to traditional Chinese folklore, Mulan took her aged father’s place in the conscription for the army by disguising herself as a man, as women were not allowed to be warriors in the army.
The animated Mulan featured lush visual imagery and the traditional morally gleaming tale of a ‘princess’ conquering adversity through bravery, wit, and compassion.
Mulan fought as a warrior to save her homeland from raiders, but at the risk of exposure as a woman. While there is conjecture if she is real, Mulan is a popular inspirational tale.
The animated Mulan film offers plenty for tattoo collectors to draw on as inspiration or for aspiring tattoo artists to add to their own portfolio. The following collection of top 23 Mulan tattoo ideas draws on a range of application styles and placements as inspiration.
1. Mulan Tattoos for the Arm
2. Mulan Tattoo Designs Featuring Cherry Blossoms
4. Tattoo Ideas for the Leg
5. Mushu Tattoo Ideas
6. Creative Designs
7. Watercolor Mulan Tattoo Art
What do Mulan tattoos symbolize?
Mulan tattoos are often used as a symbol of bravery, strength, and individuality by tattoo collectors that grew up enjoying the 1998 Disney animated film.
Mulan’s stunning visuals, the brilliant main character, and its message of female empowerment and bravery are universal themes that can be incorporated into great Disney-themed tattoo art.
Who was the real Mulan?
Hua Mulan is a legendary folk heroine from the 4th to 6th century AD of Chinese history, known as the Northern and Southern dynasties. There is conjecture whether she was a real person.
According to traditional Chinese folklore–which forms the basis of the two Disney films–the 1998 animated version, and the far less popular 2020 live-action version, Mulan took her aged father’s place in the conscription for the army by disguising herself as a man and fighting against the enemies of her homeland
While there are also a range of Chinese language films and literature about Mulan–Zhao Wei stars in the 2009 Mandarin version, which is my favorite–most tattoo ideas come from the lush, 1998 Disney animated film
Who is the dragon in Mulan tattoo art?
In the 1998 Disney version of Mulan, her best friend and advisor is the wisecracking red dragon, Mushu.
Superstar Eddie Murphy voiced the dragon, who had many of the best and most memorable lines (much like in another animated classic, Shrek).
Consequently, many youngsters that grew up to get Mulan-themed body art have chosen to get Mushu or larger designs that incorporate the dragon into pieces with the titular character.
How much do Mulan tattoos cost?
Mulan tattoo art comes in a variety of styles, and therefore a variety of price points.
The most popular are Disney-style animation color pieces, which can cost in excess of $150 per hour if done by an experienced professional.
Cool, innovative black ink, or classically traditional black and gray pieces, may be similar in size to the vibrant color images, but often cost a lot less because they take less time.
If aiming for a complex specialist piece, a rock star tattoo artist can have extensive wait times and cost in excess of $200 per hour.