The Ballad of Mui Guiying




This poem in Ballad form was written at the request of a friend who is a die-hard fan of Mu Guiying.  It was originally written in Chinese and is composed of 36 stanzas of forty words each. The contents were taken from legends and opera scripts mainly and divided into four parts(rolls), describing the various stage of the heroine’s life. There is no mention of her death here or how she passed away.

(Roll One)

When the first emperor of the Song ascended the throne
Confronted was he with the task of bringing long-lasting peace.
The land was ravaged in civil war when the Tang declined
And further wrecked by the succeeding five mini-dynasties.
The generals were king-makers
Coups were frequent as a matter of course
With tactful persuasion, the emperor succeeded to regain control
The people finally could enjoy peace and prosperity.

A hundred years passed by, swift as an arrow in flight
The land once under ominous clouds finally saw daylight
By neglecting the military and showering favor the scholar-elite
Recovering territories to the Kithan was no longer in sight.
Beautiful dancing costumes were the rule of the day
The ultimate splendor in open display
In Bianjing, the capital, a city never slept
Drunk were its citizens in maiden’s charming steps.

The drums of war shook the empire by surprise
A competent general they tried to search in a frenzy drive
All those in court in heads bowed they stood
Without a clue, in silence their shame did hide.
The enemy formation was impossible to break!
To go against it was to court death quick
All of the “Yes”men standing like clowns
Preferring to surrender than getting harmed.

The Son-of-Heaven knitted his brows
In worry and anger he asked what it was about
The Empire boasted a million soldiers
Yet no general ready to show his clout.
The prime minister kowtowed and tried to explain
Once more, the Emperor heard a famous name
It Your Majesty wishes someone victory brings
There is no one else but Mu Guiying,

Aged only sixteen, and a woman at that
She has courage beyond compare
Learned in strategies and arts of war
To reach the stars this girl really dares
The Son-of-Heaven breathed relieved
She was summoned to prove her value in salt.
Beyond all expectations in flying colors she passed
The rank of field marshal conferred before the court

On that stallion white with dots, she flung herself
Across the saddle was an eight-feet lance
Her raven black hair was hidden under a helmet with phoenix wings
The red riding blouse covered with a cuirass of gold
The eyes were sparkling with spirit free
With a shout she signaled with her reins eased
“I vow to defeat the enemy who dared to invade, to show
that our women have more to offer than just a pretty face.”

She retained only the strong and sent off the weak
She knew victory depended not on numbers but how to lead
A legion of three thousand marched as one
Fording the Liao River under a rising sun
She addressed the troops with motivating words
“We will not let our land fall!
We will keep on fighting; we will not turn our backs.
Our aim is either victory, or our deaths!”



The barbarian commander sneered at the puny force
He proudly looked at his formation, sitting on his horse.
Like hungry tigers, his warriors shouted their battle-cries
Three rings were thrown around him; many times the enemy size
Marshal Mui simply smiled as she took everything in
The fatal flaws of her foes exposed to her own lines thin
The key was to attack like water, mobile and fast
Destroying everything which dares stand in its path.

Through a weakness in the enemy lines, she led the attack
Her lance flying as lightning, showering deaths
The enemies fled in terror, their lines disintegrated like ants
Stampeded into pulps, their blood dying the sand.
Warrior were cut down, battle banners seized
The plain covered by heaps of enemy deceased
A link broken, the formation was no more
A barbarian horn calling retreat as the battle was lost.

The defeat soon like a deluge turned
To the north the barbarian commander fled in rout
Order for pursuit was given and the real slaughter began
She drove her sword into the leader of the gang
Over ten thousand heads were taken
The spoils of war heaped to unbelievable heights
Her name was whispered in fear by enemies in the dead of nights.


(Roll Two)

She came back in victory and was wedded into the family of The Yang
Her husband treated her like a treasure and love-songs were sung
In time, she was expecting her first child; a son was born
The clan rejoiced, a descendant making the line strong
Memories were drawn to how she and her husband met
First as enemies, until they built their love-nest.
“My wish is to grow old together” was her prayer
“A life plain and full of happiness for us to share.”

Although so much love, they must frequently part
A man’s role was to follow his heart.
As sub-commander he would have to go to Hongzhou in the north
Holding her tears back, she saw him off.
“Do not throw away your caution in battle, my love.
 Beware of traps and depend not only on luck.”
An embroidered robe she had personally prepared
To shield her husband from snow and icy mountain air.

The lovers were a thousand miles apart
Only through letter could they bare their hearts
She tried to hold back the tears
But the flow of tears would suddenly start.
How she longed to have wings of flight
To go over the mountains and stand to his right
Words ran into thousands but not one could she put down
Too many to be said as she stared without a sound.

The Kithan Army was on the march again in force
The smoke of alarm rising hundred feet tall
Her husband rode back alone for reinforcement
Speeding through the night without a single pause.
“Who could shoulder this heavy burden?”
Asked the Emperor again.
“Only the young wife of the Yang” replied the minister
“Mu Guiying is her name!”

She was appointed commander-in-chief
While her husband only the vanguard led
Furious at his humiliation
He felt a heavy weight on his chest
Out of pride, he attacked without order and lost the fight
The wife was furious at his insubordination,
To ensure discipline, as field marshal she claimed her right.
“I will spare you the death penalty, but you must pay.”
She ordered him caned as punishment for his foolish deed!

As a commander, she could only have her duty done
But behind the curtain, she faced her beloved one.
“When the crane fell,
it hurt me more than you.”
She used her friendly persuasion to win him over
“We are one and inseparable.” She assured him.
The ill-feelings were gone
Together they rode into battle, their love strong.

She ordered to attack in the formation of the crane
Her warriors were like eagles diving into doves
A roll of drums and a mighty shout
The banner of Mu upheld in front of a dazzling sun.
Those who died before the onslaught were too numerous to count
The leader was captured, with a thick rope bound
The siege of Hongzhou ended in victory for the Song
And all the warriors praised the mighty Mu Guiying.

Together husband and wife walked up the golden tiles
In front of the emperor, they knelt and paid homage.
The emperor was delighted and conferred her a marquis rank
But she shared her glory with her warriors
And won the praise of all in court and without
She wanted no rewards of silver and gold
And asked only to be allowed to return to her simple life.

No more responsibility on her shoulders
She returned with her beloved to their home.
No more sounds of war-drums
Only the singing of delightful birds
Inside their chamber they exchanged endearments
Thousands and thousands of vows of lasting love
“To grow old together
Until one day, our grandchildren cluster around our knees.”



(Roll Three)

Those who had won brilliant victories were always at risks
The words of the envious into the ears of the emperor poured.
The founder of the dynasty had warned:
“Beware of those who had the hearts of the army.”
In time, instead of rewarding her,
She was put in chains.
“Traitors will be executed!”
No attempt was made to prove the accusation true or false.

A commander of the army yesterday
A condemned to die today
Her enemies rejoiced; her supporters grieved
The people wailed.
In prison, she gazed at the cold moon
“Who knows the worry of my heart?
I care not if I will live or die
But the land will soon be in peril thrown.”

The jail-keepers were fierce as demons
The long whips cracked the tender skin
An icy shower was followed
By a branding rod.
Needles sticking into her body
The heavy carnage weighed her down
Yet her spirit remained unbroken
Like a plum-flow in snow, its scent became more intene.

At night, she was forced to lie on a bed with sharp pikes
Unable to move, her heart seemed to be on fire.
She was not afraid of the decapitation announced
But a final farewell was such heart-breaking
She could no longer see her little ones
And for this her tears began to flood
“I have to die soon, my love
I cannot keep our promise to grown old together.”

In the west market at noon
The executioner was ready
She was dressed in white, pure as snow.
Her head would soon fly.
The watchers wept and her family members moaned
“My loyalty is as true at the sun and the moon
They will prove my innocence.”

A messenger came galloping
And the carnage was taken off on the spot
The Kithan Army had captured three citadels
The border was crumpling like ash.
She was made field marshal again
The emperor declared his doubt dissolved.
“When you come back victorious,
I will drink in your honor and you will share my cup.”

To defend the empire, she cared not for the injustice endured
The prisoner’s garb was exchanged for a suit of armor
She rode into blinding wind and snow
Not a word was spoken to right the wrongs she suffered.
She lined up her troops in front of a river,
“No retreat!  Fight or die!”And her warrior became tigers!
The enemy commander’s head was impaled on the lance
And the victorious army returned to the capital.

The emperor heard of the great news
Now he understood she was a most loyal subject
He sent all those slandering against her into exile
And showered rewards on her for what she did.
“I wish no great honor, Your Majesty.
I prefer to return to my home.”
She was a true patriot
No wealth could ever buy her dignity.

She took off her armor and shelved her sword
Living a simple life was all she wanted
Not to bathe in the glory she had won.
In the spring rain, she would compose a poem
In fall, she would play the harp
She craved for no name mentioned in history
And wished only to be left alone so that she could read.


(Roll Four)

Sixteen years had passed after she was married
Two lovely children, a son and a daughter were born
She was filial to her elders
Even tended to their meals personally.
She taught the younger ones her martial arts
Nothing keeping anything back
She supported her husband who had become an area commander
Though she had to endure loneness when they were leagues apart.

In the middle of the night, the pearl-curtains swayed
Yet there was no wind.
She felt unease at this
Sitting up she faced a misty moon.
Three years her beloved had gone to fight in the west
She wondered when he would return to her
She was not that concerned with the passing of youth
But feared the unknown bringing despair.

During the feast of celebration for her great mother-in-law, the news came
And there was much wailing in the house.
Her husband, Zong-bao in a battle fell.
And she was to see him no more
In grief, she petitioned to lead an army west
Her young son volunteered to go along to have his father avenged
The Yan family had lost nearly all its male heirs
Yet they were not afraid of making sacrifice for the land!

She opened her chest and took out her old armor
The blade of her sword reflected her looks.
She was as beautiful as in the days of old
Yet her heart was made hollow by the cruel fate.
The blanket they had shared would never became warm
Her brows would always carry sadness
To avenge for her beloved and those who fell with him
A hibiscus with iron will was born.

She rode non-stop
Towards the Wolf-Hills day and night
Making no stop for shelter from the wind and rain
Nor was she afraid of the blinding snow.
Her banners shielded the sun
The long bows resembling the curve of the rising moon
“If I cannot have the head of the leader of the enemy,
I vow never to return!”

She made a scouting trip up the Wolf-Hills.
In order to find a way to defeat the numerous foes
The difficult terrain was never insurmountable,
To win, she must slay the leader of the pack fast.
She thought out her method on a cliff
Taking the gravest risks, she charged down the near-vertical slope
The enemy was taken by total surprise
And the leader of the Qiang army was slain.

A hearse carried the bones of her beloved
She was dressed in white to show her sorrow.
Her body was as if weightless, shaking
Her heart was pierced by a thousand pins.
The lovers forever parted by the River of Death
The old dreams would come no more
Yet another widow made for the Yang family
The front of her clothes damped thorough by her tears.

The Emperor spared no expense to comfort her
But nothing could compensate what she had lost
The moon above the mansion rose as in the past
Yet who was to share with her the pretty sight?
She only wished there would be no more wars
Never would she had to dust her saddle again
The wind blew and the bamboo outside shook
A lonely shadow leaned against the railing and sobbed.

(End of Poem)