Feudal China

There are many different fantasy worlds that a lot of people instantly think of, such as the classic worlds of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. The problem with these though is that so many people talk about them all the time and often overlook all the other wonderful fantasy worlds that exist and are being created all the time. The best fantasy worlds have a nice touch of realism and mix in some authentic and rich culture.

For example, the best fantasy world that can be currently explored is from the live-action remake of Disney’s classic movie, Mulan. A lot of people were not happy with the movie because of how different it is from the original, but a lot of people also appreciate the more realistic take on the story. The movie is based on a real story of an ancient Chinese warrior, so people respected the tribute and respect shown to the story.

Yes, there are still some things that were shown that many people would say are not realistic, but there are people out there that would disagree because of their culture. Everything that was shown is taken from what the Chinese believed during that time frame. There are many reports of sightings of phoenixes and people who could use mystic powers to do the unbelievable.

Phoenixes are the one thing in this fantasy world that needs to be changed. The creators of the movie mixed up Western culture with Chinese culture and portrayed the phoenix wrong. It is Western culture that believes the phoenix is a sign of rebirth and eternal life. The Chinese only believe the phoenix is a sign of power and royal authority. It is often the symbol used to represent the empress while a dragon represents the emperor.

Throughout the movie, there are plenty of spots where chi, the mystic power, is shown, but it is not enough to make it seem unrealistic. The main part that helps make this world a fantasy one is the fact that Xianniang, the main villainess, can change into a hawk or have hawk features at certain times.

Otherwise, all that is not considered normal is the fact that some can move in ways that are not considered normal. By this, it means they can run on the walls and move much quicker than normal.

As for the realistic aspects, there are plenty of them. The main story is based on a Chinese story called the Ballad of Mulan. This story was created during the Northern Wei Dynasty, which is the setting this movie uses. During this time, there were bad conflicts between the Han state, which was located near central China, and the Hun invaders. The Hun invaders were nomadic people always looking for the next area to take over and deplete its natural resources.

The building in which Mulan lives with her family is known as the Hakka Earthen Building. They were made as a form of protection for the village by keeping them all close, and it was a common sight in areas of China that were used for farming. This is because one smaller building allowed for more land for farming.

The makeup that Mulan is forced to wear when she goes to meet the matchmaker is not something that was commonly worn during the time frame and not in the style shown in the movie. The movie put a Chinese company's logo on her forehead, probably unintentionally. That style of makeup wasn't usually worn until the Northern and Southern Dynasties, lasting until the Tang Dynasty.

When it comes to the tradition of the matchmaker, what is shown in the movie is not completely accurate though not completely false. Marriages in feudal China were always arranged by the parents. In large families, an older, experienced woman is given the honor of being the matchmaker. For small farm villages, it would be a respectable woman within the village.

Many things had to be considered when it came to making the perfect match, which isn't touched on in the movie. This is a missed opportunity to show the rich culture and beliefs. To make a good match, the matchmaker compares each family background, the wealth of each family, the couple's zodiac signs, and even their date of birth.

Even though there were some opportunities missed when this fantasy world was created, there is still plenty to enjoy. With the amount of realism shown in this film and the small dashes of fantasy, this is by far one of the best worlds a person could get lost in.