The Translation, Appropriation, and Adaptation of the Mulan Legend in America

木兰传说作为中华文化的代表性元素，在美国赢得了广泛的传播。通过追溯木兰传说在美国的传播轨迹，可以探寻中华文化国际传播的有效路径。木兰传说在美国的传播经历了三个主要阶段：首先是《木兰诗》的文学译介，标志着木兰传说跨文化传播的起步；其次是挪用阶段，其中汤亭亭、林语堂、赛珍珠等作家对木兰故事进行了创新性的借用与再创作，显著促进了木兰传说在美国的传播与接受；最后是衍生阶段，木兰形象被融入新的美国文化产品，展现了其跨文化的生命力与影响力。三个阶段的传播对木兰传说的国际传播发挥了促进作用，也为中华文化在国际舞台上有效传播提供了宝贵的启示与策略。As a representative of Chinese culture, the Mulan legend has achieved widespread dissemination in America. This study explores effective pathways for the international transmission of Chinese culture by tracing the dissemination trajectory of the Mulan legend in America, which consists of three primary stages. Firstly, the stage of Literary Translation: The initial phase of cross-cultural dissemination began with the translation of The Ballad of Mulan into English, introducing the legend to Western readers. Secondly, the stage of Narrative Appropriation: During this stage, writers such as Maxine Hong Kingston, Lin Yutang, and Pearl S. Buck creatively borrowed and reimagined the Mulan story, significantly enhancing its visibility and acceptance in American literature. Thirdly, Cultural Adaptation: In the final phase, Mulan’s character was integrated into new American cultural products, demonstrating the enduring cross-cultural vitality and influence the Mulan legend. These three stages collectively propelled the global reach of the Mulan legend, offering valuable insights and strategies for the effective international dissemination of Chinese cultural narratives.