Were really ancient Chinese women as valiant and heroic as what is presented in the film Mulan? Actually, in the Chinese agricultural society that lasted thousands of years, most women were laborers who wore a thorn hairpin and a coarse skirt. Among them was a peasant girl named Xi Shi. She is considered the first of the ancient Chinese beauties. Her story is as thrilling as Mulan’s.

(Edited by Ye Ke)