Statue of Hua Mulan (386 - 436) in the Chinese Cardens, Singapore. She is a heroine who joined an all-male army described in a famous Chinese poem known as the Ballad of Mulan. The poem was first written in the Musical Records of Old and New from the 6th century, the century before the founding of the Tang Dynasty. The original work no longer exists, and the original text comes from another work known as the Music Bureau Collection, an anthology of lyrics, songs, and poems, compiled by Guo Maoqian during the 12th century. Its not known whether she was a historical person or literary character.