Shan Yu: Real?

MokiHunter · **Posted:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:56 pm

Well, I was in school today, in Geography Bee, a special group dedicated to learning the geographical/historical world as much as possible, and I learned something very interesting. Anyone remember Shan Yu, the villian from the first Mulan movie? Remember they were referred to as the Huns?

~~

Turns out, there was a real life 'Shan Yu', or some form of him anyway. His name was Attila the Hun. Now while the Shan Yu from Mulan died by the hands of fireworks, the real, Attila the Hun, died by choking on his own blood the night he was to be wed to his future wife: IIdico.

Isn't that neat? While some of us already knew the Huns existed, I know not everyone (including myself) ever knew Shan Yu was based on a real subject. You learn something new everyday, I guess!

Brit the Magnificent · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:32 pm

Very interesting! I also didn't know Shan Yu's character was based on a real person (although, I find it very easy to believe as Mulan is said to be based on a real person as well).

I did know the Huns existed and in different regions of China the legend's "bad guys" change as well as Mulan's name and background information. I found that interesting as well.

Thanks for the great input!

Pirate480 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 8:20 pm

Very good.no doubt Attila The Hun has influenced Shanyu's appearance and character, but attila attacked the eastern and western roman empires,never china.however there was a similar ruler who actually did wage war against china named modu Chanyu(second name sound familiar?) of the Xiongu.
It is not known if there is any connections between the xiongu and the Huns under Attila,but there is evidence that says that the xiongu migrated west and european historians often talked of the Huns coming out east so they might possibly even be the same people.
Anyway while Modu never conquered china,he was mutliple military campaigns against the surrounding peoples and gaining a fairly large empire.

MokiHunter · **Posted:** Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:23 pm

Brit: I'm glad someone found it interesting! ^^

Pirate: Oh, really? I didn't know about that. Wow! Cool!

Simba_Harry123 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 17, 2011 8:51 pm **Posts:** 91

Moki Hunter wrote:

Brit: I'm glad someone found it interesting! ^^

Pirate: Oh, really? I didn't know about that. Wow! Cool!

Lol! That's so funny!

alfredalfred · **Joined:** Sat May 14, 2016 1:49 am

I did know the Huns existed and in different regions of China the legend's "bad guys" change as well as Mulan's name and background information. I found that interesting as well????

MokiHunter · **Posted:** Sat May 14, 2016 2:06 pm

Please don't post on a topic that's been dead for over five years...

Eli Sage · **Joined:** Thu Jun 29, 2017 2:01 pm

I'm pretty sure his name was Hashana Khan from the Yu tribe. A Shanyu or Chan Yu is the chief of this tribe or ethnic group. He was a lord or king. When the Yu and On (Hun) tribes united, Mongolia was able to take over all of China. Mulan ultimately could not save her country.

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Shan Yu: Real?

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