By the headline of this article, you can probably guess what I am going to talk about: my hatred for Li Shang from the Disney movie “Mulan.” This guy sucks. The only thing he was good at was being a general. The world’s worst husband award goes to this guy.
I don’t remember the first time I watched “Mulan”; I was too little and too naive, but I do remember Li Shang being glamorized. My little self was brainwashed. I thought Li Shang was such a great guy. I loved the song “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” I jammed out to it every time. But now that I am older and more aware of toxic masculinity and about men in general, I’ve come to the conclusion that I never want a man like Li Shang.
When I was young, I had mixed feelings about Disney’s “Mulan.” My people, the Mongols/Huns, were portrayed as villains and killers. But Mulan was pretty much the only East Asian representation, so I felt I had to like the movie. I love Mulan; she is a strong Asian woman. But also, like, she killed my uncle, to be honest.
But Li Shang is worse.
For background, in the movie, Mulan joins the army undercover as a dude to go to war against the Huns in place of her father. There, she becomes one of the top soldiers but is caught and kicked out. She is near the palace and sees the Huns in disguise and warns Li Shang, but he ignores her out of spite. So, I was like, okay, whatever, this guy is just mad, I guess. But no, this dude straight up would not listen.
He’s the general of the Chinese army, and a whole kingdom’s safety is in his hands. He won’t listen to her when she is helping him do his job to keep the emperor safe. Mulan was better than any other soldier in that army! I understand he felt betrayed, but oh my gosh, get over yourself and stop being immature.
Oh, and do not get me started on the sequel. In the second movie, Li Shang and Mulan get together, and they are given a mission to take the princesses to be wedded to some random princes. Mulan and Shang fight a bunch, and Shang accuses her of a bunch of things that she did not do. He bagged such a woman, and he was so insecure and aggravated all the time. He argued with Mulan multiple times and even threatened their relationship. And the fact that he only apologized because he and Mulan were hanging off a bridge over a canyon. You’re seriously only going to apologize in a fatal situation? That is the only time you’ll be a man and say sorry?
Everyone I’ve seen who has an opinion on Li Shang has said he is the finest man ever. That’s it. They say nothing about his personality. They only love him because he is buff and strong. I get it; he is strong and a general of the Chinese army, but if that man was your husband, divorce would not be far behind.
If you want to disagree with me, by all means, go for it. But at least rewatch “Mulan” and the sequel. If you want to agree with me but haven’t watched or don’t remember the plot of “Mulan” much, then watch the sequel because, if you don’t hate Li Shang already, you will for sure hate him after watching that.
Don’t get with a guy like Li Shang.
Bing Bong • May 23, 2025 at 1:24 pm
“My people, the Mongols/Huns, were portrayed as villains and killers.” Because they were. Are we forgetting about Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire conquests that inflicted pain and death on so many regions of the world.
Metea Student • May 8, 2025 at 8:38 am
To be honest, I had the same thoughts about both movies even as a kid. I get that Mulan is a woman, but how dumb and stubborn do you have to be to not listen to someone who is TELLING you that people will die if you don’t do anything. The people’s lives ARE in his hands and he was just spiteful and selfish. Mulan is still one of my favourite movies despite her insecure man child.