The Stones That Wait

Mulan

This flow traces the separated lovers’ tragic histories and the restoration that returns life to Green Island.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Fairy Leaves Heaven The Fairy Leaves Heaven from "Mulan". Choosing a Mortal Life A meeting in the mountains The Butterfly Fairy encounters a courteous woodcutter and is moved by his sincerity.

The Fairy Leaves Heaven from "Mulan". Choosing a Mortal Life A meeting in the mountains The Butterfly Fairy encounters a courteous woodcutter and is moved by his sincerity.

Choosing a Mortal Life A meeting in the mountains The Butterfly Fairy encounters a courteous woodcutter and is moved by his sincerity. A costly departure She leaves her honored position with the Queen Mother to marry him, accepting a humble life on Earth.

The Missed Deadline The Missed Deadline from "Mulan". A Warning Unfulfilled A narrow condition The Butterfly Fairy is warned that her husband’s spirit may depart unless she is beside him before magnolias bloom.

The Missed Deadline from "Mulan". A Warning Unfulfilled A narrow condition The Butterfly Fairy is warned that her husband’s spirit may depart unless she is beside him before magnolias bloom.

A Warning Unfulfilled A narrow condition The Butterfly Fairy is warned that her husband’s spirit may depart unless she is beside him before magnolias bloom. Separation deepens His delayed return forces her to travel to the port alone, hoping to find him before the deadline passes.

The Waiting Wife The Waiting Wife from "Mulan". Grief Made Stone Waiting at the river The Butterfly Fairy watches ships arrive through seasons of cold, rain, and warmth, but her husband does not return.

The Waiting Wife from "Mulan". Grief Made Stone Waiting at the river The Butterfly Fairy watches ships arrive through seasons of cold, rain, and warmth, but her husband does not return.

Grief Made Stone Waiting at the river The Butterfly Fairy watches ships arrive through seasons of cold, rain, and warmth, but her husband does not return. A transformation When she sees magnolia blossoms, despair turns her into a stone figure at the water’s edge.

The Scholar’s Captivity The Scholar’s Captivity from "Mulan". A False Reunion The White Fox’s deception The White Fox lures the Scholar away from his voyage and confines him with an illusion of his wife and honeyed food.

The Scholar’s Captivity from "Mulan". A False Reunion The White Fox’s deception The White Fox lures the Scholar away from his voyage and confines him with an illusion of his wife and honeyed food.

A False Reunion The White Fox’s deception The White Fox lures the Scholar away from his voyage and confines him with an illusion of his wife and honeyed food. A life consumed He spends years translating the Oracle Bone before recognizing the deception and being turned to stone.

The Lovers Reunited The Lovers Reunited from "Mulan". A Quiet Restoration The stones touch Mulan recognizes that the odd rock resembles the waiting figure and asks Lu Ting-Pin to place it beside the statue.

The Lovers Reunited from "Mulan". A Quiet Restoration The stones touch Mulan recognizes that the odd rock resembles the waiting figure and asks Lu Ting-Pin to place it beside the statue.

A Quiet Restoration The stones touch Mulan recognizes that the odd rock resembles the waiting figure and asks Lu Ting-Pin to place it beside the statue. New growth The stone forms crumble, the lovers are released, and Dragon Beard Grass emerges as Green Island’s peaceful heart returns.

Before her mortal marriage

The winter after her husband departs

When spring magnolias bloom

Centuries later, before Mulan reaches Green Island

The dawn after Mulan reaches Green Island