Mu Guiying - Legendary Woman Warrior of Song Dynasty

Mu Guiying of the Song Dynasty is best known in Chinese history as the only person who could break the invincible Heavenly-Gate Formation of the Liao army. At the time she was only 19 years old.

Mu Guiying had outstanding martial arts skills. Legend has it that she practiced martial arts and studied esoteric practices from a young age—taking after her father who lived on Mount Mu.

She was the wife of Yang Zongbao—the third generation of the Yang family of generals who protected the Song's northern border from the Liao for more than two decades.

One story has it that she met her husband in a duel in which he was captured. But Yang refused to surrender and chose to die. Finding herself falling in love with her prisoner, Mu proposed marriage. Yang accepted but his father Yang Yanzhao was angry with his disgraced son and ordered him to be executed.

To save her husband, Mu engaged in a fight with her father-in-law, also capturing him. Mu then apologized to her father-in-law, who eventually consented to the marriage and welcomed Mu to his family and his army.

As part of the Yang family, Mu Guiying played a significant role in the battles against the Liao forces.

When her husband died in a battle against the Western Xia, Mu Guiying and the other widows continued the Yang family legacy of safeguarding the Song dynasty's border from invaders.

Composed, confident, and unwavering, like a veteran general, Mu Guiying took command of the Yang Army. She instructed the men to break the different moves of the formidable formation one by one—using the secret counter measures she knew.

She also ordered a separate and surprise attack to cut off the enemy's supply by burning and destroying their food supplies.

Under her command, the Yang Army broke the Heavenly-Gate of Seventy-Two Moves battle formation and defeated the Liao troops—a defeat that led to the eventual downfall of the Liao Dynasty.

Mu Guiying was later trapped and killed by arrows at the Tiger and Wolf Canyon—where her remains were buried. Legend has it that the tears of her grandmother-in-law, She Saihua—moved the spirit of the mountain, to respond with 'tears of sympathy' in the form of rocks rolling down the cliff—hence earning its name, Rolling Tears Cliff."

For her battle achievements, the Song Court awarded her the title, Huntian Marquis.

The story of Mu Guiying has become a popular theme for Chinese operas, dance, novels, movies, and TV dramas. Today, Mu Guiying continues to be an inspiration. Her name has become a symbol of courage, loyalty, and steadfastness.