Dou’e yuan

play by Guan Hanqing

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July 14, 2026

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Dou E Yuan, also known as Injustice to Dou E, is a renowned play by Guan Hanqing, considered one of China's greatest playwrights. Written during the Yuan dynasty (1206–1368), a period of significant development in Chinese drama, the play is a masterpiece of its time.12

The drama centers on the tragic story of Dou E, a young woman who endures immense hardship and injustice after being widowed. Her suffering culminates in her execution for a crime she did not commit. Guan Hanqing's plays are known for their compelling characters, often strong women who display intelligence and courage, and his style is characterized by simplicity and directness, reflecting the spirit of early popular theatre. Dou E Yuan exemplifies these qualities, depicting everyday events with both humor and poignancy.21

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Chinese literature
Drama
His Dou’e yuan (“Injustice Suffered by Dou’e”) deals with the deprivations and injustices suffered by the heroine, Dou’e, which begin when she is widowed shortly after her marriage to a poor scholar and culminate in her execution for a crime she has not committed. Wang Shifu,…
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His Dou’e yuan (“Injustice Suffered by Dou’e”) deals with the deprivations and injustices suffered by the heroine, Dou’e, which begin when she is widowed shortly after her marriage to a poor scholar and culminate in her execution for a crime she has not committed. Wang Shifu,…
Read More