The tragedy of Dou E

Author: Guan Hanqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-05-01
Features: The full title of The Injustice to Dou E is The Injustice to Dou E That Moves Heaven and Earth. It tells the story of Dou E, a woman sold into servitude, who is wrongfully accused by ruffians and unjustly sentenced to death by a corrupt official. Eventually, she is cleared of her name by a fair-minded official. This play is the masterpiece of Guan Hanqing, the first of the "Four Great Masters of Yuan Qu," and is considered a towering work of Yuan. It represents the peak of Yuan Qu in terms of grandeur and literary power. This book is a comic adaptation of The Injustice to Dou E. The Injustice to Dou E is the masterpiece of Guan Hanqing, a renowned playwright of the Yuan Dynasty. The poor Dou Tianzhang sells his daughter to Cai Po. On her way to collect a debt, Cai Po is ambushed but saved by Zhang Lao and his son, Zhang Luer. The Zhangs forcibly marry Cai Po and Dou E, but Dou E refuses. Zhang Luer tries to poison Cai Po to take over Dou E, but the poison is mistakenly consumed by Zhang Lao. Zhang Luer then falsely accuses Dou E. The ignorant magistrate Tao Zhu judges Dou E to be guilty of death. Before her execution, Dou E makes three vows to prove her innocence. Several years later, Dou Tianzhang is promoted and comes to Chuzhou for inspection. The ghost of Dou E pleads her case, and Dou Tianzhang clears her name and avenges her injustice.