The Injustice to Dou E (竇娥冤 Dou E Yuan) is a Chinese drama by Guan Hanqing during the Yuan Dynasty. This is one of Guan's most popular work, even in today.
The story describes the young widow Dou E from Chouzhou (楚州) whose husband Cai (蔡) died two years after marrying. Dou was wrongfully accused by Zhang Lür (張驢兒, literally "The Mule Zhang") of the murder of his father, when Dou E refuesed to marry Zhang Lür. Before her execution (scene: 斬竇娥 "Zhai Dou E"), Dou E swore her innocence that will be proven by the upcoming abnormalities:
- the dripping blood that never drop on the ground,
- the snow in the midst of summer, and
- the three-year long drought in Chouzhou
The story is repeatedly used by later dramatists and modified to various versions.
See also: Capital punishment