FutureLearn

Discover Chinese Drama: Understanding 'The Injustice to Dou E' (FutureLearn)

Offered by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), National Chengchi University (NCCU),
Discover Chinese Drama: Understanding 'The Injustice to Dou E' (FutureLearn)

Explore the origins and development of Chinese drama in this course examining the classic play 'The Injustice to Dou E'. Explore the wonders of Chinese literature in the time of the Yuan dynasty. Chinese drama is a brilliant crystalisation of Chinese performing arts, and ‘The Injustice to Dou E’ is one of the genre’s greatest examples.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

This thirteenth-century play remains a much-quoted classic in China, and – with its startlingly realistic portrayal of injustice in the Yuan dynasty – still captivates modern audiences.
On this course, you’ll study the history and development of Chinese drama, learning how to define and analyse Zaju opera, and ultimately closely examine the famous play itself.
Our educators will irregularly join the discussion with you, but, of course, at every step in this course, you are invited to share your ideas with us and other fellow learners.

What topics will you cover?

  • The History and Definition of Chinese Drama
  • Development of Chinese Drama
  • The Characteristics of Yuan Zaju
  • Characters and Plot of Yuan Zaju
  • The Plot of The Injustice to Dou E

Learning on this course
You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Reflect on the meaning of justice through the study of Injustice to Dou E
  • Explore the historical background of Yuan Zaju
  • Compare the idea of justice of ancient China and other countries

Who is the course for?
This course is for anyone wishing to know more about the developlent of Chinese drama, the history of the Yuan period, or explore the performance of Zaju.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Mandarin Chinese 3: Chinese for Beginners (Coursera) Coursera
Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Mandarin Chinese 3: Chinese for Beginners (Coursera)

Languages & Literature

Mandarin Chinese 3: Chinese for beginners is a beginner's course of Mandarin Chinese in continuation of Mandarin Chinese 2: Chinese for beginners. It uses lectures, short plays, interactive exercises and cultural tips to help learners build a fundamental capability of oral Chinese in real-life situations. At the end of the 5-lesson course, the learners will reach the following proficiency: 500 words; 60 language points; handling 15 real-life situations.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Languages China Chinese
Details
International Communication and East Asian Affairs (2) (Coursera) Coursera
National Taiwan University

International Communication and East Asian Affairs (2) (Coursera)

Law

"International Communication and East Asian Affairs: Current Political and Economic Conditions" is an online course provided by the Graduate Institute of Journalism, National Taiwan University, and Radio Taiwan International. This course delves into East Asian affairs, particularly focusing on China and Taiwan. Topics covered include China's Third Revolution and its implications for the Sino-American strategic competition, the political economy of China, state-society relations within China, and an exploration of recent youth politics in Taiwan.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
China Taiwan East Asian
Details
文物精品与文化中国：天文与医药 | Relics of Chinese History - Part 2: Astronomy and Medicine (edX) EdX
Tsinghua University,TsinghuaX

文物精品与文化中国：天文与医药 | Relics of Chinese History - Part 2: Astronomy and Medicine (edX)

Architecture & Design

Discover how Astronomy and Medicine impacted the history of China as we use artifacts and relics as a guide to Chinese civilization. 本课程以精品文物作引子，将学术界探索中华文明的过程作为线索，介绍古代中国在造船、玉器等诸多领域的杰出成就

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Astronomy China Chinese Medicine
Details
The History and Culture of Chinese Silk (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University for the Creative Arts

The History and Culture of Chinese Silk (FutureLearn)

Art and Culture History

Delve into the origins and development of Chinese silk to understand its history, cultural heritage, and place in modern China. Unpack sericulture and silk craftsmanship in China. As one of the origins of textile culture, China is characterised by silk. The unique sericulture and silk craftsmanship from China is firmly embedded in its cultural heritage. In modern China, silk is not only a fibre material, but also permeates art, culture, economy, and even politics. On this three-week course, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the silk culture and art that characterises China from a material culture perspective.

Feb 27th 2023
3 Weeks
China Modern China Chinese Silk
Details
Chinese History From Warring States to the Tang Dynasty | 资治通鉴 (edX) EdX
Tsinghua University,TsinghuaX

Chinese History From Warring States to the Tang Dynasty | 资治通鉴 (edX)

Humanities Languages & Literature

Guides you through the Chinese masterpiece _Zizhi Tongjian, _an unprecedented work of governance and philosophical thinking spanning from the Warring States Period to the Tang Dynasty. Through the teacher's guided reading, students can go deep into the interior of this classic text, gain an overview of thousands of years of history, and improve their literacy in Chinese studies.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
China Chinese History Tang Dynasty
Details
The amazing world of the ethnic groups of Yunnan Province (Coursera) Coursera
Shanghai Jiao Tong University

The amazing world of the ethnic groups of Yunnan Province (Coursera)

Languages & Literature

Yunnan, abbreviated as Yun and called Dian for short, is a multi-ethnic province which has historically been situated in the southwest frontier of China. Over time, the ethnic minorities evolved into splendid cultures, each with their own unique social life, religious beliefs and customs. The course is taught in English and provides an introduction to 25 ethnic minorities in Yunnan Province, namely the Yi, Bai, Hani, Dai, Zhuang, Miao, Hui, Lisu, Lahu, Wa, Naxi, Yao, Jingpo, Tibetan, Bulang, Buyi, Achang, Pumi, Mongolian, Nu, Jinuo, De'ang, Shui, Man and Dulong nationalities.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
China Coursera Plus Yunnan Province
Details
Intellectual Change in Early China: Warring States and Han (Coursera) Coursera
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Intellectual Change in Early China: Warring States and Han (Coursera)

Humanities History

This sequence of four courses will propose a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of Chinese cultural history conceived of as a succession of modes of rationality (philosophical, bureaucratic, and economic). The focus will be on the moments of paradigm shift from one mode of rationality to another. For each of these moments, cultural facts and artifacts—thought, literature, ritual—will be examined in relationship to changing social, political, and economic systems.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
History China Chinese Culture
Details
Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 2 (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 2 (Coursera)

Education Social Sciences

This course is intended as a first step for learners who seek to become producers of social science research. It is organized as an introduction to the design and execution of a research study. It introduces the key elements of a proposal for a research study, and explains the role of each. It reviews the major types of qualitative and quantitative data used in social science research, and then introduces some of the most important sources of existing data available freely or by application, worldwide and for China.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Education China Social Sciences
Details
Invasions, Rebellions, and the Fall of Imperial China (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Invasions, Rebellions, and the Fall of Imperial China (edX)

Humanities History

An overview of modern Chinese history, including the fall of the Qing and the end of imperial China. In the 18th century, the Qing Dynasty is at its height; it is the wealthiest, most powerful, most civilized state on earth. And yet the 19th century brought enormous challenges for the Qing and for the place we call China. By the 20th century, a 2,000-year imperial tradition is gone. What happened?

Self Paced
Self-Paced
China Modern China Chinese History
Details
Creating Modern China: The Republican Period to the Present (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Creating Modern China: The Republican Period to the Present (edX)

Humanities History

Explore the birth of modern China with a focus on the time between the fall of the Qing and the end of World War II. What does it mean to be modern? What constitutes modern politics, modern institutions, a modern military, and modern infrastructure? In this period of great excitement and experimentation, the country is asking itself: How do you become modern and remain true to the Chinese national identity?

Self Paced
Self-Paced
History China Modern China
Details