morality play; allegorical play
A medieval European dramatic form in which characters personify moral qualities or abstract concepts to teach a lesson. In Japanese contexts, it may also refer to modern allegorical drama.
In medieval European morality plays, virtues and vices appear personified.
This work is praised as an allegorical play satirizing modern society.
道徳劇 is a more direct translation of 'morality play' and is sometimes used interchangeably, but 寓意劇 emphasizes the allegorical aspect.
Compound of 寓意 (allegory) + 劇 (play, drama). The term was coined in Japanese to translate the Western concept of morality/allegorical plays.