這是筆者以新的撰史型式，所完成的《臺南開元寺法燈錄三百年史》上卷內容，但在論述體系的完整性和相關文獻考察的突破性這兩方面，本文可以說已在總結前人既有的成果之餘，又大幅度推進了此一過去很難突破的早期歷史研究。所以讀者將可在本文中讀到：（一）有關開元寺歷代住持傳承法系的最詳盡和最精確的歷史詮釋。（二）有關早期開元寺的歷史繪卷之史家藝術展現。（三）是結合新型態和新觀念而成的最新台灣宗教文化史之樣品書之一。

The book adopts a new methodology of history to record the three-hundred year past of Dama lanterns of Kai-Yuan Temple in Tainan. In terms of both coverage and depth, this book not only systematically digests all the relevant studies in this field but also has its own unique breakthrough and contribution in its research. Specifically, in this book the readers can find 1) the detailed and accurate description of how the hosts of Kai-Yuan Temple passed down the Dama tradition; 2) the rich studies of the historical arts about the temple in the early stage; 3) one of the best models adopting a new methodology and concept to re-describe the Taiwanese religious culture.