本文主要以明代職業戲班之群體為主線，透過明代政治社會以及經濟狀況，了解明代環境賦予職業戲班之生存土壤，並且有系統查看明代職業戲班活動之基本概況。 職業戲班是民間戲曲藝術保存者，戲班演出興盛，呈現明代戲曲繁榮之景。始自明代中葉，經濟繁盛，江南一帶成為商業重心，促進市場城鎮勃興，給予職業戲班生存發展空間。明代職業戲班在演出方式上，以全本戲為主，折子戲為輔，為中國戲曲演出創新體製。而於演出場所方面，不僅限於宋元時之勾欄瓦舍、神廟劇場，更多是至富貴人家之堂會演出、或營業旅店、茶園，乃至於船舫、會館等地。原本就以沿村轉疃維生之職業戲班，至明代依然如此。在以謀生為前提之下，職業戲班必需迎合大眾百姓之審美傾向，因此必需學習各式聲腔以符合演出要求，如此，不但影響了聲腔劇種之流播，間接促進聲腔間之交流，更進一步產生新的聲腔體系，帶動明代戲曲發展。

This article regards Theatrical Troupes of Ming Dynasty as the centre mainly. Examine from the politics and economy of Ming Dynasty, find out about the help of the Theatrical Troupe by the environment of Ming Dynasty. At the same time, there are basic discussions to the activity overview of the Theatrical Troupe of Ming Dynasty. Theatrical Troupes are Folk art preserver of Chinese Drama. Prosperity of the Theatrical Troupes prove the prosperous phenomenon of the Chinese drama of Ming Dynasty. After the mid-Ming Dynasty, because economy grows prosperity, so Jiangnan area turn into a commercial important place, and take shape a lot of commercial cities. At the same time, offer the space of professional development of Theatrical Troupes. The Theatrical Troupes of Ming Dynasty in performing the way, rely mainly on performing the Whole Drama, and regard Fragmented Highlight as Assist. They create the new system for the Chinese Drama in performing. In playing area, not only Wa-she-Gou-Lan (the amusement center and performance arena of urban center) in Song-Yuan period, including Tang-Hui (a temporary hall-stage) of the rich families, have commercial hotels and Xi-Yuan (the pleasure park), or ship and Hui-Guan (the guildhall-stage). The Theatrical Troupes of Ming Dynasty as the main way by flowing performance. In order to make a living, they must understand common people's aesthetic inclination, and make great efforts to study various kinds of Operatic Tunes. Thus enable various kinds of operatic tunes to exchange each other and exert an influence. Drive the drama to develop in Ming Dynasty.