本文主旨在以明代著名戲曲《牡丹亭》為例，剖析戲曲中所蘊涵的文化內涵，並進一步論述該內涵乃屬於中國哲學與美學發展脈絡中的一環。透過戲曲文本的分析及匯整相關學者的論述，本文發現，《牡丹亭》的文化內涵，包括對「至情」的重視、對「理想」的追尋、「理想」與「現實」的衝突、及如何協調該衝突而得以「圓夢」等四大層次。而此四大層次，又源於中國哲學美學發展脈絡中，所具有的儒家「情」與「性」、道家「虛實相生」、佛家「尚空」等思惟觀點。

This research explores the significances as the cultural heritage embodied in the traditional Chinese drama ”Mu-Dan-Ting”, and contextualizes it in the development of Chinese philosophy and aesthetics. This research finds that, there are four layers in the significances of ”Mu-Dan-Ting”: the emphasis of emotion, the pursuit of ideal, the conflict between ideal and reality, and the fulfillment of ideal. This research also analyses that, the above layers may be seen as derived from the Confucian viewpoint of emotion, Taoist viewpoint of virtual reality, and Buddhist viewpoint of emptiness.