《牡丹亭》傳奇為明代劇作家湯顯祖之代表作，當中「情不知所起，一往而深」的重情、寫情與利刃般的禮教相抗衡，併發出「夢中情」及「人鬼情」的敘寫手法，借由前代小說故事當中「以魂為心」的思想主題，將杜麗娘及柳夢梅的情愛糾葛貫串一氣，成為全劇中至關重要的骨幹。而《牡丹亭》最主要的『藍本』，實即《杜麗娘記》與《慕色還魂》兩篇作品。故事上承魏晉南北朝至宋代之小說與話本及元雜劇，下開晚明至清代傳奇及小說，足顯湯氏《牡丹亭》之承先啟後與「至情」的重要地位。

Tang Xian-zu, 's ＂Peony Pavilion＂ mentioned in the story, do not know when love has become so profound. His story aims to express emphasis on love, write love and confront with the traditional rules. Developed d ream love and human and ghost love. With soul is thought themes from past stories, Turn Du Li-Niang and Liu Mengmei's love stories into the most important part. In addition, ＂Peony Pavilion＂ main reference to ＂Du Li-Niang ji＂ and ＂Du Li-Niang resurrection ji＂ stories to completed. On the other hand, it also includes the Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Song Dynasty's various types of novels, the Song Dynasty's storytelling literature and the yuan poetic drama, at the same time Late Ming to Qing Dynasty's novel and drama also follow the trend. The conclusion is that issue, Tang Xian-zu, ＂Peony Pavilion＂ is a connecting link between the preceding and the following works and has an important position.