研究一門學科，應先對這門學科的定義與範疇有所體認。基於此種信念，故有本文之作。 首就文學歷史作觀察。分先秦、兩漢、魏晉、南北朝、隋唐北宋、南宋元明清、民國、當代兩岸、當代西方九目，扼要敘述其文學觀或文學定義。 繼就文學現象作歸納。由大學中文系之課程，文學刊物之內容，圖書館文學類之細目，作全面之歸納，以探索其所顯示之範疇與所蘊含之本質。 復就學科理論作探討。發現論理學上各項定義方式均不能獲致圓足之文學定義。乃就文學要素及其關係作分析。並細別文學與各種科學、倫理學、哲學、及其他藝術之界線所在。 結語最後一段，提出了此時此地文學的義界。

　　　　　 When studying a discipline, one should first have an understanding of its definition and boundary. To this end, I have written this article. First, let's make an observation of literary history. Historically, literature is divided into nine periods─pre-Ch'in, Two Hans, Wei Chin, South North Dynasties, Sui Tang North-Sung, South-Sung Yuan Ming Ch'ing, the Republic,the Contemporary Cross-Strait, and the Contemporary West. For these nine periods, I give a concise statement of their respective literary viewpoints and definitions. Then, I induct from literary phenomena. Based on the curriculums of Chinese literature departments, the content of literary periodicals,and the entries under the literature category at libraries, I make an overall induction with a view to search for the definition and nature of literature. Finally, I also research from the standpoint of interdisciplinary theories. I have found that theoretically no definitions can perfectly cover the essence of literature. Therefore, I want to analyze according to literary elements and their interrelationships, and thus differentiate the boundaries between literature and science, ethics, philosophy, and other arts. After the above discussion, I present the contemporary definition of literature as a conclusion.