在过去一段时间内，明词的分期研究，一直以来争鸣不断，未有定论。即使是不从事明词研究的学者，也会在千年词史的整体梳理中对明词分期略有涉及，体现出断代分体研究的基本命题的独有魅力。随着近十年来明词研究的日渐兴起，有关明词分期断限的讨论，也逐步进入高潮。在这样的积极情势下，笔者尝试对“年号断限”和“年份断限”、“分期原则”和“分期原因”、“段状分期”和“链状分期”等概念方法提出自己的一些思考。在此基础上，提出明词发展的“六分法”，即分为过渡、沉寂、酝酿、复兴、高潮、继盛六个时期。

In the past, phases of Ci in Ming Dynasty had been discussed hotly, but there was no final conclusion. Even scholars who are not researching on Ming Ci, were still involved in discussing these phases slightly, because of their attentions on the whole history of Ci literature. Along with the study arisen in the past ten years, the discussion of phases of Ci in Ming Dynasty gradually reached its high tide. In such a positive situation, the author would propose some thinking and methods, like “limited with region’’ and “limited with year”, “phase principle" and "phase reason", “shape division” and “chain division”, etc. In this foundation, proposing new phases of Ci in Ming Dynasty——"six divisions", which will be divided into six times: Transition, Silence, Brewing, Renaissance, Climax and Flourishing.