明代，是一個充滿矛盾的時代。貞節烈婦及女教書籍數量繁多；文學才女及詩文著作大量湧現。自嘉靖朝開始，興起輯錄女性詩文選集之熱潮。從中期德行優先於文采的纂輯策略，到晚期轉以作品為主，明代的才女文學締造新的風貌。諸部選集中，首度有女性編纂者加入選編行列，開啟了清代女性選編熱潮。 本論文分為六章，首章包含研究動機、目的、文獻回顧及才女定義之探討。第二章、三章則分別談論編纂背景的客觀及主觀因素，商業活動、出版環境、女子教育、家族支持及文人推動乃至當代文學思潮的轉變，皆是促成女性詩文選集出版市場活絡的原因。第四章則分別介紹明代中晚期，幾部較具代表性的選集，並視需要檢附書影參閱。第五章再就本論文預設之9部選集進行纂輯特色之探討。最後，於第六章提出對於明代所謂「才女」及「才女文學」之反思。 This essay is divided into six chapters as in the following:
Chapter I: The introduction of thesis. The explanation of writing motivation、purpose and the reason of research area and object been selected in this research.
Chapter II: The edited background of Female Anthology. Ex. commerce、publication.
Chapter III: The edited background of Female Anthology. Ex. the education of females、the support of males and a change of thought.
Chapter IV: To introduce some of Female Anthology in middle and late Ming dynasty.
Chapter V: To analyze the characteristic of Female Anthology.
Chapter VI: Summarize and introspect what is “Talented females” ? What is “Talented females literature?
