Research methods of Typology and Comparison are adopted in studying the subject, as well as Folklore, and its development is divided into five periods: Rising Period, Prosperous Period, Transferring period, Declining Period, and Post-Classical Period.

• 本文以类型学与系统学的方法进行研究，结合了民俗学和技术学的研究方法，将苏州砖雕的兴起发展直至消亡过程分为兴起期、鼎盛期、转折期、衰落期、后古典期这五个时期，并对每个时期不同的风格特征及题材内容并结合其代表砖雕进行详细的论述。