Abstract: Based on the introduction of descriptive model of the mechanism path generation problem, the basic connotation and primary coverage of the problem are clarified first, then the progress on the mechanism path generation theory is systematically summarized in three aspects: analysis, synthesis and innovation, in combination with the introduction to the authors' research result. Firstly, the fundamental requirements and the classification criterions of path analysis are presented, and three kinds of path analysis methods and commonly used path deviation functions are introduced. Secondly, the progress of the direct synthesis methods and indirect synthesis methods of mechanisms for path generation is summarized, and then the two kinds of methods are compared and analyzed according to certain criterions for mechanism path synthesis. Next, the flow of mechanism path creative design based on the mechanism path generation theory is proposed, and some fundamental technologies are presented in brief. Finally, the directions and trends of future research on mechanism path generation theory are investigated.