Eucaryon homeobox genes contain a conserved 180 bp long DNA sequence termed as homeobox, which encodes about 60 amino acid long DNA-binding domain termed as homeodomain. Homeobox genes as the plant transcription factors play an important role in morphological development, reproductive development and abiotic stress response. In recent years, several homeobox genes have been identified and cloned in the some model plant, such as Arabidopsis, Oryza sativa, and classified into different subfamilies, based on the amino acid sequence of HD（homeodomain） and other conserved intron-exon structure. Based on existing understanding of homeobox genes in plants, this article reviewed homeobox genes classification, structure and the mutations functions in recent years and also prospected the function and applied research of rice homeobox genes in Oryza sativa.