The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of resin cements and ceramic etching on shear bond strength of Empress 2 ceramic and observe the change of microstructure of ceramic according to etching time. Sixty-six square ceramic specimens($6{ imes}6{ imes}1.5mm$) were prepared. 6 specimens were etched with different etching times(0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 seconds) and observed by means of a scanning electron microscope(SEM). Other sixty specimens were divided into 6 groups with 10 specimens in each group. 3 groups were etched with 4% hydrofluoric acid and each groups was bonded with 3 resin cements(Variolink II, Super-Bond C&B, Panavia F). Each specimen was subjected to a shear load in an Instron at a cross-head speed of 0.5mm/min and was observed with SEM after mechanical testing to establish modes of failure. The results were as follows : 1. Within etched groups, Variolink II and Super-Bond C&B exhibited significantly greater bonding strengths than Panavia F(p<0.05) 2. Bond strength of etching groups had three to five times greater than that of no-etching groups. 3. All of no-etching groups showed adhesive failure and etching groups mostly showed mixed failure. And, 20-second etching specimen showed the most distinct lithium disilicate crystal. so it is considered that 20-second etching is optimal time for bonding.