To investigate the effects of initial water content and dry density on the shrinkage behavior of purple soil in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, and to provide a theoretical basis and data support for soil structural stability regulation and farmland water management in the region. Typical purple soil from the Chongqing section of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area was selected as the research material, and laboratory shrinkage experiments were conducted. Four initial moisture content gradients (15%, 20%, 25%, and saturated) and three dry bulk density levels (1.1 g·cm-3, 1.3 g·cm-3, and 1.5 g·cm-3) were established. Two-way analysis of variance and soil shrinkage curve fitting methods were applied to systematically analyze the variation characteristics of the linear shrinkage ratio of purple soil under different treatments, and the differences in shrinkage behavior between saturated and unsaturated conditions were compared. The results showed that the fitting results of the soil shrinkage curve were satisfactory (R²≥ 0.91), and the curve exhibited an overall“J-shaped”characteristic, which could be divided into three stages: linear shrinkage, residual shrinkage, and zero shrinkage. Significant differences in both volume change and water-loss characteristics were observed among the three stages. The volume change was most concentrated during the linear shrinkage stage, whereas the greatest water loss occurred during the residual shrinkage stage. The temporal variation of the linear shrinkage ratio could be divided into three phases: rapid shrinkage, slow shrinkage, and stable shrinkage. A higher initial moisture content resulted in a larger linear shrinkage ratio, whereas the influence of dry bulk density was relatively weaker. Analysis of variance indicated that initial water content, dry density, and their interaction had statistically significant effects on the linear shrinkage ratio (p<0.01), among which initial moisture content played the dominant role. Initial water content plays a dominant role in controlling the shrinkage deformation characteristics of purple soils during desiccation. The results provide a theoretical basis for soil structure regulation and the optimization of farmland management practices in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area.