中药传统性状一般是指感官获得的宏观性状，如形、色、气、味等，不包括微观性状。在中药“辨状论质”相关研究中发现，中药的微观性状（显微特征）也与其质量相关，且其特征更容易量化和数字化，在中药“辨状论质”的机制探讨中具有重要作用。为此，依据遗传学中“性状”的概念，结合中药的特点，将中药的微观性状（显微特征）与宏观性状合二为一，提出“中药性状学”的概念，即对中药所呈现的宏观和微观性状进行表征和研究的应用科学。中药性状学不仅能够揭示中药“辨状论质”机制和传统的中药鉴别经验的科学内涵，而且还能与中药化学、中药生物学质量标志物关联（三学关联），建立符合中医整体观的中药质量三维评价体系。因此有必要将其内涵、任务、地位加以归纳总结，以便更好地服务于中药质量评价和控制。

Traditional characters of Chinese materia medica (CMM) generally refer to the macroscopic characters obtained by the senses, such as shape, color, odor, and taste, excluding microscopic characters. In the research related to theory of the “quality evaluation through morphological identification of CMM”, the authors found that the microscopic characters of CMM are also related to their quality. Their characters are easier to be quantified and digitized, which plays an important role in exploring the mechanism of “quality evaluation through morphological identification”. For this reason, based on the concept of “character” in genetics and the characteristics of CMM, this article proposes the concept of “Chinese materia medica characterology”, which integrates the microscopic and macroscopic characters of CMM. It is an applied science of characterizing and studying the macroscopic and microscopic characters presented by CMM. Chinese materia medica characterology can not only reveal the mechanism of “quality evaluation through morphological identification” and the scientific connotation of traditional identification experience, but also establish a three-dimensional evaluation system for the quality of CMM that aligns with the holistic view of traditional Chinese medicine by correlating with the quality markers of chemistry and biology from CMM (the correlation of the three disciplines). Therefore, it is necessary to summarize its connotations, tasks, and status to better serve the quality evaluation and control of CMM.

国家自然科学基金资助项目（81874338）；国家自然科学基金资助项目（82173935）；辽宁省教育厅面上项目（LJKZ0893）；辽宁省教育厅面上项目（LJKMZ20221312）；辽宁省教育厅重点攻关项目（JYTZD2023198）