Fermentation is a distinctive and important processing technology of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

its inheritance and innovation should be highly regarded within the industry.Traditional fermentation of TCM is a natural fermentation

due to processing is controlled by experience and is vulnerable to changes of environment and season

so it is difficult to control quality and inherit.Modern fermentation technology of TCM

which based on traditional fermentation technology of TCM

combined with fermentation engineering and other modern biotechnology

has been gradually developed

and scholars have carried out some related research.However

currently some common problems are faced in research of fermentation technology of TCM

such as scientific interpretation of fermentation mechanism

regulation fermentation processing

establishing quality standards suitable for fermentation characteristics of TCM and so on.This paper is based on review of traditional and modern research on fermentation technology of TCM

analyzing and summarizing key technical problems impacting inheritance and development of fermentation technology

and discussing from both inheritance and innovation.The paper proposes that inheriting fermentation technology of TCM need to correctly understand fermentation theory

excavate fermentation essence and establish fermentation database;innovating fermentation technology of TCM need to scientifically interpret fermentation mechanism

objectively inherit fermentation experience

regulate and innovate fermentation processing

complete quality standards and develop new varieties of fermentation of TCM.This paper provides ideas and references for development of fermentation technology of TCM.