Dangshen（Codonopsis Radix）is the root of Dangshen［Codonopsis pilosula（Franch.）Nannf.］. Dangshen（Codonopsis Radix）and Renshen（Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma）were abundantly produced in the Shangdang area in ancient times，and there was a more common phenomenon of mixing the two in history. In this paper，the historical origin of Dangshen（Codonopsis Radix）was sorted out and examined，and it is pointed out that due to the extinction of Renshen（Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma）in Shangdang，Dangshen（Codonopsis Radix）began to be used in large quantities as a substitute for Renshen（Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma）after the Ming Dynasty and began to be included in materia medica books separately in the late Qing Dynasty. It is neutral in nature and taste and enters spleen and lung meridians，and can benefit lung Qi，harmonize spleen and stomach and nourish blood and generate body fluids. The characteristics of“lion＇s head”and“spreading and not opposite leaves”are obvious differences from those of Renshen（Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma），which grows straight up from one stem and has three branches and five leaves，which are opposite to each other. As it is widely used，there are different names for Renshen（Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma），such as“Shangdangshen”“Shitoushen”“Shangdang Renshen”，etc. To this day，Dangshen（Codonopsis Radix）as a large variety of traditional Chinese medicine is widely distributed in China，forming the main production areas in Shanxi，Sichuan and Gansu，with Ludangshen from Shanxi，Taidangshen from Sichuan，Jingdangshen and Wendangshen from Gansu being the most famous ones. Dangshen（Codonopsis Radix）is rich in sugar，alkyne and other chemical components，with immunity regulation，memory improvement，anti-inflammatory，anti-tumor，anti-ulcer，antioxidant and anti-aging pharmacological effects. Traditional Chinese medicine is believed to be able to strengthen spleen and benefit lung，nourish blood and promote the production of fluids，in particular，to tonify Qi and nourish blood for its strengths，clinically used in the immune，digestive，respiratory，circulatory and other systemic diseases，as well as the treatment of health care in the daily life. Dangshen（Codonopsis Radix）and Renshen（Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma）both have the functions of tonifying spleen，benefiting lung and generating body fluid，and they can replace each other in many aspects，but Renshen（Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma）has a strong tonifying Qi power and is especially good at tonifying the vital energy，whereas Dangshen（Codonopsis Radix）is good at tonifying blood，which is the main clinical difference between the two. This study provided a reference for the proper origin and further clinical application of Dangshen（Codonopsis Radix）.