Through the records of Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma(S. Tonkinensis) in ancient Chinese herbal medicines, medical books and modern literature, this paper examines the name, origin, producing areas, nature and flavor, efficacy and indications, collection and processing, usage, dosage, toxicityand compatibility taboos of S. Tonkinensis. The results showed that most of the ancient Chinese herbs were named after S. Tonkinensis, and their aliases were mostly derived from it's efficacy, morphology, nature and flavor and producing areas. The basic source of S. Tonkinensis recorded in ancient books was relatively confusing, and some of them were contrary to the basic source of S. Tonkinensis included in the modern Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and the source of S. Tonkinensis plants used in modern places was also different, showing certain regional differences. The geoherbalism, harvesting and efficacy of plants were basically as same as those of modern times, but the processing method and toxicity were different from modern research, and we think that it's processing method may affect it's toxicity, which needs further research.