"classical prescription"（ 经方） is an important concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine（ TCM）. It is always a controversial issue as its connotation and evolution is not clear. This article takes historical context as longitude

ancient history and TCM books and records as latitude

so that makes textual research on its connotation and evolution. Classical prescription was first found in Han Shu Yi Wen Zhi

which referred to medical formulary and effective prescriptions from the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty in general. Its connotation developed in the Northern Song Dynasty

which was a period of historical turn. Broadly

it still referred to medical formulary and effective prescriptions in general; but narrowly

it referred in particular to books name or Zhang Zhongjing’s prescriptions. Broad usage was mainly adopted while narrow usage emerged. From the Northern Song Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty

broad and narrow usage was co-existed. Xu Dachun established the narrow usage in the Qing Dynasty

and this usage remains ever since.