"Citation Origin"is a new research method designed for the quotation of Compendium of Materia Medica（ 《本草纲目》）. This method can not only reflect on the feats of LI Shizhen’s extensive reading and removing duplication and complication

but also make up the disadvantages of no citation origin and unclear quotation in Compendium of Materia Medica. Clarifying the source of citation is the basic conditions for identifying the relevant academic sources. In order to ensure a proper balance between the high degree of accuracy of the original text of Compendium of Materia Medica and the high accuracy of citations

the collation and traceability should be separated and processed separately. The specific method is that the assessment determines the correct bibliography cited by LI Shizhen. According to the text cited in Compendium of Materia Medica

the source and the original text are approved one by one in order to achieve the purpose of not only damaging the truth of the Compendium of Materia Medica

but also showing the source of citations. The text so traced is available for direct reference.