This three-volume series was compiled by the State Administration for Traditional Chinese Medicine especially for foreign students studying traditional Chinese medicine. It draws on the contents of the fourth and fifth editions of the national textbooks used by full-time colleges of traditional Chinese medicine while taking cultural differences into consideration, as well as the fact that foreign students are only allotted a relatively short time for classroom studies. The depth and range of the contents, and the scientific and ideological level of the textbooks have been carefully considered. Such efforts have been made to shorten and simplify the contents while preserving the essence of traditional Chinese medicine and its systematic theories.

Volume I covers the history, basic theory and diagnosis of traditional Chinese medicine. Volume II deals with pharmacy and the science of traditional Chinese prescriptions, while Volume III covers traditional Chinese internal medicine and the scientific theories of acupuncture and moxibustion.