目的 通过可视化分析从宏观角度呈现中医传承领域的研究概况、研究热点和前沿，分析未来发展趋势，为中医传承发展提供参考。方法 利用CiteSpace软件对2004-2018年间发表于中国知网（China National Knowledge Internet，CNKI）的中医传承研究领域论文进行分析，将该领域主要科研团队、科研机构、发文数量、研究焦点及走向以知识图谱形式呈现。结果 中医传承研究发文数量从2004-2010年期间处于起始期和缓慢增长期，自2011年后处于显著增长期，以唐仕欢为代表的科研团队和以山东中医药大学为首的科研院校为中医传承做出了较大贡献。中医传承辅助软件的应用极大方便和扩展了传承的内容和深度，传承研究日趋细化、数据化、客观化。结论 国家采用科研立项、国医大师评选等一系列扶植中医的政策及名师带徒等具体传承工作的实施是中医传承研究领域迅速升温的直接原因。计算机、统计学的发展以及中医传承软件的开发为中医传承研究注入了新活力。预计在今后相当长一段时间内，围绕中医传承实践方法的探索、基于人工智能的数据挖掘技术的开发及传承软件升级将是该领域持续关注的焦点。

Objective The research overview, research hotspots and frontiers of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) inheritance are presented at the macroscopic perspective through visual analysis, and the future developing trends are analyzed to provide reference for the development of TCM heritage.Methods The CiteSpace software was used to analyze the papers on TCM inheritance research published in China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) during 2004-2018. The main research teams, scientific research institutions, the number of publications, research focus and trend were presented in the form of knowledge map.Results The number of TCM inheritance research reports was in the initial period and slow growth period from 2004 to 2010. It has been in a significant growth since 2011. The research team represented by Tang Shihuan and the research institutes headed by Shandong University of TCM contribute a lot to the publications. The application of TCM inheritance aid software greatly facilitates and expands the content and depth of inheritance, and the research on inheritance is increasingly refined, data-oriented and objective.Conclusion The adoption of scientific research projects, the selection of Chinese Medicine Masters, and other policies to support Chinese medicine practitioners such as the implementation of specific inheritance work are the direct reasons for the rapid rise of research in the field of TCM heritage. The development of computer, statistics and TCM inheritance software make the research more active. It is expected that for a long time, the exploration of TCM practical methods of inheritance, the development of artificial intelligence-based data mining technology and the inheritance of software upgrades will be the continuous focus.