Abstract： In traditional Chinese medicine， "spirit" has multiple meanings and functions. To deeply discuss the concept of "spirit" in traditional Chinese medicine，and analyze its evolution and development in Huang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic). Besides， the role of“ spirit” in life generation， physiological mechanism，pathological mechanism，and diagnosis，treatment and prognosis of diseases is discussed in detail. Furthermore，the application of spirit-awakening theory in clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine and its position in modern medical research are explored. In conclusion， the understanding of “spirit” and the application of spirit-awakening theory are the key parts of traditional Chinese medicine treatment，which emphasizes the importance of combining traditional Chinese medicine theory with modern medical researches.