Abstract: OBJECTIVE To inquire the origin and development of genuine medicinal herbs of Ganoderma lucidum by textual research on Bencao and documents. METHODS Through looking up the literature of Bencao combing with modern research, the origin, changes of production areas, processing in production places, quality assessment of G. lucidum were textually studied. RESULTS Wild varieties of G. lucidum were mainly used in ancient times, and cultivated G. lucidum was recorded since Southern Song Dynasty. Zhejiang, Anhui and surrounding areas had a long cultivation history, and quality of G. lucidum from these areas was relatively high. CONCLUSION Zhejiang and Anhui are considered as the main genuine producing area of G. lucidum, and the formation of genuine medicinal herbs of G. lucidum is related with the development of cultivation, collection and processing techniques.