Advancement in and prospect of forest soil research since 1949 are discussed. In the past 60 years,Chinese researchers in this field have been investigating and studying distribution of soil resources in China and physico-chemical properties and bio-activity of the soils,and have developed comprehensive technical and management means for protection and utilization of the resource. At the meantime,while exp loring regulations of the distribution,the researchers have steadily uncovered dynamic rules of the interaction between forest and soil under different site conditions. And based on the principle of coincidence between the functions of a forest soil and its composition,structure and property,the researchers have expounded process of the evolvement of soil quality of forest soils and mechanism of the function with a view to regulate dynam ic variation of forest soil properties for amelioration,maintaining and restoring their function,improving their productivity,and providing scientific basis and valuable managemenrial measures for realization of sustainable development of forest productivity practice.