In　the　objective　research　field　of　traditional　Chinese　medicine　(TCM)　tongue　diagnosis,　2D　tongue　image　is　regarded　as　the　research　object　for　feature　extraction　and　analysis　in　most　current　methods.　However,　2D　tongue　image　always　can　not　visually　express　detail　information　of　tongue　3D　surface,　such　as　lingual　papilla,　prick　and　fissure　of　tongue.　It　brings　certain　limitations　to　perceive　real　tongue　surface.　It　is　limited　for　the　doctor　to　give　accurate　diagnosis.　To　solve　this　problem,　a　method　to　reconstruct　the　3D　surface　of　tongue　based　on　photometric　stereo　is　proposed.　First,　the　surface　normals　and　texture　reflectance　are　obtained　using　photometric　stereo　technology　in　this　paper,　then　calculate　the　depth　values　of　tongue　surface,　and　generate　3D　depth　map.　It　has　been　proved　that　the　method　is　viable　through　lots　of　experiments　and　doctors　may　observe　the　3D　information　of　tongue　surface　from　multiple　perspectives.　Detail　information　of　tongue　surface　also　may　be　expressed　quantitatively　and　visually.　©　2012　IEEE.