OBJECTIVE： To establish rapid method for content determination of cryptotanshinone in Salvia miltiorrhiza. METHODS： The content of cryptotanshinone in sample was determined by HPLC （as reference value）. AOTF-NIDRS combined with PLS was used to establish quantitative correction model for the content of cryptotanshinone in S. miltiorrhiza. According to the results of content determination of cryptotanshinone in samples， 35 samples of medicinal material were collected. First-order derivative combined with smoothing filter coefficient method was used to pretreat spectrum， and optimal band range for content determination of cryptotanshinone in sample ranged 1 250-2 150 nm. RESULTS： Methodology validation of content determination of cryptotanshinone in sample was in line with the requirements. Correction mean square deviation of quantitative correction model of cryptotanshinone was 0.014 6， and predicted mean square deviation was 0.022 3， coefficient of association was 0.976 6. The internal verification deviation was 2.41％ and the external verification deviation was 4.06％. CONCLUSIONS： This method is rapid， accurate， simple and pollution-free. It can be used for rapid content determination of cryptotanshinone in S. miltiorrhiza.