Abstract: Aim:The fast and nondestructive identification of Cortex Periplocae and Cortex Acanthopanacis by Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy and generalized two-dimensional(2D) correlation spectroscopy were performed.Methods:Near infrared spectra of Cortex Periplocae and Cortex Acanthopanacis was used for computation of the 2D correlation spectra and comparison of the synchronous and asynchronous 2D correlation spectra.Results:Two of the analytes had similar spectral characteristics in one-dimensional near infrared while quite different in 2D correlation spectra.Cortex Periplocae and Cortex Acanthopanacis were identified visually using the 2D correlation spectra in region 5 600～4 700 cm~(-1)and 7 200～6 600 cm~(-1).Conclusion:The results prove that 2D correlation spectra could enhance the resolution of near infrared spectra and increase the capacity of identification.The combination of 2D correlation spectroscopy and near infrared spectroscopy allow a new and convenient approach for evaluating the medicinal herbs.