Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal interstitial lung disease characterized by progressive scarring of the lung parenchyma, often result ing in death from respiratory failure in its terminal stages, with a median survival of only 3 to 5 years. Experimental models are essential tools for investigating the pathogenesis of IPF,screening potential drugs, and evaluating therapeutic efficacy. In addition to animal and cell models, the recent development of precision medicine and multi-omics technologies has increased attention on the need to establish models that integrate traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM) syndromes with disease patterns, as well as emerging organoid models. IPF experimental models have evolved from simulating a single pathological aspect to multidimensional models that integrate genetic heterogeneity, microenvironment interactions, and the TCM pathophysiological mechanisms of “ phlegm, stasis, deficiency, and collateral damage ”. This systematic review considers the strategies used to construct IPF experimental models, the detection indicators, TCM syndrome research, and evaluation systems, with the aim of providing a reference for IPF-related research.