A new fast identification method for a Chinese patent medicine donkeyhide glue was established. Six samples from different producing areas were collected and determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis(XRF). Elements characteristic graphs were plotted and compared with those from the comparison sample. Many elements such as Ca, Na, Cl, K, Fe, Zn, Al, Mg, etc are contained in the six samples, but the contents of elements Cl, Ca, Na and K are obviously different. Some other microelements occur only in one or two samples. According to the above differentia the counterfeits of donkeyhide glue can be distinguished successfully by XRF. XRF is accurate, robust a nd objective, and could b e applied in t he discrimination of o th er traditionalChinese medicines.