Soil health has become a core concept in soil science and sustainable agricultural development, yet its intellectual roots can be traced to early discussions of soil fertility, degradation, and conservation prior to the mid-20th century. With the development of sustainable agriculture, soil function theory, ecosystem services, and frameworks such as soil security,One Health, and planetary health, the soil health concept has evolved from qualitative descriptions to scientific definitions, from a productivity-oriented focus to a multifunctional perspective, and from an internal academic term to policy and public discourse. This paper systematically reviews the conceptual evolution of soil health and synthesizes it into four stages: (1) the emergence of soil-health thinking dominated by soil fertility; (2) the rise of soil quality and the gestation of soil health; (3) the establishment of scientific definitions and assessment frameworks; and (4) interdisciplinary expansion and practical application. We further summarize recent progress in soil health research and management in China and discuss key implications for advancing soil health assessment and governance in the Chinese context.