From thousands of years of architectural practice in China, many creations with Chinese characteristics have been found, one of which is the traditional Chinese organic-inorganic mortar represented by the sticky rice-lime mortar. This article reviews the progress of relevant studies since 2007, including the followings:innovative progress of chemical detection and ELISA analytical technique on organic residuals from traditional mortar; test results and cause analysis of 1149 mortar samples from 252 ancient architectural sites in China; experimental verification of the curing mechanism of traditional cementing materials such as sticky rice-lime mortar and tung oil mortar; influences of the research achievement of sticky rice-lime mortar and its status in the history of world composite materials; recent new findings of organic additives in the Neolithic Age Baihuimian (white lime layer) and tracing of its relevant origin; study of the modified traditional sticky rice-lime mortar and its applications in cultural relics conservation projects; etc. The series of exploratory research not only provides materials and technologies for traditional architectural conservation, but also presents vivid cases for the promotion of Chinese civilization.