With the increasing development of THz imaging technology, this article, aiming at the problem which is more difficult to design a clear, real time, high sensitivity, miniaturization and low-cost THz imaging system, from the view of designing of THz imaging system, studies imaging characteristics, operating principle, composition and key technologies (including THz optical system, detector and weak signal processing)and focuses on the current progress of THz imaging system. And the advantages, disadvantages and application of the imaging systems, which includeγ, X, ultraviolet, visible, low-light-level, infrared, THz and millimeter wave in the electromagnetic spectrum, are compared and analyzed. Based on typical applications, the future development direction of THz imaging system is proposed. This work plays a significant role in the study and design of THz imaging.