Liver fibrosis formation and hepatocyte regeneration are two important manifestations of liver repair in chronic liver disease. Liver fibrosis formation and hepatocyte regeneration are accompanied by abnormal changes in hepatic vascular architecture and bile duct structure, resulting in abnormal flow of hepatic blood and bile. Progressive liver fibrosis is manifested not only by the proportion of liver fibrous tissue approaching or exceeding that of regenerating hepatocytes, but also by abnormal liver blood and bile flow affecting the structure and function of extrahepatic organs. Progressive liver fibrosis is called cirrhosis. The manifestations of structural and functional changes in extrahepatic organs in patients with cirrhosis are, from mild to severe, portal hypertension, esophagogastric fundic varices or ascites formation, ruptured bleeding from esophagogastric veins or intestinal bacterial translocation, hepatic encephalopathy or hepatorenal syndrome or hepatopulmonary syndrome. The main manifestation of progressive cirrhosis is abnormal liver metabolism. The liver has a very strong reserve function; therefore, cirrhosis does not necessarily cause significant abnormalities in sugar, protein and ester metabolism. Many of the proteins synthesized by the liver do not necessarily appear abnormal. Progressive cirrhosis is called end-stage liver disease. In an era when no specific treatment was available, liver fibrosis was considered irreversible. Antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B and C, immunosuppressive therapy for autoimmune hepatitis, and alcohol cessation therapy for alcoholic liver disease have demonstrated that liver fibrosis can regress, including regression of progressive liver fibrosis. However, it remains uncertain whether the hepatic vascular architecture and biliary structures that have undergone abnormalities can regress. The connotation of cirrhosis includes not only a significant increase in hepatic fibrous tissue and a significant decrease in total hepatocytes, but also significant alterations in hepatic vascular architecture and bile duct structure. Today, when regression of liver fibrosis is possible, it should be considered dogma to say that cirrhosis cannot be regressed; however, there are insufficient studies to support that abnormal liver vascular architecture and bile duct structure can be regressed in cirrhosis, and therefore, it can be considered a myth to say that you can regress in cirrhosis. Evidence from long-term clinical practice has suggested that patients who implement specific treatments over a long period of time not only have a significant reduction in liver fibrohistochemistry, but also that the basic structures of the liver, blood flow and bile flow can be returned. Thus, the concept that cirrhosis can regress is approaching reality. However, there is still a long way to go to break through the shackles of dogma and myths.