To understand the changes in yield, harvest index (HI) and biomass of aboveground parts of rice, 33 japonica rice cultivars released from 1958 to 2005 were planted. During the 47 years, the grain yield increased from 9 118.36 to 15 060.1 kg/hm2 and HI from 0.46 to 0.55. In the genetic improvement, the total number of tillers per plant decreased, and the biomass per unit area slightly increased at the harvest stage. The increases of yield and HI resulted from the increased biomasses of effective tillers and single stem, and the increase of biomass per stem was related to the increased biomasses of different organs along with the genetic improvement. The stem and sheath biomass at heading and the leaf biomass at 30 days after heading showed the highest increase, up by 75.17% and 49.94%, respectively. The biomasses of leaf and stem-sheath at 10 days after heading, and biomass per stem at 30 days after heading were obviously correlated with the yield. The results indicate that the genetic improvement has resulted in the increase of yield and HI. This increase is correlated with the decrease of total tiller number per plant, and increase of biomasses of effective tillers and single stem. The leaf biomass after heading and the stem and sheath biomass at 10 days after heading can be used as selection criteria for breeding high yielding rice cultivars. To understand the changes in yield, harvest index (HI) and biomass of aboveground parts of rice, 33 japonica rice cultivars released from 1958 to 2005 were planted. During the 47 years, the grain yield increased from 9 118.36 to 15 060.1 kg / hm 2 and HI from 0.46 to 0.55. In the genetic improvement, the total number of tillers per plant decreased, and the biomass per unit area slightly increased at the harvest stage. The increases of yield and HI resulted from the increased biomasses of effective tillers and single stem, and the increase of biomass per stem was related to the increased biomasses of different organs along with the genetic improvement. The stem and sheath biomass at heading and the leaf biomass at 30 days after heading showed the highest increase, up by 75.17% and 49.94%, respectively. The biomasses of leaf and stem-sheath at 10 days after heading, and biomass per stem at 30 days after heading were observed correlated with the yield. The results indicate that the genetic improvement has resulted in the increase of yield and HI. This increase is correlated with the decrease of total tiller number per plant, and increase of biomasses of efficient tillers and single stem. The leaf biomass after heading and the stem and sheath biomass at 10 days after heading can be used as selection criteria for breeding high yielding rice cultivars.