Mortise-tenon　joint　is　an　important　characteristic　of　Chinese　ancient　timber　buildings.　Survey　on　mortise-tenon　joint　of　Chinese　timber　structures　in　the　last　twenty　years　is　summarized　and　reviewed　in　five　aspects　as　follows:　(1)　load　transfer　mechanism,　(2)　the　relationship　of　M-theta,　(3)　the　failure　characteristics,　(4)　carrying　capacity,　and　(5)　seismic　performance.　Finally,　research　on　the　strengthening　of　mortise-tenon　joints　is　presented　in　this　paper.