In　ancient　wooden　structures　of　the　Qing　dynasty　in　China,　stacked　purlins　are　important　longitudinal　elements.　In　this　study,　a　refined　finite　element　model　of　a　four-column　timber　frame　containing　stacked　purlins　was　built.　The　effects　of　the　fangs,　spacer　boards,　and　purlins　with　dovetail　ends　on　the　lateral　resistance　of　the　timber　frame　and　the　mid-span　vertical　deflection　of　the　purlins　were　studied.　The　longitudinal　hysteresis　curve　of　the　timber　frame　made　up　of　stacked　purlins　was　found　to　be　S-shaped,　centrally　symmetrical,　with　a　pinching　effect　and　full　at　both　ends.　The　Fangs　made　the　greatest　improvement　on　the　lateral　stiffness,　displacement　ductility,　and　total　hysteresis　energy　consumption　of　the　timber　frame　by　reducing　the　mid-span　vertical　deflection　of　the　purlins.　The　spacer　boards　contributed　less　to　the　lateral　resistance　of　the　timber　frame　than　Fangs,　but　they　contributed　most　to　the　reduction　of　the　midspan　vertical　deflection　of　the　purlins.　The　dovetail　connection　at　the　ends　of　the　purlins　had　a　limited　effect　on　reducing　the　lateral　stiffness　and　ductility　of　the　timber　frame　and　increasing　the　mid-span　vertical　deflection　of　the　purlins,　but　they　significantly　increased　the　total　energy　consumption　of　the　timber　frame　and　its　energy　consumption　capacity.　©　2023,　North　Carolina　State　University.　All　rights　reserved.