Based　on　comparison　between　results　of　shaking　table　tests　and　those　of　finite　element　analysis,　the　nonlinear　finite　element　analysis　method　for　brick　masonry　structures　was　discussed,　and　the　aseismic　performance　of　a　typical　rural　dwelling　model　without　structural　columns　was　studied.　The　results　showed　that　(1)　the　plastic　damage　model　can　be　used　to　approximately　simulate　the　mechanical　behaviors　of　a　masonry　structure,　and　the　results　with　the　finite　element　simulation　are　consistent　with　the　test　ones;　(2)　the　typical　rural　house　with　strength　classes　of　brick　and　mortar　being　Mu15　and　M10,　respectively　is　able　to　withstand　the　earthquake　action　with　peak　acceleration　of　0.3　g,　but　it　is　seriously　damaged　and　does　not　meet　the　aseismic　requirements　against　large　earthquake;　(3)　reducing　the　strength　class　of　mortar　or　brick　has　a　great　negative　influence　on　the　compression　strength　of　masonries　and　the　aseismic　performance　of　a　structure;　(4)　in　order　to　reduce　earthquake　damage,　both　the　design　and　the　construction　process　of　self-built　dwellings　should　be　included　in　national　standardized　managements.