Based　on　shaking　table　test　and　nonlinear　finite　element　analysis,　the　dynamic　performance　of　a　typical　self-built　dwelling　model,　brick　masonry　building　without　structural　column,　were　studied.　The　results　showed　that:　®　The　typical　rural　house　is　able　to　withstand　earthquake　action　corresponding　to　peak　acceleration　Q.　2　g,　but　when　the　peak　acceleration　is　more　than　0.3　g,　the　structure　will　be　seriously　damaged　or　even　collapse.　©　Two　parts　of　the　dwelling　are　severely　damaged,　one　is　the　wall　with　the　change　of　vertical　stiffness　in　the　first　floor,　and　the　other　is　the　wall　of　the　stairwell　and　windows　in　the　third　floor.　They　can　be　regarded　as　weaknesses　of　the　structure,　and　reinforcement　programs　should　focus　on　two　parts.　®　The　finite　element　analysis　of　the　masonry　structure　was　implemented　by　using　the　continuum　model,　in　which　the　mechanical　properties　of　brick　masonry　was　approximately　simulated　by　the　plastic　damage　model,　and　the　nonlinear　analysis　of　model　was　carried　out　by　defining　plastic　stress-strain　relations　and　damage　factor　of　concrete.　And　the　results　of　the　finite　element　simulation　are　consistent　with　that　of　test.　Because　the　dwelling　studied　in　this　paper　is　also　widely　exist　in　towns　of　China,　the　results　can　also　be　applied　to　estimate　the　dynamic　performance　and　provide　strengthen　layout　for　the　same　structure　in　the　different　regions.