Kanchuang　frames　are　important　parts　of　traditional　timber　architecture　in　China.　This　paper　used　experimental　and　numerical　methods　to　study　the　restoring　force　model　of　Kanchuang　frames,　which　were　used　frequently　in　Chinese　ancient　timber　structures,　particularly　in　North　China.　The　prototyped　test　model　is　a　type　of　Chinese　traditional　timber　architecture　named　Qilinyingshan.　It　was　widely　used　in　ancient　timber　buildings　preserved　from　the　Ming　and　Qing　dynasties.　This　study　analyzed　the　loading　process　and　failure　modes　of　the　test　model,　and　the　skeleton　curve　and　hysteretic　curve　data　were　collected.　Moreover,　a　dimensionless　skeleton　curve　model　was　developed　based　upon　the　findings.　The　hysteresis　loops　of　the　test　model　were　also　analyzed,　and　it　was　found　that　each　hysteresis　loop　can　be　divided　into　several　feature　segments　according　to　their　stiffness　at　different　loading　stages.　Regression　analysis　was　also　used　to　obtain　the　stiffness　degradation　curvilinear　equations　of　the　feature　segments.　Finally,　a　hysteresis　force　model　of　a　Kanchuang　frame　was　established.　This　study　also　found　that　the　loading　process　can　be　divided　into　three　stages:　the　elastic　stage,　in　which　all　of　the　components　are　in　good　condition;　the　elastic-plastic　stage,　in　which　cracks　gradually　develop　on　the　wall;　and　the　new　elastic-plastic　stage,　after　which　the　wall　collapses.　It　was　found　there　was　consistency　between　the　restoring　force　model　and　the　test　results,　indicating　that　the　model　is　valid　and　reliable.　The　skeleton　curve　model　and　hysteretic　model　provide　reference　for　the　nonlinear　seismic　response　of　ancient　timber　architecture.