Ancient　timber　structures　have　a　high　cost　for　conducting　dynamic　time-history　response　analysis　due　to　the　presence　of　many　nonlinear　components,　such　as　mortise-tenon　joints　and　Dou-Gon.　To　enhance　the　efficiency　of　evaluating　the　seismic　performance　of　ancient　timber　structures　through　dynamic　analysis,　a　simplified　dynamic　response　analysis　method　based　on　SPO2IDA　was　adopted　to　evaluate　the　seismic　performance　of　a　timber　frame　palace　with　nine-purlin　in　Qing　Dynasty　of　China　and　the　results　were　compared　with　those　obtained　using　the　traditional　pushover　analysis　method.　The　results　showed　that　there　were　only　slight　differences　in　the　seismic　response　of　the　ancient　timber　structure　determined　by　the　two　methods　when　the　structure　was　in　a　nonlinear　stage.　During　a　IX　degree　rare　earthquake,　the　displacement　response　differed　by　0.004　m,　while　the　median　seismic　intensity　during　the　third　level　of　damage　limit　state　differed　by　0.079　g.　The　traditional　pushover　analysis　method　may　underestimate　the　seismic　resistance　of　the　ancient　timber　structure,　but　the　SPO2IDA　algorithm　can　better　capture　the　uncertainty　of　the　structural　vulnerability　model　at　different　limit　stages　caused　by　ground　motion　input,　achieving　the　goal　of　quickly　evaluating　the　seismic　performance　of　the　ancient　timber　structure　with　acceptable　accuracy.