The　RC　shear　wall　with　single　row　of　steel　bars　is　not　only　applicable　for　multistory　residence　building,　but　also　important　for　energy-saving　building　structure　system　to　replace　clay　brick.　In　order　to　know　the　effects　of　simplified　boundary　element　on　seismic　performance　of　this　shear　wall,　the　low-frequency　quasi-static　cyclic　loading　experimental　study　on　four　mid-rise　shear　walls　with　shear-span　ratio　1.5　was　carried　out.　The　four　walls　included　three　RC　shear　walls　with　single　row　of　steel　bars　and　simplified　boundary　elements　as　well　as　one　masonry　shear　wall　composed　of　confined　shale　bricks.　Based　upon　the　experimental　study,　the　bearing　capacity,　ductility,　stiffness　and　degradation,　hysteretic　performance,　energy　dissipation　and　failure　phenomena　of　the　walls　with　different　boundary　members　were　systematically　analyzed.　Mechanical　models　and　formulas　of　bearing　capacity　of　the　RC　shear　walls　were　established,　and　the　results　calculated　from　the　formulas　and　those　from　experiments　were　in　good　agreement.　In　addition,　the　study　indicated　that　the　seismic　performance　of　mid-rise　RC　shear　walls　with　bi-directional　single　row　of　steel　bars　and　simplified　boundary　elements　surpasses　the　masonry　shear　wall　obviously.