The　current　design　method　of　reinforced　concrete　beam-column　joints　can　ensure　the　safety　of　structures,　but　cannot　always　ensure　the　economy　of　structures.　A　compression　strut　and　a　softened　truss　model　were　used　in　the　presented　design　method　of　reinforced　concrete　beam-column　joints.　By　establishing　equilibrium　equations,　compatibility　equations　and　constitutive　equations　at　the　interfaces　between　joint　cores　and　beams　or　columns,　seismic　actions　transmitted　to　the　compression　strut　and　the　softened　truss　model　can　be　calculated,　respectively.　The　concrete　strength　was　fully　utilized　in　the　new　design　method,　thus　better　economy　was　obtained.　Not　only　can　horizontal　shear　reinforcements　be　determined　in　the　new　design　method,　but　also　vertical　shear　reinforcements.　The　reliability　of　the　new　design　method　of　beam-column　joints　based　on　the　compression　strut　and　the　softened　truss　model　was　verified　by　test　data　of　reinforced　concrete　beam-column　joints.