In　order　to　ensure　the　accuracy　of　finite　element　seismic　analysis　of　ancient　timber　structure　and　to　improve　computational　efficiency,　a　nonlinear　finite　element　model　was　established　by　using　the　general　finite　element　software　ANSYS　and　the　anti-seismic　calculation　problem　was　also　discussed　based　on　multi-scale　modeling　method.　By　using　the　multiple　point　constraint　method　(MPC),　the　deformation　at　the　interface　between　structural　macroscopic　models　and　local　microscopic　models　were　compatible　well　with　each　other.　Solid　element　was　used　to　construct　the　model　of　mortise-tenon　joint　which　was　chosen　as　a　key　area　of　the　whole　structure.　The　models　of　beam　and　column　in　the　non-critical　area　were　constructed　by　using　the　beam　element.　To　verify　the　effectiveness　of　the　interface　connection　method　by　using　MPC,　the　multi-scale　finite　element　models　and　three　dimension　solid　element　models　were　established　to　analyze　the　failure　modes　and　hysteretic　loops　based　on　the　quasi-static　test　data　of　timber　frame　and　mortise-tenon　joints.　Finally,　elasto-plastic　time-history　analysis　was　performed　on　an　exterior　timber　framework　of　an　existing　ancient　timber　building　based　on　multi-scale　method.　The　computational　efficiency　and　earthquake　response　were　compared　between　the　solid　model,　beam　element　model　and　multi-scale　model.　The　result　shows　that　the　multi-scale　finite　element　model,　with　good　computational　efficiency,　can　simulate　the　boundary　conditions　of　timber　components　and　dynamic　response　of　the　whole　structure.　This　indicates　that　the　use　of　multi-scale　model　is　a　balanced　solution　between　computational　precision　and　efficiency,　which　can　provide　a　solid　and　powerful　technical　support　for　seismic　analyses　of　ancient　timber　structures.　©　2016,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Building　Structures.　All　right　reserved.