The　seismic　behavior　of　short　circular　reinforced　concrete　columns　was　studied　by　testing　seven　columns　retrofitted　with　prestressing　steel　wire　(PSW),　subjected　to　combined　constant　axial　compression　and　lateral　cyclic　load.　The　main　test　parameters　were　configuration　index　of　PSW,　prestressing　level　of　PSW,　and　axial　compression　ratio.　An　analysis　and　discussion　of　the　test　results　including　failure　mode,　hysteresis　curves,　skeleton　curves,　ductility,　and　degradation　of　stiffness　was　done.　The　results　show　that　the　seismic　performance　of　the　retrofitted　specimens　could　be　effectively　enhanced　even　if　the　axial　compression　ratio　of　columns　reached　0.81.　The　ductility　index　and　the　energy　absorption　capacity　of　the　retrofitted　specimens　increase　with　the　prestressing　level　of　PSW.　The　formulas　for　calculating　shear　capacity　of　RC　short　columns　strengthened　with　PSW　were　proposed　which　may　be　useful　for　future　engineering　designs　and　researches.