Researches　on　the　cause　of　formation　and　attributes　of　some　near-fault　earthquake　ground　motion　characteristics　such　as　directivity　effect,　fling-step　effect,　hanging-wall　effect　and　prominent　vertical　ground　motion　are　briefly　introduced;　the　research　progress　of　seismic　responses　of　engineering　structures　induced　by　near-fault　horizontal　and　vertical　seismic　ground　motions　are　summarized　separately　and　comprehensively.　The　seismic　resistant　design　guidelines　or　codes　considering　the　engineering　effect　of　near-fault　ground　motions　all　over　the　world　is　introduced　on　the　basis　of　the　investigation　of　seismic　behavior　of　engineering　structures　imposed　by　near-fault　motions.　Further　investigation　on　the　formation　mechanism　of　pulse　attribute　resulted　from　near-fault　hanging-wall　effect　and　stochastic　property　of　near-fault　motions　should　be　conducted　in　future.　Confirmation　and　validation　should　be　performed　on　the　safety　and　effectiveness　of　structural　vibration　control　technology　imposed　on　engineering　structures　excited　by　near-fault　motions.　It　is　recommended　that　seismic　responses　of　engineering　structures　imposed　on　acceleration　pulse,　vertical　and　rotational　components　should　be　paid　more　attention.　Numerical　simulation　technology　of　formation　and　development　process　of　the　seismogenic　fault　can　be　employed　to　remedy　the　lack　of　near-fault　seismic　records　and　to　investigate　near-fault　seismic　attributes　and　engineering　structural　responses.　It　is　believed　that　the　summarization　and　discussion　in　this　paper　will　provide　references　for　considering　the　influence　of　near-fault　effects　and　criterion　modification　of　future　engineering　design　and　evaluation.　©,　2014,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.