To　find　an　effective　strengthening　method　for　Chinese　ancient　tenon-mortise　joint,　a　form　of　steel　components　was　brought　up.　According　to　a　Chinese　ancient　wooden　building,　5　groups(3　unstrengthened　and　2　strengthened　by　steel　components　on　tenon-mortise　joints)of　1:8　scale　wooden　frame　models　were　built　considering　swallow　tail　joint　type.　By　manual　loading　means,　low　cyclic　reversed　loading　tests　were　carried　out.　For　each　joint,　its　moment-rotation　hysteretic　curves　and　skeleton　curves　were　obtained,　its　energy　dissipation　capability,　stiffiness　degradation　as　well　as　deformation　performance　were　analysed.　Results　showed　that　after　the　joint　was　strengthened　by　steel　components,　its　tenon　pull　value　became　less,　its　stiffness　and　strength　were　enhanced,　its　stiffness　degradation　was　not　obvious,　and　it　still　had　good　energy　dissipation　capability　as　well　as　ductility.　Thus　the　strengthening　method　is　effective.