In　order　to　build　multistory　residence　buildings　with　good　seismic　performance　and　low　cost,　the　RC　shear　wall　with　bi-directional　single　row　of　steel　bars　are　proposed　to　be　used.　For　the　purpose　of　knowing　the　seismic　performance　of　this　shear　wall　with　different　format　of　boundary　element　and　comparing　with　traditional　masonry　shear　wall,　a　low-frequency　quasi-static　cyclic　loading　experimental　study　on　three　low-rise　RC　shear　walls　with　low　reinforcement　ratio　and　one　masonry　shear　wall　made　of　confined　shale　bricks　was　carried　out.　The　shear-span　ratio　of　four　specimens　was　1.0.　Based　upon　the　experimental　study,　load-carrying　capacity,　ductility,　stiffness　and　its　degradation,　hysteretic　behavior,　energy　dissipation　and　failure　phenomena　of　each　shear　wall　were　analyzed.　A　simplified　mechanical　model　and　calculative　formulas　for　the　load-carrying　capacity　of　low-rise　RC　shear　walls　with　bi-directional　single　row　of　steel　bars　were　established.　The　calculating　results　of　the　load-carrying　capacity　agreed　well　with　the　experimental　results.　Experiments　study　has　indicated　that　the　seismic　performance　of　low-rise　RC　shear　wall　with　bi-directional　single　row　of　steel　bars　is　better　than　that　of　masonry　shear　wall　and　it　satisfied　the　requirements　of　seismic　design　for　multistory　residence　buildings.