Abstract: Based on macrscopic earthquake damage data of the common low buildings and structures, the damage experience of the shallow foundation on natural subsoils is summarized systematically and the damage mechanismand the related damage condition are analyzed. The results obtained show that the except for those sites composed of sandy or silt soils,soft clayey soils and extremely nonuniform soils,the aseismic behaviour of shallow foundation onnatural subsoils during earthquakes is good, and it is unnecessary to perform earthquake resistance analysis,providedthat it is well designed under static load. Finally,the authors point out some important problems for seismic be-haviour analysis of shallow foundation on natural subsoils。