Numerical simulation is widely used in the analysis of seismic performance of ancient timber structures, but the simulation analysis of an overall structure often lacks corresponding experimental verification, which leads to doubts about the authenticity of the results. A typical Song style beam-column-Dougong timber frame was taken as the research object. The deformation and hysteretic behavior of the structure under cyclic lateral loads were simulated and analyzed by using ABAQUS. The simulation results were compared with the laboratory test results of a same half-scale specimen. The research results show that the timber frame is dominated by rocking deformation under cyclic lateral loads. The hysteretic curve is in an S-shape with obvious pinching effect. By comparing the numerical simulation and test results, it can be seen that the difference in the maximum bearing capacity determined by the two is less than 5%. The changing trends of the stiffness curves of the two are the same, and the variation range of the equivalent viscous damping coefficient is close. The simulation results can well predict the deformability and bearing capacity of a real timber structure, and can reflect the energy dissipation capacity of the structure as well as the stiffness characteristics of the structure under large deformation.