Abstract: A new kind of damping joint is developed by installing energy dissipation devices (such as viscous dampers) on the dual lintel-column joints in traditional style buildings to reduce the seismic response and enhance energy dissipation. Three specimens were tested under sine wave dynamic cyclic loading, two of them are new damping joints with viscous damper, and one of them has no viscous damper installed and is for comparison. The loading process and failure patterns were observed. The mechanical performances such as the horizontal load-displacement curves and skeleton curves, load carrying capacity, degradation of strength and stiffness, energy dissipation and ductility of the dual lintel-column joints and load-displacement curves of viscous damper were analyzed. The results indicate that the load-bearing capacity of the damping joint is significantly higher than that of the comparing specimen. The hysteretic curve of the damping joint is plump. Descending phase of skeleton curves is smoother. The ability of energy dissipation of the novel damping joint is superior to that of non-controlled specimen, showing that the dual lintel-column joint in traditional style building with viscous damper has excellent seismic behaviors.