To　protect　the　China　ancient　cultural　heritage　and　ancient　buildings,　this　paper　proposed　an　ultimate　life　prediction　method　that　is　suitable　for　the　Chinese　ancient　wooden　buildings.　An　ancient　building　installed　a　structural　health　monitoring　(SHM)　system　was　an　example　of　practical　engineering　to　validate　the　proposed　method.　In　the　practical　engineering,　the　SHM　system　was　briefly　introduced　firstly,　afterwards　a　finite　element　model　was　developed　and　updated　by　the　monitoring　data,　and　the　life　of　the　building　was　analyzed　and　predicted.　The　results　show　that　the　proposed　damage　prognosis　and　life　prediction　method　is　applicable　and　efficient.　©　2018　SPIE.