A　solution　method　for　the　determination　of　seismic　passive　earth　pressures　in　narrow　cohesive　backfill　behind　gravity　walls　has　been　developed　using　the　stress　characteristics　method.　The　stress　characteristics　method　is　combined　with　the　pseudo-static　method　in　the　analysis　to　consider　the　effects　of　seismic　forces.　The　failure　mechanisms　of　backfill　are　complex　when　the　backfill　reaches　its　passive　limit　state.　The　stress　characteristics　method　does　not　require　pre-assumptions　about　the　sliding　surface　and　the　plastic　region　of　the　backfill.　This　method　automatically　calculates　the　position　of　the　sliding　surface.　The　reliability　and　reasonableness　of　the　proposed　method　are　verified　by　comparing　the　sliding　surface　and　seismic　passive　earth　pressure　calculated　in　this　paper　with　the　finite　element　calculation　results,　the　existing　experimental　research　results　and　the　existing　theoretical　solution　results.　The　effect　of　different　parameters　on　seismic　passive　earth　pressure　is　investigated　by　internal　stress　clouds　of　the　backfill　and　the　distribution　of　passive　earth　pressure　on　the　retaining　wall.　(c)　2024　Production　and　hosting　by　Elsevier　B.V.　on　behalf　of　The　Japanese　Geotechnical　Society.　This　is　an　open　access　article　under　the　CC　BY-　NC-ND　license　(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).