Static experiment was carried out to study rotation behavior of timber beam-column connection. The influence of length of Gongmu and position of dowel on the initial rotational stiffness of the joint was analyzed. Rules of stiffness degradation under cyclic loading were studied as well. The results show that: the moment-rotation curve of typical timber beam-column connection can be simplified as bilinear model; the initial rotational stiffness of the joint is enhanced with the increase of the length of Gongmu, and it is decreased with the inward movement of dowel; under the same conditions, the influence of the inward movement of Gongmu-beam dowel on the initial rotational stiffness of the joint is smaller than that of Dianmu-Gongmu dowel; and stiffness degrades under cyclic loading and there exists obvious transition phenomenon.