[Objective] This study aimed to understand the characters of hard seeds of Amphicarpaea edgeworthii Benth. (Leguminosae) and explore the methods for break- ing dormancy. [Method] For both aerial and subterranean seeds of A. edgeworthii, the morphological characteristics were observed and the appropriate temperature for germination was explored. For aerial seeds of A. edgeworthii, the characters of hard seeds were studied, and concentrated sulfuric acid treatment, hot water soak treat- ment and mechanical damage treatment were compared to explore the methods for breaking seed dormancy. [Result] The aerial seeds were oblate and averaged 3.38 mm in length, 3.02 mm in width, 1.88 mm in thickness, 15.32 g in thousand grain weight, with a hard seed rate after of up to 98% natural maturation. The subter- ranean seeds were approximately oblate with a maximum diameter of 15 mm and a hundred grain weight of (50.08-58.26 g); among all the treatments for breaking hardseededness, cutting seed coat treatment and concentrated sulfuric acid treatment for 20 minutes were the most effective methods, whereas hot water soak treatment was the least effective method; constant temperature between 20 and 30 ℃ was optimum for the germination of aerial seeds, and alternative temperature of 30/20 ℃ was most appropriate for the germination of subterranean seeds. [Conclusion] Cutting seed coat treatment and concentrated sulfuric acid treatment for 20 minutes were the most effective methods to break the hardseededness of A. edgeworthii.