Abstract: In this paper, we studied the foreshocks of the global great shallow-focus earthquakes with MW≥8.0 from 1976 to 2017. Results show: ①27.6% of great earthquakes are preceded by foreshocks with maximum magnitude M＞5.0, which are all thrusting events and account for 38.1% of the total ones (the slip angle is in the range of 60?~110?). ②The epicenters of foreshock sequences are densely concentrated in space, and near the main shock. The epicenter distance between the largest foreshock and the main shock is 10~53km, the magnitude difference ΔM range from 1.1 to 2.8, and most of occurrence difference Δt (the occurring time interval of the largest foreshock and the main shock) is from two hours to 15 days. ③Compared with the background seismicity, the foreshock sequences has the characteristics of high frequency activity, and the accelerating process mainly appeared within 20 days before the main shock. ④The focal mechanism solutions of foreshocks are consistent with that of main shock, while that of aftershocks are more complex. ⑤Parameters of foreshocks and aftershocks for four great earthquakes were calculated by ETAS (Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence) model. Results show that there is no regular difference between foreshocks and aftershocks for the α-value, meaning the ability to generate higher order aftershocks, and for the p-value, indicating the feature of sequence attenuation. While the b-value of foreshocks significantly lower than that of aftershocks. Compared with the regional b-value for background seismicity, the b-value of foreshocks is obviously lower, while that of aftershocks is higher or equivalent to.