With the increasing prevalence of high-rise buildings, the impact of seismic rotation on such structures has been recognized as a critical frontier in earthquake engineering and a subject of considerable societal concern. Although theoretical analyses, numerical simulations, and observational studies have provided a relatively comprehensive understanding of the translational seismic responses of high-rise buildings and preliminary insights into their rotational behavior, notable misunderstandings and knowledge gaps still remain regarding the influence of seismic rotation on structural performance, particularly in quantifying the contribution rate of seismic rotational components relative to translational ones. Relevant domestic and international research was systematically reviewed,and seismic motion observations and numerical simulation research of high-rise buildings conducted by the research team were integrated for analysis. Fundamental concepts and theories of seismic rotational motion were briefly introduced first, as well as related observational instruments physical and numerical simulation methods real-world observational data were analyzed to evalute the accuracy of existing instruments, the strengths and limitations of physical and numerical simulations, and the constraints of current observational conclusions. Deficiencies in the existing theories, technical methodologies and observational practices of seismic rotational motion were identified. Challenges in numerical simulation research were focused on finally, so as to provide references forthe seismic performance design of high-rise buildings, the development of rotational seismology, and the exploration of potential interdisciplinary engineering applications.