Variational methods has been used widely in engineering mechanics analysis,but is used less in slope analysis.Based on the application of variational method in the stress analysis of a special slope,the authors attempted to apply variational method to slope analysis,so as to find a new approach of slop analysis.According to displacement boundary condition,compatible displacement component functions were found,and then displacement field and main stress field in slope could be calculated by Rayleigh-Ritz method.Based on main stress σ1 and σ3 that were calculated by variational method,Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion was applied to calculation,the calculated result showed that the slip surface of the slope is elliptic.