The line-start permanent magnet synchronous motor (LSPMSM) has high power factor and efficiency, so it is used to replace three-phase asynchronous motor in many occasions. Due to the large starting current in the starting process of this motor, it has a great impact on the power grid, which limits its industrial application. In order to solve this problem, the rotor winding of the motor is wound in parallel with two coils with different turns, and combined with the harmonic theory of stator magnetomotive force (MMF), a harmonic starting permanent magnet synchronous motor (HSPMSM) is proposed. Based on the working principle of HSPMSM, the stator and rotor windings of the motor are designed. Then, the two-dimensional finite element method (FEM) is used to compare and analyze the braking torque, locked torque, no-load and motor starting performance under different loads of HSPMSM and LSPMSM. The feasibility of this method is verified by comparing the simulation results with the experimental data.