Abstract: Tectonic compounding common in the earth crust and lithosphere is the records of repeated tectonic movements.There is a great variety of tectonic compounding the basic types of which include the compounding of various structural features, and that between structural features and geological formations as well as that of various geological formations.The compounding structures may be either autochthonous or allochthonous;they may also comprise structural features caused by the same manner of tectonic movements or by different manner of tectonic movements;and finally,there may be compounding of structures of all sizes ranging from microscopic ones up to tectonic belts or even tectonic domains.
The author emphasizes the concepts of compounding tectonic domains and regional tectonic systems.These concepts have been used to explain the mechanism of the formation of regional tectonic systems in China and adjacent areas.