The Sichuan earthquake of May 12, 2008, occurred as the result of motion on a northeast striking reverse fault or thrust fault on the northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin. The earthquake's epicenter and focal-mechanism are consistent with it having occurred as the result of movement on the Longmenshan fault or a tectonically related fault. The earthquake reflects tectonic stresses resulting from the convergence of crustal material slowly moving from the high Tibetan Plateau, to the west, against strong crust underlying the Sichuan Basin and southeastern China.
On a continental scale, the seismicity of central and eastern Asia is a result of northward convergence of the India plate against the Eurasia plate with a velocity of about 50 mm/y. The convergence of the two plates is broadly accommodated by the uplift of the Asian highlands and by the motion of crustal material to the east away from the uplifted Tibetan Plateau.
The northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin has previously experienced destructive earthquakes. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake of August 25, 1933, killed more than 9,300 people.
四川5月12日的地震，是由于东北显著的逆向断层运动，或者四川盆地边缘冲断层的运动造成的。震中和震源机制和龙门山断层或与该断层相关的地质构造运动结果的发生是一致的。地震反映了地质构造压力的结果是来自于地壳物质从西藏高原到西部，对着强大的硬壳的缓慢集中，这个硬壳的基础是四川盆地和中国的西南部。
从一个大陆板块的范围看，这个地震中心和东亚是印度板块和欧亚板块以每年50毫米的速度向北集中的结果。这两个板块的集中是一个大范围调整，它抬起亚洲的高原以及使地壳物质向东运动脱离上升的西藏高原。
四川盆地的西北边缘以前也发生过破坏性的地震，1933年8月25日的7.5级地震使9300多人丧生
