Abstract: Tarim basin has undergone many times of tectonic movements since Sinian period, including compressional thrust movement which is dominated and extensional movement. These movements had at least two alternatives during evolution of the basin, that is, compressional thrust movement in pre-Mesozoic became extensional movement in Mesozoic: but the later was in turn replaced by compressional thrust movement in Cenozoic. These alternative changes, however, could form negative and positive reversed structures. Reversed structure in Tarim basin has close relations with its oil generation, migration, accumulation and preservation, providing a good structural environment for the form of giant and middle oil and gas fields in it.

Key words: Tarim basin, Tectonic evolution, Tectonic stress, Structural superposition, Oil and gas accumulating