A new stratigraphic division scheme for the Tertiary chronohorizon, petrostratig raphy, volcanic accident strata in Jilin Province is proposed. 15 volcanic accid ent stratigraphic sequences were set up. Three stages of tectonic development ar e identified according to the regional strata angular discordance and the charac ters of tectonomagmatic movement. In constrast with the characteristics of the m ain geologic events in different stages in Jilin Province and its neighbouring a reas and the islands of Japan, we got a new understanding of the Tertiary tecto nic setting of volcanic activity. It is generally believed that the first stage is a compressional structural setting (62～34 Ma), from the early backarc exte ns ion to the late compression, which is related to the subduction of the Pacific p late and the geodynamic mechanism of oblique subduction. The second stage is an extension setting (34～5.2 Ma), which is directly controlled by the open and evo l ution of the Japan sea basin. The third stage is a compressional uplift setting (5.2～1.64 Ma), which corresponds to the subduction of the Philippine sea plate tow ards the Japan land lowarc.