The　12　May　2008　Wenchuan　earthquake　(Ms　8.0)　triggered　over　56,000　landslides　over　a　broad　area,　including　shallow,　disrupted　landslides,　rock　falls,　deep-seated　landslides,　and　rock　avalanches.　Among　these　landslides,　rock　avalanches　are　of　great　concern　because　of　the　large　volume　of　displaced　material,　the　long　runout　distance　and　the　resulting　fatalities.　In　this　paper,　some　rock　avalanches　(including　the　Woqian,　the　Tangjiawan,　the　Hongyancun,　the　Xiejiadianzi,　and　the　Shuimogou　rock　avalanches)　were　selected　for　detailed　study.　Mapping　of　coseismic　surface　rupture　has　been　carried　out　at　regional　and　site　scales.　The　minor　scarps　or　stepped　topographic　features　observed　at　the　source　areas　of　the　rock　avalanches　correspond　spatially　to　the　surface　rupture,　indicating　that　they　should　be　created　by　thrusting　of　a　fault　that　ruptured　during　the　2008　Wenchuan　earthquake.　Avalanche　deposits　of　some　rock　avalanches　are　shifted　northeastward,　the　same　direction　with　the　strike-slip　of　the　fault　rupture,　compared　with　the　sources　of　the　rock　avalanches,　indicating　that　the　component　of　strike-slip　of　the　fault　rupture　exerted　a　horizontal　initial　velocity　on　the　failed　mass.　For　the　Woqian　rock　avalanche,　the　source　rock　on　the　hanging　wall　was　pushed　northeastward,　creating　a　hummocky　topographic　feature　because　of　the　right-lateral　slip　of　the　fault　rupture.　These　rock　avalanches　are,　therefore,　triggered　by　oblique-thrust　faulting.　In　addition,　the　source　rock　mass　was　of　poor　quality　resulting　from　the　shearing　and　brecciation　associated　with　fault　movement　in　history,　rendering　the　rock　slopes　prone　to　failure　and　contributing　to　the　high　degree　of　disintegration　of　the　failed　rock　mass.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.