XQuery　is　a　language　for　querying　XML　data　which　is　widely　used　on　the　Internet.　In　XQuery,　user　can　define　recursive　functions　for　querying　and　processing　XML　data.　XML　twig　pattern　query　is　considered　as　core　operation　for　querying　XML　data　which　has　been　studied　intensively　in　recent　years.　More　powerful　recursive　queries　can　be　achieved　via　combining　user-defined　recursive　function　and　twig　pattern　query.　This　paper　proposes　recursive　twig　pattern　query　(RTPQ)　to　extend　traditional　twig　pattern　query　with　recursion　and　an　effective　holistic　twig　matching　algorithm　for　RTPQ.　With　the　help　of　RTPQ,　recursive　function　call　can　access　its　result　instead　of　evaluating　local　twig　pattern　queries　in　each　calling.　Results　of　experiments　show　that　this　approach　can　improve　query　efficiency　and　eliminate　redundant　intermediate　results.　©　2014　SERSC.