In　this　paper,　we　use　GLDAS　(Global　Land　Data　Assimilation　System)　to　analyze　the　effects　of　air　temperature　and　precipitation　on　the　characteristics　of　soil　moisture　in　the　eastern　region　of　China　from　1961　to　2011.　We　find　that　the　temperature　and　precipitation　in　different　seasons　have　different　degrees　of　influence　on　the　characteristics　of　soil　moisture　in　each　layer.　The　results　show　that　over　the　last　50　years,　the　soil　moisture　in　eastern　China　has　a　tendency　to　dry　out,　especially　between　the　late　1970s　to　the　early　1980s.　The　change　of　soil　moisture　with　the　depth　of　soil　layer　has　similar　inter-annual　and　seasonal　patterns.　Soil　moisture　in　different　depths　(0-200　cm)　positively　correlates　with　the　air　temperatures　of　spring,　summer　and　autumn,　but　negatively　correlates　with　the　air　temperature　in　winter　at　0-10　cm,　40-100　cm　and　100-200　cm.　Similarly,　soil　moisture　is　positively　related　to　the　precipitation　in　spring,　summer　and　autumn,　and　the　opposite　is　true　in　winter.　The　results　also　show　that　precipitation　has　a　significant　effect　on　the　shallow　soil　moisture　(0-10　cm),　while　air　temperature　most　affects　the　deep　soil　moisture　(100-200　cm).