The South China Sea Rim,a core area from which the Marine Silk Road radiates,ranges from South China,Southwest China to Southeast Asia.Having seen very complex ethnic interchange and social interactions in history,this area developed a cultural landscape characterized by "there is a bit of me in you,and a bit of you in me." Whatever cultural exchanges this society has witnessed in space and time is not only shaping the cultural ecology,but also has a function of social integration.The inter/intra-regional social systems,existing in the form of network,constitute a methodological foundation on which the South China Sea Rim is dealt with as a whole.It can be defined as a social unit,transcending the lower levels of family,community,ethnic group,nation-state and transnational region,and making a significant part of the global society.This concept provides a new approach to the interpretation of "Community of Shared Future for the Mankind" and "the Belt and Road Initiative".