During the Ming and Qing Dynasties，folk texts that spread along the coastal areas of China，such as the Marine Zhenlu and the Genglubu of South China Sea，recorded maritime knowledge，navigation activities，maritime beliefs and other aspects of historical memory of those people related to the sea. It can be seen that the coastal areas have a rich history of maritime worship，and there are many types of sea gods. People hold various sacrificial ceremonies to pray for the sea gods’ blessing on important matters such as constructing ships，fishing，overseas trading，returning home safely，repairing ships，and so on. Certain sea areas，such as the Black Ditch between East China Sea and Ryukyu，the Qizhou Sea in the South China Sea，the Jiaozhi Sea，the Kunlun Sea，and even the gulf of Siam and the Indonesian islands are all important places for fishermen and merchants to sacrifice to the sea gods during their voyages. Historical materials show that Mazu（Tianhou），the Earth God（Tudigong）and other deities occupy an important position in maritime beliefs and they are widely worshiped. At the same time，there are also a variety of other sea gods in many places that are worth our attention. Rooted in the coastal rural society and among the sea-related people，maritime beliefs share strong grass-roots，hereditary，and marine characteristics. Marine vernacular texts，such as Marine Zhenlu and Genglubu of South China Sea，which are popular in folk culture，have been passed on by word of mouth or by written transcripts. Because they are parts of the folk tradition，they are often ignored by mainstream society and are hard to find in the classics. However，they have a very important historical and cultural value，and a practical significance for the preservation of marine historical and cultural memories；they are important historical writings in coastal areas and are significant factors for the inheritance and development of traditional marine culture.