Abstract: The clay mineral assemblages in the surface sediments of the South China Sea (SCS) consist of illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and smectite. The relative abundance of these clay components varies in different regions and different water depth. They are mainly controlled by provenance. We combine the research results from the western and northern SCS with the published data of the clay minerals in the surface sediments of the SCS, and divide the SCS into four parts to trace the sources of clay minerals. The Taiwan Island and Luzon Island are the main provenance of clay minerals for the eastern SCS. The Mekong River, Borneo, Sunda shelf and Indonesia arc are the contributors to the southern SCS. The clay minerals in the surface sediment of the western SCS is mainly from the Mekong, Red, and Pearl Rivers, Sunda shelf, Indonesia arc and Borneo. The Pearl and Yangtze Rivers, Taiwan and Luzon Islands are the provenance of clay minerals for the northern SCS.