The evolution of wildfire activity in the Holocene was closely linked to climate change, vegetation dynamics, and the development of human civilization. Compared to terrestrial archives, marginal sea sediments offer broader watershed-scale spatial coverage and longer temporal sequences, providing a unique perspective on interactions among fire activity, climate variability, and human influence. This study is a systematic compilation and review of Holocene fire histories and their climatic and environmental responses within East Asian marginal seas. Under the coupled impacts of climate change and human activity across the East Asian monsoon region, sedimentary black carbon records from the Eastern China seas indicated a decline in fire frequency and intensity during the mid- to late Holocene. This trend was likely linked to reduced biomass fuel availability, driven by climate variation and extensive anthropogenic activity. The spatiotemporal distribution of fire activity showed strong latitudinal differences, as fire intensity was closely correlated with regional hydrological conditions and vegetation patterns. At the centennial scale, wildfire records exhibited strong associations with anthropogenic drivers, particularly during Chinese dynastic transitions. As global warming continues to intensify, wildfire regimes across East Asia are expected to become increasingly complex and severe. Future studies should investigate into the mechanisms underlying wildfire regimes and their long-term trajectories to obtain scientific insights for regional fire risk assessment and the development of effective management strategies.