The influence of annealing process in an $O_2$ atmosphere on the photoluminescence (PL) spectra properties of ZnS nanowires has been investigated. ZnS nanowires with the diameters approximately 100 nm and the lengths a few tens micrometers were synthesized by evaporating ZnS powders on Si substrates while using an Au thin film as a catalyst. ZnS nanowires had an NBE emission band at 430 nm in the violet region. The emission intensity was improved drastically by a process in which ZnS nanowires were heat-treated at $500^{circ}C$ in an $O_2$ atmosphere for 45 minutes.