original title: 海國圖志 (Hǎiguó Túzhì). This work, authored by the scholar-official Wei Yuan (1794–1857), is one of the most significant books in modern Chinese history. It was the first comprehensive attempt to describe the geography, history, and military technology of Western nations following China's defeat in the First Opium War.

The term "Sea Kingdoms" refers to the maritime nations of the West, including Europe and the Americas, while "Gazetteer" (Zhi) indicates a formal, scholarly record or historical survey.