FUNCTIONALISM IN A REGIONAL CONCEPT

Abstract

The idea of the nodal region which functionally unites homogeneous regions is needed in order to explain the regional features after the Industrial Revolution. The concept of function, however, is too inclusive, and the historical aspect of a nodal region and its function is apt to be disregarded. The development of the functional regions may be considered as follows. It is the first stage when territories of village communities are isolated from each other by woods, rivers and wastes as the smallest regional entities (G). Oblique lines in G show the native characteristics of G (fig. 1). Next comes the stage in which discontinuities of G are weakened by the gradual formations of secondary life circles (M), such as hundred, sedes, “go” and so on (fig. 2). As M circles develop into the local reproduction circles, and the functions of the county level regions (L) are strengthened in the form of feudal territories, the third stage becomes ripe and the national regions (S) may be formed (fig. 3). Then the national regions are reorganized into the territories of the modern states, in which lower orders, of the regions, such as G, M and L are transformed and incorporated (fig. 4). Thus the whole surface of the earth emerges on the background of national life. At the same time, in the process of such a regional development, various orders of regional centres are established in the hierarchical systems. And scales of regions in each orders and stages have definite tendencies in area and population. Micro-analysis of the inner structure of G shows that the changes of relations between strips, furlongs and village territories in G have corelations with the macro-development of the functional regions mentioned above, which also corresponds to the ecological chain between pastures, arable lands, woods and settlements as structural elements of G. Besides, generally speaking, strips directly united with the forms of block fields into the territory of G in the first and second stages, are tied together it furlongs which are the unit areas of comunal practice on the third stage. But after modern enclosures of fields, strips bocome larger and independent units of farm practice in falling G. In such a case, results of Schluter's morphological geography are to be applied to the functional consideration of regions. Therein consists the theory of Formenwandel from the view point of the historical development. Acceptance of the region as objective reality has been increasingly criticised by Hartshorne, Whittlesey, Schmitthenner, T autensach, Carol and other geographers. But absolute rejection of a total region in a sense of discontinuity is to be incompatiable with acceptance of the compage or ganzen Kultur-landschaft which is, according to Carol, the geographical object. The writer can say that, in cases of G (fig. 1) and S (fig. 4), they are not mere concepts intellectually created but real entities while C (fig. 3 and 4) are mere complex or mixture. While a region of some order evolves from entity through complex to mere mixture, another region in connection with it is gradually formed into objective reality and evolves in the same direction. It is on this dynamic field that functional consideration is to be undertaken concerning the underlying, disorderly complex of the present regions.