also: ちぶんがく
noun
physiography; physical geography
Dated term for physical geography; modern Japanese normally uses 自然地理学 (しぜんちりがく).
See also: 自然地理学
地文学は、かつて自然地理学を指す言葉として使われた。
地文学 was once used as a term for physical geography.
Modern standard term for physical geography; 地文学 is its dated predecessor.
Compound of 地 (chi, 'earth') + 文 (mon, 'pattern' or 'writing') + 学 (gaku, 'study'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it was used in early modern Japanese academic contexts for physical geography.