内容提要： 地方学是一项研究特定地域总体属性的综合学问，通观这一地方的历史与文化的根脉，也关注当今的经济社会发展的独具的特性和总体趋势。地域文化是地方学的经脉和血液。地方学的各项研究方向都从地域文化的视觉角度来审视和探讨；而地域文化研究要在地方学总体框架下立论和探究，以使这项文化研究规范在地方学的范畴。
地域文化是表现为地域性的文化现象，是通过特定地域的人们在继承和发展中创造的。地域文化是对特定地域空间内的生态环境、经济方式、社会结构、文化传统的诸方面进行综合研究的学问。
地域文化首先在地域范围上必须有确定的指向，有个核心的区域。其二，必须有独特的历史的文化的特性，是某种草根文化、乡土文化的发祥地，并且有着足够的影响力和延续力。其三，这种文化形成一定的体系，有相对完整的一个学术理论框架和一定数量的研究人群。其四，这种文化在历史上或当今的地区经济社会的发展发挥过或发挥着重大的影响力。
地域文化是特定时期和特定地域形成的国家大文化中的一个子系统，地域文化研究就是专门考察和分析某一地区独特的地理人文环境、经济形态、政治状况、文化教育、社会习俗、文化心理等方面。透过区域文化研究成果，寻找出中国文化在地方上的表现特征，从而有助于更加清晰地审视中国经济社会和文化的发展脉络。
建立在北京联合大学的北京学研究所是一个重要的启示。建立在内蒙古鄂尔多斯市的鄂尔多斯学研究会带动了一个学科，建立在包头市的西口文化研究会创立了西口文化学。本世纪初，鄂尔多斯学研究会、北京学研究所、温州学研究会、扬州学研究会、西口文化研究会、元上都历史文化研究会、敕勒川文化研究会、红山文化研究会、三峡学研究会、三晋文化研究会、科尔沁文化研究会等以地域文化研究和地方学建设为对象的学术单位相继成立，开启了地域文化研究和地方学建设的新篇章。
以北京学为代表的属于学院派。以高等学府或科研所为依托，起点高，影响面广，实力强，成为地方学建设的旗帜。学院派有温州学、晋学、杨州学、三峡学、红山文化、敕勒川文化等。以鄂尔多斯学为代表的属于草根派，以故土的民间社团和文化人为依托，扎根当地，基础稳固，面对故土和相亲，爱家乡与爱文化同在，成为地方学建设的根基。草根派有上都文化、西口文化、科尔沁文化、察哈尔文化等。
地方学建设与地域文化研究需要建立完整的框架结构规范和学术体系。全国的地方学建设和地域文化研究需要形成高架构的合力。在中国地方学建设联席会的基础上，进一步联络相关国内外学术团体，搭建地方学建设与地域文化研究的高端学术平台。草根派要走进学府，学院派要走进社会，共同构建深入植根于社会的地方学建设与地域文化研究的学科。
Jinchang Xu; Haifeng Gu; Jianwen Li
Abstract: Region studies is a composite discipline of researching the general attribute of a specific region, all-sidedly observing the history and cultural roots of this area, focusing on the unique features and overall trend of today's economic and social development as well. Regional culture is the major content of region studies. The examination and discussion of every research direction of region studies as per the visual angle of regional culture. Regional culture studies will set the argument and carry on the research under the basis of region studies, so the researching of regional culture is belongs to the category of region studies.
Regional culture is the performance of regional cultural phenomenon and created through theinheritance and development of this region. Regional culture is the comprehensive study of the environment, economy mode, society structure, traditional culture, etc. of a specific geographical space.
Firstly, regional culture should have the certain direction at geographical scope, and has the core area. Secondly, regional culture should has the unique historical culture characters, and also should be the cradle of a certain folk culture or native culture with strong influence and vitality. Thirdly, the culture should form a certain system, has a relatively complete framework ofacademic theory and a certain number of study population. Fourthly, this culture should exertedthe significant influence in history or exerting the strong impact in the current development of regional economic society.
Regional culture is a subsystem of national culture which is generated at a particular period and a specific area. The research of regional culture is exclusively observing and analyzing the particular humanities environment, economy form, politics status, culture, education, social customs and cultural psychology, etc. of a certain area, finding out the regional performance of Chinese culture as per the regional researching result, thus benefiting the clearly look at China's economic society and cultural development context.
The institute of Beijing studies established by Beijing union university is an important inspiration;the research association of Eerduosi studies founded in Inner Mongolia Eerduosi led a discipline; the Xikou culture research institute founded in Baotou set up the Xikou culture studies. At the beginning of this century, academic units focusing on the regional culture research and regional studies construction just like research association of Eerduosi studies, institute of Beijing studies,research association of Wenzhou studies, research association of Yangzhou studies, research association of Xikou culture, research association of Yuan capital history culture, research association of Chilechuan culture, research association of Hongshan culture, research associationof Sanxia culture, research association of Sanjin culture, research association of Khorchinculture, etc. founded consecutively, and then opened the new chapter of regional culture research and regional studies construction
