地名作為辨識空間的符號，反映了居民對地表景觀的空間意識，所以藉由地名可 以重塑過去地表的景觀及人類各類活動的軌跡。分析一個區域中各地名之時空特性，可以一 窺該地的區域特色。本文藉由臺南市東區四組地名之時空特性，分析東區由街肆與鄉野並存 的地表景觀，逐漸形成學校、機關及新興社區林立的文教區之過程及區域特性。清代的聚落 與街道名，可以重塑東區以東門大街主軸的街市和少數農村散佈於農野的景觀。日治時代新 增的地名，反映機構、設施、工場相繼設立的區域發展，新聚落居民依賴工場、運輸為生的 生活方式。消失的地名，透露出地表景觀改變與人群遷徙之後，居民對空間符號的淡忘，是 區域轉變的訊息。光復之後，大部份的里名，已經逐漸脫離和土地的連結，反映了現今居民 和土地的疏離關係。透過新里名的時空分佈，可以解讀區域發展的過程。

　　　　　Place-name are often the identifiers of space. They reflect spatial perception of people. By analyzing place-names, We can reconstruct past landform and different human activities in history. Since the spatial and temporal aspects of place-names can be deemed as identifiers of regional characteristics, the author user four groups of place-names to investigate the process of annexation of Tainan's east suburbs into the city. Results of the present research can be summarized according to three temporal stages. Place-names of the present east district of Tainan in the Chin dynasty reveal that the district was an underdeveloped area. During the Japanese colonial era, place-names of the east district reflect then newly established public facilities, institutes, and settlements. In the post-war Republic era, official place-names (namely-Li) are no longer carrying meaningful connotation about man-land relations.