Formerly 囶 and 圀 as the「borders of soil for copulation」「borders of methods, people for copulation」and referring to the area from within which a fief lord obtained his harem concubines and wealth (貝), not to neglect mentioning the soil and methods where he shafted serfs as well. Replaced by「border, enclosed area of the king's testicles, gemstones」: a COUNTRY. English pronunciation as 'cunt-tree' is not a coincidence as cunts for the royal woody…「country」initially meant a 'place of companions,' and what other English word uses this unusual pronunciation of「c-o-u-n-t」?
Perhaps the finest gem figuratively being the land within the king's domain itself as the source of his wealth and power. Another original glyph meaning COUNTRY (國) uses「enclosure uncertain, in doubt」as if the borders were in doubt due to constant warring. Moreover, these elements are「enclosed area for repeatedly bobbing dog penis in orifice, sliding stake into soil hole.」
A REGION (area of the regent, king) stems from the fact that modern day regions such as Japanese prefectures and some smaller areas were formerly considered「countries」in much the same manner as the original「states」of the U.S. of A…「State」actually means「nation」and still does in many places other than North America, although the term has become somewhat confused. The American colonies initally formed many individual countries independent from the colonizing mother country (such as Spain and England) that were also independent of each other (that is why they were called「states」), and actually went to war among themselves a number of times, long prior to the War Between the States (for example, before it was conquered by North Carolina, the State of Tennessee was named 'Franklin'). The same type of battles among states occurred in China, Japan (Warring States era) and most everywhere else humans have ever inhabited. As the Terminator put it so eloquently, it's in human nature to destroy ourselves.

External source definitions …excluding politically incorrect concepts and other meanings deemed offensive today; may include extended definitions, euphemisms, and mnemonics)
Chinese: country; nation; state; national
Japanese EDRDG: country
Unihan extended: nation, country, nation-state

Used within names (nanori)
くな　･　こ