Cai Yanning, Sun Minkai, Lu Yudie, Wang Yuqin, Zhang Jian, Goto Seiko
Department of Environmental Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China.
HERD. 2025 Apr 15:19375867251330834. doi: 10.1177/19375867251330834.
This study evaluates the relaxation effects of viewing a Chinese classical garden and a Chinese-style public park in reality and virtual reality (VR) environments by focusing on their psychological and physiological impacts. The experiment examined two landscapes: the culturally rich and elaborately designed Humble Administrator's Garden and the Hefeng Pavilion. Twenty-eight participants participated in four sessions, each consisting of a 5-minute viewing session of the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Hefeng Pavilion under Conditions A (real) and B (VR). Each session was evaluated using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, the Semantic Differences Scale, the Supplemental Questionnaire, and eye tracking technology. In Condition A, POMS scores, Semantic Differential Scale ratings, the Supplemental Questionnaire results, and eye movement patterns indicated that viewing the Humble Administrator's Garden resulted in greater relaxation compared to the Hefeng Pavilion. Similar findings were observed in Condition B, reinforcing the Humble Administrator's Garden's relaxing effect. However, there was a noticeable disparity in the relaxation effects between Conditions B and A, with real settings offering more pronounced benefits. This study demonstrated that the culturally rich Humble Administrator's Garden significantly improves mood more effectively than the Hefeng Pavilion, whether viewed in real or VR environments. This study suggests that although VR can offer an immersive experience, it may not fully capture the sensory richness and therapeutic benefits of actual garden environments. Real settings delivered more substantial relaxation effects compared to VR settings.
本研究通过关注中国古典园林和中式公园在现实与虚拟现实（VR）环境中的心理和生理影响，评估观看它们的放松效果。实验考察了两处景观：文化底蕴深厚且设计精巧的拙政园和和风亭。28名参与者参加了四个环节，每个环节包括在A条件（现实）和B条件（VR）下分别观看5分钟的拙政园和和风亭。每个环节均使用情绪状态剖面图（POMS）问卷、语义差异量表、补充问卷以及眼动追踪技术进行评估。在A条件下，POMS得分、语义差异量表评分、补充问卷结果以及眼动模式表明，与和风亭相比，观看拙政园能带来更大程度的放松。在B条件下也观察到了类似的结果，进一步证实了拙政园的放松效果。然而，B条件和A条件下的放松效果存在明显差异，现实环境带来的益处更为显著。本研究表明，无论是在现实还是VR环境中观看，文化底蕴深厚的拙政园比和风亭更能显著有效地改善情绪。本研究表明，尽管VR能提供沉浸式体验，但它可能无法完全捕捉实际园林环境的感官丰富性和治疗益处。与VR环境相比，现实环境带来的放松效果更显著。
