Relationship between Surrounding Spatial Layout andObservers' Aesthetic Evaluation in Japanese Zen Gardens

2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23730695
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Experimental psychology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: INAGAMI Makoto 東京工業大学, 精密工学研究所, 特任助教 (40597803)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2012
• Keywords: 感覚 / 知覚 / 感性

Research Abstract

This study, as an attempt to explore the attractiveness of Japanese Zen gardens, investigated the relationship between their surrounding spatial layout and observers’ aesthetic evaluation. We used a 3D laser scanner to measure the spatial layout of 18 traditional gardens in Kyoto. In addition, we conducted a psychological experiment by using a virtual reality setup. Participants observed the gardens’ environments and evaluated them with respect to beauty, interest, and calm. An analysis showed that the aesthetic evaluation of Japanese Zen gardens increases with their environmental enclosure, suggesting that it also contributes to their unique attractiveness.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Aesthetics and environmental enclosure in Japanese Zen gardens (2013)
  • Author(s): Makoto Inagami
  • Journal Title: Studies in Perception and Action XII Volume: (掲載決定)
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Layout of the ground surface in daily environments: An ecological approach to natural scene statistics (2011)
  • Author(s): Makoto Inagami & Hirohiko Kaneko
  • Journal Title: Studies in Perception and Action XI Pages: 208-212
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Aesthetics and environmental enclosure in Japanese Zen gardens (2013)
  • Author(s): Makoto Inagami
  • Organizer: 17th International Conference on Perception and Action
  • Place of Presentation: Lisbon, Portugal
  • Year and Date: 20130708-11
• [Presentation] Adaptation to the environment in slant perception: An ecological approach to natural scene statistics (2013)
  • Author(s): Makoto Inagami & Hirohiko Kaneko
  • Organizer: 17th International Conference on Perception and Action
  • Place of Presentation: Lisbon,Portugal
  • Year and Date: 20130708-11
• [Presentation] 枯山水庭園における全体的な空間構成と印象評価の関係 (2013)
  • Author(s): 稲上誠
  • Organizer: 人間・環境学会第20回会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京
  • Year and Date: 2013-05-18
• [Presentation] Upper-lower asymmetry in slant perception and natural scene statistics (2012)
  • Author(s): Makoto Inagami & Hirohiko Kaneko
  • Organizer: 8th Asia-Pacific Conference on Vision
  • Place of Presentation: Incheon, Korea
  • Year and Date: 20120713-15
• [Presentation] Adaptation of the visual system to the distribution of environmental slants (2012)
  • Author(s): Makoto Inagami & Hirohiko Kaneko
  • Organizer: Workshop on Natural Environments, Tasks, and Intelligence
  • Place of Presentation: Austin, Texas
  • Year and Date: 20120420-22
• [Presentation] Relationship between anisotropic slant perception and the probability distribution of environmental slants (2011)
  • Author(s): Makoto Inagami & Hirohiko Kaneko
  • Organizer: 7th Asia-Pacific Conference on Vision
  • Place of Presentation: Hong Kong
  • Year and Date: 20110715-18
• [Presentation] Layout of the ground surface in daily environments: An ecological approach to natural scene statistics (2011)
  • Author(s): Makoto Inagami & Hirohiko Kaneko
  • Organizer: 16th International Conference on Perception and Action
  • Place of Presentation: Ouro Preto, Brazil
  • Year and Date: 20110706-10