Open AccessGoodness of spatial structure in Japanese rock gardens 1
Author(s) -
MIURA KAYO,
SUKEMIYA HARU,
YAMAGUCHI ERIKO
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
japanese psychological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1468-5884
pISSN - 0021-5368
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-5884.2011.00496.x
Subject(s) - covert , goodness of fit , contrast (vision) , impression , perception , mathematics , order (exchange) , notice , transformation (genetics) , natural (archaeology) , artificial intelligence , psychology , computer science , geography , statistics , linguistics , archaeology , philosophy , economics , law , biochemistry , chemistry , finance , neuroscience , world wide web , gene , political science
In this study, we examined pattern goodness in natural scenes using stone arrangements in a Japanese rock garden. The results showed that the stone arrangement simulating the rock garden at the Ryoan‐ji Temple and arrangements with a single stone deleted from that simulation were evaluated highly. These arrangements had a self‐similar spatial structure, namely, covert regularity, or had simple structures in medial axis transformation. These arrangements also produced impressions of greater width and depth than other arrangements. In contrast, sector arrangements, which gave the most regular impression, were evaluated the lowest for goodness. This suggests that the pattern goodness of natural scenes or the artistic evaluation does not always correspond to overt regularity, often considered to determine pattern goodness. The most important finding is that two types of sector arrangement and two types of random arrangement were classified in their respective groups by integrated multiple impressions, although they did not have similar perceptual appearances. An intuitive judgment based on integrated impressions may allow us to notice the hidden order in spatial structures and obtain substantial understanding of the structure.