Decoding the Wellness Imagery in Classical Garden Poetry and Its Application in Modern Horticultural Therapy

Abstract

To address the challenges posed by modern societal mental health issues and the lack of localized cultural support for horticultural therapy, this study takes 237 Tang and Song dynasty poems as samples, employing text mining and interdisciplinary theories (environmental psychology and traditional Chinese medicine's emotional theory) to decode the system of wellness imagery in classical garden poetry. The study identifies three major categories of high-frequency imagery—natural landscapes, cultural activities, and object arrangements—accounting for 68%, and analyzes their functions in soothing the liver and regulating qi, relieving stress, and promoting physical and mental healing. Furthermore, it proposes principles of cultural inheritance, functional adaptation, and innovative development to guide the practical transformation of imagery, such as three-dimensional translation of poetic imagery in spatial design (visitor focus duration increased by 76%) and the development of immersive experiences in activity design (self-rated anxiety decreased by 25%).The case validated the effectiveness of the modern transformation of traditional imagery, providing a cultural basis and practical pathway for the development of horticultural therapy with Chinese characteristics.