Ornamental Symbols as Psychological Relief: A Study of Mental Well-being and Social Stress in Historical Chinese Domestic Art
Weiwei NiAbstract
Objective
This study examines the ornamental panels of historical Chinese furniture as a medium of non-verbal psychological expression. It aims to decode their symbolic content to reveal how pre-modern societies used domestic art to articulate communal anxieties, manage social stress, and pursue psychological comfort, thereby accessing historical strategies for coping and maintaining mental well-being.
Subjects and Methods
Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzed a curated corpus of high-resolution images of authentic furniture panels. A systematic iconographic analysis identified and categorized prevalent motifs. These visual symbols were then interpreted through integrated frameworks of social psychology and emotion theory to infer the underlying psychological states—such as collective stress, aspiration, and the desire for stability—that they materially expressed.
Results
The analysis revealed a complex symbolic language where botanical and narrative motifs functioned as psychological buffers. Symbols of prosperity and longevity projected desires to alleviate socio-economic anxieties, while pervasive auspicious motifs (e.g., scepters, mystical creatures) are interpreted as a material expression of a deep-seated societal yearning for safety, order, and psychological relief from pervasive uncertainties.
Conclusions
The ornamental panels served as a vital medium for the social psychology of their era, demonstrating how domestic art was used to manage communal psychological needs. This study shows that material culture provides a significant archive for understanding historical mentalities, illustrating how artistic practice was employed to cope with stress and articulate a pre-modern form of mental and emotional well-being.
Corresponding Author
Weiwei Ni, College of Fine Arts and Design, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.