A Quantitative Study on Landscape Colors and Emotional Space in Ancient Chengdu from the Perspective of Poems in the Song Dynasty

HU Quanyi; BI Linglan; XIANG Cheng; TANG Youhai

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2025.11.004

Abstract：Urban colors are traditional urban cultural symbols deeply rooted in the urban environment and have distinctive expression and outstanding memory value.However,rapid urbanization in China has led to color homogenization,thereby weakening historical spatial continuity.Classical Chinese poetry,as both perception and re-creation of landscapes,preserves valuable information on historical color environments,offering a basis for contemporary urban color planning and heritage protection. A case study of Chengdu,an ancient city during the Song Dynasty,was conducted.A total of 374 poems from the Song Dynasty describing the landscapes in Chengdu were selected.Combining with ROSTCM6 text mining analysis and GIS spatial analysis,this study 1)quantitatively analyzed the composition and spatial distribution characteristics of landscape colors in ancient Chengdu during Song Dynasty;2)identified emotion characteristics associated with colors and their spatial patterns;and 3)explored a research methodology that analyzes historical urban landscape colors,integrating historical texts and spatial information. The results indicate:1)color composition and distribution—the landscape colors of ancient Chengdu in the Song Dynasty can be categorized into five systems of red,cyan(green/blue),yellow,white,and black.The cyan system(37%)was predominant,associated with natural landscapes and vegetation.The red system(27%)frequently described commercial buildings.The white system(20%)often depicted meteorological elements.Spatially,colors exhibited a pattern of"one core(Xiyuan),three points(Mohe Pond,Daci Temple and Wanli Bridge)and one belt(Jinjiang River-Huanhuaxi Stream)."Cyan served as the full-region base color,red dominated the visual perception,yellow indicated seasonal changes,white formed important view corridors,and black held spiritual symbolism.2)Emotional characteristics and spatial correlations—emotions in the poems were predominantly neutral(0.61),with positive emotions(0.22)exceeding negative ones(0.17).Positive emotions were correlated with elements such as crabapple blossoms,the Jinjiang River,market life,and seasonal fairs.Negative emotions often reflected nostalgia for the past or anxieties of displacement.Emotional spatial analysis revealed three high-frequency co-occurrence axes:Xiyuan-Qingyang Temple-Huanhuaxi,Huanhuaxi-Wanli Bridge,and Xiyuan-Mohe Pond-Wanli Bridge.Spatial autocorrelation showed significant differences in emotion distribution,particularly for positive emotions.3)Interaction between color and emotion—cyan landscapes evoked positive emotions most easily,followed by red and yellow landscapes.White landscapes were often associated with negative emotions,whereas black landscapes were associated with neutral emotions.Mountain and water landscapes were more likely to trigger positive emotional perceptions. The study reconstructs the landscape's color appearance and the emotional characteristics of ancient Chengdu during the Song Dynasty.The findings provide a historical basis and spatial guidance for contemporary urban color planning,the preservation of historical urban features,and cultural image-shaping in Chengdu,thus enhancing the historical continuity of the urban landscape.Future studies could extend to longer time sequences to deepen understanding of the stratification patterns of urban colors and the mechanisms that influence emotions in ancient Chengdu.