Mental Well-Being in Retirement: The Role of Chinese Freehand Painting as Art Therapy for the Chinese Elderly

Authors

  • Jiamei Wu Ph.D. Scholar, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.
  • Shureen Faris Abd. Shukor Assistant Professor, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.
  • Hasna Mohd Bin Fabian Assistant Professor, Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.
  • Mohd Najmi Daud Lecturer, Faculty of Humanities and Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11471251

Keywords:

Chinese Freehand Painting, Art Therapy, Mental Health Issues, Psychological Well-being, Retired Older Individuals

Abstract

Purpose: This investigation evaluates the efficacy of Chinese freehand painting as an art therapeutic intervention to enhance psychological well-being among the elderly who are retired. It specifically assesses this traditional art form's capacity to mitigate the mental health challenges associated with aging and retirement.  

Methodology: Utilizing a systematic literature review, we explored the therapeutic potential of Chinese freehand painting, analyzing peer-reviewed articles, dissertations, and conference papers to uncover its creative and healing benefits for elderly mental health.

Findings: According to the analysis of various studies, Chinese freehand brushwork can effectively promote the mental health of the retired elderly. Learning through Chinese freehand brushwork can improve the emotional health of retired older adults and promote overall mental health. What can cause concern is the artistic characteristics of Chinese freehand brushwork, which can effectively support its therapeutic efficacy. These results suggest the potential of Chinese freehand brushwork as an art therapy to promote mental health in older people.

Implications: This study contributes to the critical theory of Chinese freehand brushwork as art therapy for retired older adults in China. And the advantages and uniqueness of Chinese freehand brushwork as art therapy. To improve the psychological problems of the retired elderly in the aging society, promoting the treatment of Chinese freehand painting is necessary.

References

Bao, Y., Yang, T., Lin, X., Fang, Y., & Pöppel, E. (2016). Aesthetic preferences for Eastern and Western traditional visual art: Identity matters. Frontiers in psychology, 7, 214446. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01596

Barrass, G. S. (2002). The art of calligraphy in modern China: Univ of California Press.

Brachmann, A., & Redies, C. (2017). Computational and experimental approaches to visual aesthetics. Frontiers in computational neuroscience, 11, 102. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2017.00102

Cardemil, E. V. (2008). Commentary: Culturally sensitive treatments: Need for an organizing framework. Culture & Psychology, 14(3), 357-367. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354067x08092638

Chen, J. C. (2002). A brief discussion on the art of calligraphy and painting and health. Journal of Ningde Teachers College (Natural Science), 14(001), 49-51.

Chen, W., Chen, C., Yang, P., Bi, S., Liu, J., Xia, M., . . . He, Y. (2019). Long-term Chinese calligraphic handwriting reshapes the posterior cingulate cortex: A VBM study. PLoS One, 14(4), e0214917.

Cui, M., & Ao, X. (2003). The effect of calligraphy and painting practice on the psychological health of elderly college students. Sichuan Mental Health, 16(2), 2.

Darda, K. M., Christensen, A. P., & Chatterjee, A. (2023). Does the frame of an artwork matter? Cultural framing and aesthetic judgments for abstract and representational art. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000569

Dolese, M. J., & Kacinik, N. A. (2021). What color as an integrated pictorial element in Himalayan art can communicate: cross-cultural congruence of color-emotion conceptualizations in Himalayan art. Empirical Studies of the Arts, 39(1), 36-60. https://doi.org/10.1177/0276237419868948

Feng, J. (2023). The Spirit of Freehand Brushwork in Chinese Oil Painting. Pacific International Journal, 6(1), 56-60. https://doi.org/10.55014/pij.v6i1.306

Gao, J., Wang, X., Hashimoto, K., Zhao, J. L., Jia, M., & Wang, H. W. (2010). The impact of calligraphy and painting practice on the psychological health and quality of life of the elderly. Chinese Journal of Health Psychology, 18(03), 291-294. doi:10.13342/j.cnki.cjhp.2010.03.025 https://doi.org/10.13342/j.cnki.cjhp.2010.03.025

Gomez, R., & Fisher, J. W. (2003). Domains of spiritual well-being and development and validation of the Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire. Personality and individual differences, 35(8), 1975-1991. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0191-8869(03)00045-x

Griner, D., & Smith, T. B. (2006). Culturally adapted mental health intervention: A meta-analytic review. Psychotherapy: Theory, research, practice, training, 43(4), 531. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.43.4.531

Guang, S. L. (2005). Psychological health and longevity of retired elderly people. Health Care(6), 3.

Guo, C. R., Chen, L. H., Jie, J., & Lin, Y. H. (2007). A study on the impact of calligraphy and painting therapy on the quality of life of inpatients with schizophrenia. Journal of Practical Medical Techniques, 14(10), 3.

Hong, H. (2008). Art beneficial to life: Traditional Chinese painting. Chinese Painter(6), 5.

Huang, X. Y. (2020). Research on the mediating role of flower and bird paintings based on art therapy: A case study of depression. (Master). Zhejiang University of Technology, Retrieved from https://d.wanfangdata.com.cn/thesis/D02218913 Available from Beijing Wanfang Data Co., Ltd

Hui, J. H. (2018). On the spirit and history of freehand spirit in Chinese painting. (Master). Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, Available from Cnki

Ibrahim, R. (2008). Setting up a research question for determining the research methodology. ALAM CIPTA International Journal on Sustainable Tropical Design Research & Practice, 3(1), 99-102.

Ibrahim, R. (2011). Demystifying the arduous doctoral journey: The eagle vision of a research proposal. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 9(2), pp130-140.

Ibrahim, R., & Mustafa Kamal, R. (2018). Templates for Thinking. Unpublished Literary. Copyright MYIPO LY2018002437.

Ju, R., & Shao, Z. (2015). Study on Chinese Freehand Figure Painting Development Context and Aesthetic Qualities. Paper presented at the 2015 International Conference on Economics, Social Science, Arts, Education and Management Engineering.

Kim, S. S., Na, S. I., Jo, J., Tae, G., & Kim, D. Y. (2007). Efficient polymer solar cells fabricated by simple brush painting. Advanced Materials, 19(24), 4410-4415. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.200702040

Lan, S., Deng, L. Q., & Lin, C. J. (2019). A study on the correlation between learning calligraphy and painting in the elderly and physical and mental health. Art Studies, 82(01), 96-98. https://doi.org/10.13944/j.cnki.ysyj.2019.0043

Lankston, L., Cusack, P., Fremantle, C., & Isles, C. (2010). Visual art in hospitals: case studies and review of the evidence. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 103(12), 490-499. https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2010.100256

Lee, H.-T. S., Cheng, S.-C., Dai, Y.-T., Chang, M., & Hu, W.-Y. (2016). Cultural perspectives of older nursing home residents regarding signing their own DNR directives in Eastern Taiwan: a qualitative pilot study. BMC Palliative Care, 15, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-016-0117-4

Liu, H. J., Wang, G. P., Pei, G. X., & Zhang, R. P. (2011). The impact of calligraphy and painting therapy on the quality of life of patients with chronic schizophrenia. Journal of Clinical Psychosomatic Diseases, 17(6), 3. https://doi.org/10.51200/ga.v12i1.3831

Masiran, R., Ibrahim, N., Awang, H., & Lim, P. Y. (2020). Improving multicultural parenting program for children with emotional and behavioral problems: an integrated review. Asian journal of psychiatry, 51, 101851.

Mo, S. R. (2014). The nurturing of life through calligraphy and painting involves three qi. Longevity(3), 2.

Park, S., Lee, H., Kim, S., & Kim, Y. (2021). Traditional Korean art materials as therapeutic media: Multicultural expansion through materials in art therapy. Art Therapy, 38(2), 60-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2020.1729077

Rieger, K. L., Hack, T. F., Duff, M. A., Campbell-Enns, H. J., & West, C. H. (2023). A grounded theory of how people process their cancer experiences through a mindfulness-based expressive arts group. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, 5(4), 00. https://doi.org/10.1097/or9.0000000000000120

Rousseau, D. M., Manning, J., & Denyer, D. (2008). 11 Evidence in management and organizational science: assembling the field’s full weight of scientific knowledge through syntheses. Academy of Management Annals, 2(1), 475-515.

Self, C., & Self, S. (2012). Art of Chinese Brush Painting: Ink, Paper, Inspiration: Tuttle Publishing.

Shi, X. (2023). An Aesthetics of Chinese Calligraphy. Philosophy Compass, 18(5), e12912.https://doi.org/10.1111/phc3.12912 .

Templier, M., & Paré, G. (2015). A framework for guiding and evaluating literature reviews. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 37(1), 6.

Tong, J., Yu, W., Fan, X., Sun, X., & Zhang, J. (2021). Impact of group art therapy using traditional Chinese materials on self-efficacy and social function for individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 571124. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.571124

Vago, D. R., & Silbersweig, D. A. (2012). Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 6, 296.

Wang, S. H. (2009). A brief discussion on freehand painting and its imagistic characteristics. . Journal of Fujian School of Socialism(06), 50-53.

Wang, T., Mo, L., Vartanian, O., Cant, J. S., & Cupchik, G. (2015). An investigation of the neural substrates of mind wandering induced by viewing traditional Chinese landscape paintings. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 8, 1018. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.01018

Wang, Y. J. (2019). Research on the health-preserving function of Chinese painting (Doctor). Shandong University, Available from Cnki

Xiang, L., & Gee, L. L. S. (2022). Forms in visual types of modern Chinese calligraphy. Jurnal Gendang Alam (GA), 12(1), 49-60. https://doi.org/10.51200/ga.v12i1.3831

Xiao, Y., & Watson, M. (2019). Guidance on conducting a systematic literature review. Journal of planning education and research, 39(1), 93-112.

Xu, L. (2023). Aesthetic Features of Chinese Freehand Painting from the Perspective of Art History. Highlights in Art and Design, 3(3), 5-7. https://doi.org/10.54097/hiaad.v3i3.10824

Yang, S. P., & Bu, F. F. (2015). Discussion on the health-preserving function of calligraphy and painting art. Beauty & Times: Aesthetics, Part B(6), 2.

Yang, W. Q. (2016). An exploration of the effect of Chinese painting on regulating retirement syndrome: Taking the peony in small freehand Chinese painting as an example. Business Manager(24), 1.

Yu, W., He, X., Pei, J., Chen, X., Xiong, L., Liu, J., & Qin, Z. (2021). Visually aware recommendation with aesthetic features. The VLDB Journal, 30, 495-513. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00778-021-00651-y

Zhan, J., Yu, S., Cai, R., Xu, H., Yang, Y., Ren, J., & Luo, J. (2021). The effects of written catharsis on anger relief. PsyCh Journal, 10(6), 868-877.

Zhang, B. Y. (2020). Research on Flower-and-bird Painting in Art Therapy of Depression. Research and methodological works of the National Academy of Visual Arts and Architecture(29), 79-84. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211002186

Zhang, B., Chen, J., Huang, X., & Xu, W. (2021). Chinese flower and bird painting: a new form of art therapy for depression. SAGE Open, 11(2), 21582440211002186.

Zhang, N., Gong, A. L., & Wang, P. (2005). The effectiveness of calligraphy and painting therapy in psychiatry: Observations and research. Modern Nursing, 11(16), 1.

Zhao, S. (2019). An analysis of interactive technology’s effect on the appreciation of traditional Chinese painting: a review of case studies. International Journal of New Media, Technology and the Arts, 14(3), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.18848/2326-9987/cgp/v14i03/1-12.

Zhou, K., & Huang, Y. (2014). The art of expression: Discussing Chinese freehand painting. Grand View of Fine Arts(06), 34-35.

Downloads

Published

2024-04-14

How to Cite

Wu, J., Abd. Shukor, S. F., Fabian, H. M. B., & Daud, M. N. (2024). Mental Well-Being in Retirement: The Role of Chinese Freehand Painting as Art Therapy for the Chinese Elderly. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 44(2), 225-235. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11471251